Robert Burns Poem

Below is another piece of found writing that I enjoyed. I found this poem in the Writers Museum in Edinburgh. The sounds that the poem creates reflects many of the sounds of Edinburgh. Enjoy and a' that.

A Man's A Man for A' That

Is there for honest poverty
That hings his head, and a' that?
The coward slave, we pass him by-
We dare be poor, for a' that!
For a' that, and a' that.
Our toils obscure and a' that.
The rank is but the guinea's stamp.
The man's the gowd, 'for a' that.

What though on hamely fare we dine,
Wear hodder grey and a' that?
Gie fools their silks, and knaves their wine-
A man's a man for a' that.
For a' that and a' that.
The honest man, tough e'er sae poor,
I king o' men for a' that.

Ye see you birkie, ca'd a lord
Wha struts, an' stares, an' a' that;
Tho' hundreds worship at his word,
He's but a coof for a' that:
For a' that, an' a' that,
The man o' independent mind,
He looks and laughs at a' that.

A prince can mark a betted knight,
A marquis, duke, an' a' that;
But an honest man's a boon his might,
Guid faith he manna fa' that!
For a' that, an a' that,
Their dignities an a' that,
The pith o' sense', an pride o' worth,
Are higher rank than a' that.

Then let us pray that come it may
(As come it will for a' that)
That sense and worth o'er a' the earth
Shall bear the gree and a' that!
For a' that comin' yet for a' that,
That man to man, the worl o'er,
shall brothers be' for a' that.

Robert Burns