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 hoddin 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,
   Their tinsel show, and a' that;
 The honest man, though e'er sae poor,
   Is king o' men for a' that. -

 Ye see yon birkie ca'd, a lord,
   Wha struts, and stares, and a' that,
 Though hundreds worship at his word,
   He 's but a coof for a' that.
 For a' that, and a' that,
   His ribband, star and a' that,
 The man of independant mind,
   He looks and laughs at a' that. -

 A prince can mak a belted knight,
   A marquis, duke, and a' that;
 But an honest man 's aboon his might,
   Gude faith he mauna fa' that!
 For a' that, and a' that,
   Their dignities, and a' that,
 The pith o' Sense, and 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, and a' that,
   Its comin yet for a' that,
 That Man to Man the warld o'er,
   Shall brothers be for a' that.

Added: Jan 3 2004 | Viewed: 1712 times | Comments (0)

Poet: Robert Burns
Poem: For a' that and a' that

Year: Published/Written in 1795
There are no comments for this poem. Why not be the first one to post something about it?

Are you looking for more information on this poem? Perhaps you are trying to analyze it? The poem, For a' that and a' that, has not yet been commented on. You can click here to be the first to post a comment about it. Of course you can also always discuss poems by Robert Burns with others on the Poetry Connection poetry forum!