Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, FOR A' THAT AND A' THAT; SONG, by ROBERT BURNS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

FOR A' THAT AND A' THAT; SONG, by             Poem Explanation     Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Is there, for honest poverty
Last Line: Shall brothers be for a' that!
Variant Title(s): A Man's A Man For A' That;honest Poverty
Subject(s): Brotherhood; Class Struggle; Equality; Freedom; Mankind; Poverty; Liberty; Human Race


Is there for honest poverty
Wha hangs 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 gray, and a' that?
Gie fools their silks, and knaves their wine,--
A man's a man fox' 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 cool for a' that;
For a' that, and a' that,
His riband, star, and a' that;
The man of independent mind,
He looks and laughs at a' that.
C prince can mak a belted knight,
A marquis, duke, and a' that;
But an honest man's aboon his might,--
Guid faith, he mamma fa' that!
For a' that, and a' that;
Their dignities, and a' that,
The pith o' sense, and pride o' worth,
Are higher ranks 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,
May bear the gree, and a' that.
For a' that, and a' that,
It's coming yet, for a' that,--
When man to man, the warld o'er,
Shall brothers be for a' that!




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