Classic and Contemporary Poetry
FOR A' THAT AND A' THAT, by CHARLES WILLIAM SHIRLEY BROOKS Poet's Biography First Line: More luck to honest poverty Last Line: The man's an ass for a' that. Alternate Author Name(s): Brooks, Shirley Subject(s): Burns, Robert (1759-1796); Poetry & Poets; Wealth; Riches; Fortunes | ||||||||
More luck to honest poverty, It claims respect, and a' that; But honest wealth's a better thing, We dare be rich for a' that. For a' that, and a' that, And spooney cant and a' that, A man may have a ten-pun note, And be a brick for a' that. What though on soup and fish we dine, Wear evening togs and a' that, A man may like good meat and wine, Nor be a knave for a' that. For a' that, and a' that, Their fustian talk and a' that, A gentleman, however, clean, May have a heart for a' that. You see yon prater called a Beales, Who bawls and brays and a' that, Tho' hundreds cheer his blatant bosh, He's but a goose for a' that. For a' that, and a' that, His Bubblyjocks, and a' that, A man with twenty grains of sense, He looks and laughs at a' that. A prince can make a belted knight, A marquis, duke, and a' that, And if the title's earned, all right, Old England's fond of a' that. For a' that, and a' that, Beales' balderdash, and a' that, A name that tells of service done Is worth the wear, for a' that. Then let us pray that come it may And come it will for a' that, That common sense may take the place Of common cant and a' that. For a' that, and a' that, Who cackles trash and a' that, Or be he lord, or be he low, The man's an ass for a' that. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ALL LIFE IN A LIFE by EDGAR LEE MASTERS FOUR POEMS ABOUT JAMAICA: 3. A HAIRPIN TURN ABOVE READING, JAMAICA by WILLIAM MATTHEWS IMAGINE YOURSELF by EVE MERRIAM THE PROPHET by LUCILLE CLIFTON I AM FIFTY-TWO YEARS OLD' by KENNETH REXROTH LAST VISIT TO THE SWIMMING POOL SOVIETS by KENNETH REXROTH PORTRAIT OF THE AUTHOR AS A YOUNG ANARCHIST by KENNETH REXROTH DIXIT, ET IN MENSAM by CHARLES WILLIAM SHIRLEY BROOKS POEM BY A PERFECTLY FURIOUS ACADEMICIAN by CHARLES WILLIAM SHIRLEY BROOKS THE MUD-FISH, BY AN INDIGNANT TORY FOOTMAN by CHARLES WILLIAM SHIRLEY BROOKS |
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