A man's a man, for a' that.

Well, we had our annual Burns night gathering last night. It was a really good laugh. I was slightly concerned because the neeps were shockingly difficult to mash, and I was frightened that we had got a rogue reedy one (or two). Turnip can be a really nice vegetable, but when you get a reedy one, by god it can be horrible, but a dose of patience, and a half pound of butter later, I got them to mash. We bought a huge haggis. Unfortunately it burst in the oven, so we had to do the tradtional stabbing with one of the smaller vegetarian ones. And I made my trademark mashed tatties. Also last year, the big yin must've brought a whole load of dishes over to my house from her flat, but now that she's moved in, we've no idea where any of them went, so we were shoving mashed potato and turnip in any old dish we could find. I dare say our presentation could have been 100% better, but everyone scoffed a fair portion, and there wasn't a tremendous amount left at the end. My gran had very kindly made us a clootie dumpling, but most were too full to sample it. I suppose it means that I'll be having dumpling for the next fortnight...
I wonder what Rabbie Burns would think if he knew that 200 odd years after his death
we'd still be getting together in his name for a celebration. I think he'd be quite proud. The man was a visionary. We could do with some guys with his basic decency around running the show these days. Here's his greatest poem, and one with a special relevance to our modern times. Maybe if we took heed of his words then we could enjoy life in peace...


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

What though on hamely fare we dine,
Wear hoddin grey, an a' that? (Coarse Grey Cloth)
Gie fools their silks, and knaves their wine -
A man's a man for a' that.
For a' that, an a' that.
Their tinsel show, an a' that,
The honest man, tho e'er sae poor,
Is king o men for a' that.

Ye see you birkie ca'd 'a lord,' (fellow called)
What struts, an stares, an a' that?
Tho hundreds worship at his word,
He's but a cuif for a' that. (fool)
For a' that, an a' that,
His ribband, star, an a' that,
The man o independent mind,
He looks an laughs at a' that.

A prince can mak a belted knight,
A marquis, duke, an a' that!
But an honest man's aboon his might - (above)
Guid faith, he mauna fa' that! (mustn't)
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 an a' that. (Have Priority)
For a' that, an a' that,
It's comin yet for a' that,
That man to man, the world, o'er
Shall brithers be for a' that. (Brothers)