A Burns night toast for everyone

Remember a man’s a man for a’that

A women’s a woman for a’ that, true

So, in fact are Ze plus Co and Thon

Though Robbie didn't mention that

All of us Human kind

We dare be poor for a’that

The rank is but the guinea’s stamp

The man’s the gowd for a’that

Aren’t we equally dismayed

By brute Alpha stewing in power

This pretence where the weak are strong

symbolically wrong

Their tinsel show an a’that

Might as protective device

Yes we all quiver at life

Some admit it bravely others crush its first hint

keeping a stiff upper a lip

They tighten their grip

Insisting a mans a bloke and only that

They fade and become shells without their shine

Gie fools their silk and knaves their wine

Held up like modern Matatu

Trying to outdo

One another 

Trying to keep us in tow with their erections

Let them drown in silk and choke on wine

Manly men will sink their teeth to dine

At the whole world’s expense

Hiding behind macho strategy

Cowardly structures house pernicious lies

Ye see yon Trump, 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

The pith o' sense an' pride o' worth
Are higher rank than president

A CEO can mak a belted knight,
An oligarch, duke, an' a' that

In privilege blind to simplicity 
Too many cower instead of cry

They punch instead of die

Scared to look another in the eye

Already dead they won’t shed heavy ego’s

Yet us, of independent mind

We look and laugh at a’that

Can be better in weakness than that

Let us pray that come it may

As come it will for that

That sense and worth, o’er a’ the earth

Shall bear the gree an’ a’that

For a’ that an’ a’that

It's coming yet for a' that,
That Man to Man, the world o'er,
Shall brothers be for a' that.

From where we are now sat

This sense and worth our sisters conserve

Every single creed and culture gives birth

Our lot tied together

So Ze plus co and thon

One and all the world over

Shall humankind be for a’that

United.

Let us cherish the sanctity of a shared stake in the mystery of life

Let us remember afresh a person’s a person for a’that

Let us fight for that

*With thanks to Robbie Burns who wrote the best bits*

Standing Rock

* Scroll down for my simple poem dedicated to all those at Standing Rock and written to Energy Transfer Partners.*

I am extremely moved by the grace and power of the Standing Rock action. As though Wakhán Thánka is channelling these traditions and people - reacting to humanity's destabilising presence by sustaining a resurgence of perennial wisdom. Highlighting how disconnected and blind the prevailing status quo in the West is. I am struck by the parallels with the international brigade's in the Spanish civil war, where people from all over the world journeyed to fight fascism. My hope is that Standing Rock is a peaceful and better version of that, a movement in tune with the environment, championing connection and oneness, one that fuses the best of now with the wisdom of ancient truths. The tone is set by the power, resilience and beauty of these people. I do not want to speak for them but I do want to stand with them.

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Standing Rock Press Conference - 11/26/2016

These are not victims

These are rocks

These are water

Serenity's daughter combined with fires fury

This is a jury of beating hearts

Their same pulse permeates everything

for we are mud, all of us

nothing but mud

equally

As they school us in real learning

Everything that is earth Is Us
Not, an inanimate word for burning

These are not victims

They are power

Speak to aggressors with humility

You who stand there in the armour of the so called free

To protect a bourgeoisie economy

Sioux extend love to you

See you as them

True love drowns fear
Transcends selfhood

Makes individuality look small.

So Sioux find you as shadows and not remotely scary

These are not victims

They invite you to stand with them like rock

As they fearlessly champion sanctity

They have waited

Centuries of oppression to be fully seen

And we all need them not the other way round

The main narrative in world history is indelibly at Standing Rock

A story that cries out incredibly for redemption

A ballad broadcast from the very pores of this planet

What the west lost in all its getting

Is a debt that we will all pay

Even the stones cry out.

The earth is not a victim

She invites you to join a resurgence of power

To fight for justice is what collective love looks like

Longing for mindful action the earth channels the mud

Perennial wisdom does rise

Status quo is disconnected and blind

The Native Youth's pounding feet get louder

The growing beat taps out a message

Exploitation will never 'trump' integration

nor stewardship, nor oneness

True expansion is towards greater unity

Line your pockets temporarily

Only

For you are not separate

and growth not exponential.

GDP don't start from free,

Inevitably it is built on reality

not infinity

So strive for harmony

for equilibrium

and back off