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*

The Brain's a Tunnel by Rogan Wolf

The brain’s a tunnel the world howls through

pulverising these inner cells, exquisite forms

and halls of being. We were made for better

than the world we’ve made, these incessant storms

and convulsions, corruptions of the Word.

The brain’s a tunnel the world howls through

yet who has made this world ? Is it Me ?

Is it You ?

Rogan Wolf

January 2017

Book review for Paint Yourself

A generous and insightful review of my poetry book 'Paint Yourself' by a local St Werburghs Poet Chris Thirlway 

You can read it on st werburghs community website

Thanks Chris!

Paint Yourself - Poetry by Tom Burgess

Great places for watching the sun set: Narroways, Purdown and even the Community Garden. Tom Burgess invites us to do just that. He hopes that his poems collected in Paint Yourself may inspire us to gain freedom by engaging with 'the regular miracle of sunsets'. His ecstatic response ranges through countries and philosophies, rich images jostling with demanding ideas, colours with movement. The meditation moves through three stages, from Loosening through Breaking to Binding. At the beginning the scene is set with a newly-told myth of the sun's own history while at the end the poet resolves to carve his own path. A Journey into Sunsets inspires us to contemplate rather than just see and so to join its author on his way.

Review by Chris Thirlway

Book of the month

Arkbound have listed Paint Yourself as their book of the month. I am feeling privileged and grateful.

Follow the link to see for yourself

book of the month

Paint Yourself reading at Bristol Energy Hub

Also

Edson Burton a wonderful poet (+ other things: More on Edson Burton)
Reading from Lyrically Justified -Curated by Shaun Clarke, Featuring rappers, songsters and spoken word artists, Lyrically Justified is the UK’s “Streetwise Bible”. The book is available from Arkbound for £6.99