2007 Greeting

As Man to Man

Oor Bard’s enlighten’d philosophy

Embrac’d the right to liberty

He dreamt o’ equality

An’ fur yin an aw

Britherhood an’ fraternity

Was whit he foresaw.
So lookin’ doon on Scotland’s streets

Do drouthy neebors neebors meet
An’ strangers wae a handshake greet

Like lang lost brithers?

We Scots need tae see oursels’

As we see ithers.

Oor nation has a secret shame

An’ prejudice still finds a hame

In oor so ca’d beautiful game

A richt bad rancour

Is Billy or Tim the wan tae blame

Fur fitba’s canker.

Oor blessed bard, who art in heav’n

Thought free expression was God giv’n

But noo oor ‘PC’ world is riv’n

Wae such nonsense

Where veils and crosses on oor wimmin’

Can cause offence.

Fur those who seek oot oor dear shores

Wae hopes and dreams forever more

They cannae guess whit lies in store

Frae oor repute.

We wait ’til dawn tae chap their door

An’ fling them oot.

Oor land has skins o’ mony hues

An’ mony a god gets paid their dues

Tak’ a bit walk in a’bodys shoes

An’ forget aw the fairin’s

Rabbie, he saw the real values

In aw Jock Tamson’s bairns.
His message tae Scotland’s Unco guid

Sittin’ pretty in Holyrood

Is prejudice must be subdued

Be it race or religion

See the trees and no the wood

In Scotia’s kith an’ kin.

The Scottish nation is in rude health

Its people must remain its wealth

An’ as we toast Rabbie himsel’

Open hearts and hands

See yer neebors as ye see yersel’

man tae fellow man.

Bob Carruth 2007