George Herbert Clarke, ed. (1873–1953). A Treasury of War Poetry. 1917.
Rudyard Kipling
The Choice
T
T
With Whom fulfillment lies
Our purpose and our power belong,
Our faith and sacrifice.
Our ancient bonds are riven;
Once more to us the eternal choice
Of good or ill is given.
Hardly by prayer or tears,
Shall we recover the road we lost
In the drugged and doubting years.
But after searching and pain,
His Mercy opens us a path
To live with ourselves again.
We see and hold the good—
Bear witness, Earth, we have made our choice
For Freedom’s brotherhood.
Whose Strength hath saved us whole,
Who bade us choose that the Flesh should die
And not the living Soul!