Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.
Rudyard Kipling. b. 1865867. Recessional June 22, 1897
GOD of our fathers, known of old— | |
Lord of our far-flung battle-line— | |
Beneath whose awful Hand we hold | |
Dominion over palm and pine— | |
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet, | 5 |
Lest we forget, lest we forget! | |
The tumult and the shouting dies— | |
The captains and the kings depart— | |
Still stands Thine ancient sacrifice, | |
An humble and a contrite heart. | 10 |
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet, | |
Lest we forget, lest we forget! | |
Far-call’d our navies melt away— | |
On dune and headland sinks the fire— | |
Lo, all our pomp of yesterday | 15 |
Is one with Nineveh and Tyre! | |
Judge of the Nations, spare us yet, | |
Lest we forget, lest we forget! | |
If, drunk with sight of power, we loose | |
Wild tongues that have not Thee in awe— | 20 |
Such boasting as the Gentiles use | |
Or lesser breeds without the Law— | |
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet, | |
Lest we forget, lest we forget! | |
For heathen heart that puts her trust | 25 |
In reeking tube and iron shard— | |
All valiant dust that builds on dust, | |
And guarding calls not Thee to guard— | |
For frantic boast and foolish word, | |
Thy Mercy on Thy People, Lord! | 30 |