Rudyard Kipling (1865–1936). Verse: 1885–1918. 1922.
Dedication from Barrack Room Ballads
B
Farther than ever comet flared or vagrant star-dust swirled—
Live such as fought and sailed and ruled and loved and made our world.
They sit at wine with the Maidens Nine and the Gods of the Elder Days—
It is their will to serve or be still as fitteth Our Father’s praise.
Or buffet a path through the Pit’s red wrath when God goes out to war,
Or hang with the reckless Seraphim on the rein of a red-maned star.
They know of toil and the end of toil; they know God’s Law is plain;
So they whistle the Devil to make them sport who know that Sin is vain.
And tells them tales of His daily toil, of Edens newly made;
And they rise to their feet as He passes by, gentlemen unafraid.
Gods for they knew the hearts of men, men for they stooped to Fame—
Borne on the breath that men call Death, my brother’s spirit came.
E’en as he trod that day to God so walked he from his birth,
In simpleness and gentleness and honour and clean mirth.
And made him place at the banquet board—the Strong Men ranged thereby,
Who had done his work and held his peace and had no fear to die.
Further than rebel comet dared or hiving star-swarm swirled,
Sits he with those that praise our God for that they served His world.