Rudyard Kipling (1865–1936). Verse: 1885–1918. 1922.
The Miracles
I
A thousand leagues and more to Her—
The dumb sea-levels thrilled to hear,
And Lost Atlantis bore to Her!
And nigh had found a grave for me;
But that I launched of steel and flame
Did war against the wave for me.
To bid me change my mind again—
He broke his teeth along my rail,
And, roaring, swung behind again.
My way across the waste of it;
I read the storm before it fell
And made the better haste of it.
The towers I built had heard of me—
And, ere my rocket reached its height,
Had flashed my Love the word of me.
(They lived and strove and died for me)
To drive my road a nation’s length,
And toss the miles aside for me.
Too slow their fleetest flew for me.
I tired twenty smoking steeds,
And bade them bait a new for me.
Where hour by hour She waited me.
Among ten million one was She,
And surely all men hated me!
Ah, day no tongue shall tell again!
And little folk of little soul
Rose up to buy and sell again!