For those that believe in the Divine:

[lsanderson]

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

Comments

[kip-w.livejournal.com]

If I could make two suggestions:

"Divine"

Line numbers. (My first thought on glimpsing the last line was that someone was using the -30- sign off from newspapers.)

Kipling right? The man was a real phrasemaker. How many titles of subsequent books and movies can we find here? Though, unless I'm mistaken, "Captains and the Kings" is itself a quote. Shakespeare? I'd always thought that "Cabbages and Kings" was a take-off on that.

Si!

[lsanderson.livejournal.com]

Si! Shouldn't post in the am. Can't see the squiggly red line...

[mia-mcdavid.livejournal.com]

It's still in the hymnal, I believe . . .