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,
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.
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget — lest we forget!
Far-called our navies melt away —
On dune and headland sinks the fire —
Lo, all our pomp of yesterday
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 —
Such boastings 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
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!
Amen.
(Rudyard Kipling)
More Poetry from Rudyard Kipling:
Rudyard Kipling Poems based on Topics: God, Kings & Queens, Law & Regulation, Power, Fire, People, Fathers, Humility- Zion (Rudyard Kipling Poem)
- With Scindia to Delphi (Rudyard Kipling Poem)
- You Must n't Swim... (Rudyard Kipling Poems)
- The Young British Soldier (Rudyard Kipling Poem)
- The Winners (Rudyard Kipling Poem)
- The Wishing-Caps (Rudyard Kipling Poem)
Readers Who Like This Poem Also Like:
Based on Topics: God Poems, Kings & Queens Poems, Fire Poems, Power Poems, Fathers Poems, People Poems, Law & Regulation Poems, Humility PoemsBased on Keywords: builds, captains, guarding, heathen, valiant, tube, reeking, gentiles, shard, tyre, dune
- An Ode - Humbly Inscribed To The Queen, On the Glorious Success of Her Majesty's Arms (Matthew Prior Poems)
- The Christiad (Henry Kirke White Poems)
- Helen And Sedley (Mary Hopkins Pilkington Poems)
- Medulla Poetarum Romanorum - VOL. II. (Philosophy - Place) (Henry Baker Poems)
- Yusuf and Zuleikha (Excerpt 3) (Jami2 Poems)