Recessional (A Victorian Ode)
Rudyard Kipling 1865 (Mumbai) – 1936 (London)
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.
Anonymous Submission
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Submitted on May 13, 2011
Modified on April 07, 2023
- 1:03 min read
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Quick analysis:
Scheme | ababCC xdxdCC exexcC fxfxCC ghghxxx |
---|---|
Closest metre | Iambic tetrameter |
Characters | 1,113 |
Words | 212 |
Stanzas | 5 |
Stanza Lengths | 6, 6, 6, 6, 7 |
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"Recessional (A Victorian Ode)" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 21 May 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/33321/recessional-(a-victorian-ode)>.
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