Recessional
by Rudyard Kipling
First Published in 1897
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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 sacrfice,
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 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 recking tube and iron shard,
All valiant dust that builds on dust,
And guarding, calls not Thee to gaurd,
For frantic boast and foolish word-
Thy Mercy on thy People, Lord!
Amen.
cwrl.utexas.edu
Nineveh was the ancient capital of the Assyrian Empire. It was called a "bloody city, completely foll of lies and pillage" by Nahum (3:1) because it overran and robbed other countries to enrich itself. By comparing England's history with that of Nineveh and Tyre Kipling is saying that the British Empire is a passing Empire. Also, Assyria was a great enemy of the Isrealites, God's chosen people, at the time, and by comparing England to them Kipling is saying England is also against God. |
