A Song of the White Men
Rudyard Kipling
1899
Now, this is the cup the White Men drink
When they go to right a wrong,
And that is the cup of the old world's hate--
Cruel and strained and strong.
We have drunk that cup--and a bitter, bitter cup--
And tossed the dregs away.
But well for the world when the White Men drink
To the dawn of the White Man's day!
Now, this is the road that the White Men tread
When they go to clean a land--
Iron underfoot and levin overhead
And the deep on either hand.
We have trod that road--and a wet and windy road--
Our chosen star for guide.
Oh, well for the world when the White Men tread
Their highway side by side!
Now, this is the faith that the White Men hold--
When they build their homes afar--
"Freedom for ourselves and freedom for our sons
And, failing freedom, War."
We have proved our faith--bear witness to our faith,
Dear souls of freemen slain!
Oh, well for the world when the White Men join
To prove their faith again!
Great poem by Kipling. We really need more men like him to prove the faith once again. Women too!
ReplyDeleteHappy Valentines day, Joy!
Thank you. I finally 'heard' the cadence, and understood the poem. Don't know why, I just did.
ReplyDeleteMay God give us yet more time, and more Kiplings, to rise up men of God, that 'have done with lesser things.'
- Fr. John
And what a true sister of the faith that has selected this poem for this day !
ReplyDeleteWe men (and women) are indeed arising and joining hands seeking the Son that was signified by the star that the wise men of old Bethlehem likewise sought by faith.
We seek His will and His kingdom, and will have it. In obedience to His command, the land will be cleansed ... starting at His house. We bow in humbleness and repentance before His majesty, beseeching Him for strength and guidance.
War it is and war it will be. If it be His will that a future generation be the ones to bring in completion - so be it. But we here and now will not stray from the course nor our duties. We will not bend the knee to another nor deny His name.
All praise and glory to Jesus Christ alone. Onward Christian soldiers !
(bushels of Christian love for you my sister in Christ) :)
Kipling's poem is prophetic.
ReplyDeleteYHWH please hasten the day.
YAH bless you all.
JamesTheJust
It blesses my soul to hear the words of the saints. We all walk together-even tho we can't see one another, the Spirit binds us together in fellowship. I pray for the strength of Heaven for us.
ReplyDeleteLinda
a granny in sweet Georgia
A little late but THANK YOU Joy, this was special, and again, nobody illustrates a piece as well as you do.
ReplyDeleteKIPLING! The swastika was his mark.
"Kipling chose as his symbol -- his personal rune -- the swastika, the ancient Aryan sign of the sun and of health and of good fortune. Most editions of his works published in the first decades of this century are adorned with this symbol. Beginning in 1933, however, Jewish pressure was brought to bear against the publishers, and the swastikas were dropped from subsequent printings."