For his contribution to Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, Rudyard Kipling wrote the following poem: "Lest We Forget".
By many, especially those in high places, it was not well received. It was suggested that it was an "unpatriotic and unfair comment upon the glories of the British Empire"
But all this was fourteen years before the outbreak of the First World War. By Armistice Day 1918 a humbled people willingly adopted the phrase "Lest We Forget" on it's cenotaphs and memorials across the Empire.
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.
In memory of my uncle Oliver who fought in the battle of the Somme in 1916.
R.I.P.
Ian
No comments:
Post a Comment