INFANTRY COLUMNS We're foot—slog—slog—slog—sloggin' over Africa —Foot—foot—foot—foot—sloggin' over Africa —(Boots—boots—boots—boots—movin' up an' down again!) There's no discharge in the war! Seven—six—eleven—five—nine-an'-twenty mile to-day —Four—eleven—seventeen—thirty-two the day before —(Boots—boots—boots—boots—movin' up an' down again!) There's no discharge in the war! Don't—don't—don't—don't—look at what's … Continue reading Poem – “Boots”
Rudyard Kipling
Poem – “The Truce of the Bear”
Yearly, with tent and rifle, our careless white men goBy the Pass called Muttianee, to shoot in the vale below.Yearly by Muttianee he follows our white men in—Matun, the old blind beggar, bandaged from brow to chin. Eyeless, noseless, and lipless - toothless, broken of speech,Seeking a dole at the doorway he mumbles his tale … Continue reading Poem – “The Truce of the Bear”
Poem – “A Servant When He Reigneth”
Three things make earth unquietAnd four she cannot brookThe godly Agur counted themAnd put them in a book —Those Four Tremendous CursesWith which mankind is cursed;But a Servant when He ReignethOld Agur entered first.An Handmaid that is MistressWe need not call upon.A Fool when he is full of MeatWill fall asleep anon.An Odious Woman MarriedMay … Continue reading Poem – “A Servant When He Reigneth”
Poem – “The Power of the Dog”
There is sorrow enough in the natural wayFrom men and women to fill our day;And when we are certain of sorrow in store,Why do we always arrange for more?Brothers and Sisters, I bid you bewareOf giving your heart to a dog to tear. Buy a pup and your money will buyLove unflinching that cannot lie—Perfect … Continue reading Poem – “The Power of the Dog”
Poetry – “The Law of the Jungle”
Now this is the Law of the Jungle – as old and as true as the sky;And the Wolf that shall keep it may prosper, but the Wolf that shall break it must die. As the creeper that girdles the tree-trunk the Law runneth forward and back--For the strength of the Pack is the Wolf, … Continue reading Poetry – “The Law of the Jungle”
Poetry: “The Last of the Light Brigade”
There were thirty million English who talked of England's might, There were twenty broken troopers who lacked a bed for the night. They had neither food nor money, they had neither service nor trade; They were only shiftless soldiers, the last of the Light Brigade. They felt that life was fleeting; they knew not that … Continue reading Poetry: “The Last of the Light Brigade”
Poetry – ‘Recessional’
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 … Continue reading Poetry – ‘Recessional’
Poetry – “When Earth’s Last Picture is Painted”
When Earth's last picture is painted and the tubes are twisted and dried,When the oldest colours have faded, and the youngest critic has died,We shall rest, and, faith, we shall need it - lie down for and aeon or two,Till the Master of All Good Workmen shall put us to work anew. And those that … Continue reading Poetry – “When Earth’s Last Picture is Painted”
Poetry – “Cold Iron”
Gold is for the mistress -- silver for the maid --Copper for the craftsman cunning at his trade."Good!" said the Baron, sitting in his hall,"But Iron -- Cold Iron -- is master of them all."So he made rebellion 'gainst the King his liege,Camped before his citadel and summoned it to siege."Nay!" said the cannoneer on … Continue reading Poetry – “Cold Iron”
Poetry – “A Servant When He Reigneth”
“For three things the earth is disquieted,and for four which it cannot bear.For a servant when he reigneth,and a fool when he is filled with meat;for an odious woman when she is married,and an handmaid that is heir to her mistress.”(Proverbs 30,21-23) Three things make earth unquietAnd four she cannot brookThe godly Agur counted themAnd … Continue reading Poetry – “A Servant When He Reigneth”
Serpent's Den 