Recessional
by
Rudyard Kipling
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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 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!
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| 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!
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