Rudyard Kipling
1865 - 1936
| 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! |
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| 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! |
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| 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! |
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| If, drunk with sight of power, we loose | |
| Wild tongues that have not Thee in awe -- | |
| Such boasting 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! Amen! |
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