Major Edwards High School - Mesa Yearbook (West Boylston, MA)

Page 25 text:

Besides the poems of soldier and Indian life there pstri otic pieces, filled with confidence in Britain’s destiny. Ko dis- liked what he called little .England ism and the sheltered life and he made abstract themes, lake imperialism, living realities, just as he made an electric cable or a steam engine the subject of a song. The finer shades of character and style he lacked, and except in rare cases, he did not deal v ' ith spiritual matters One of these rare exceptions is The Recessional. Gertrude Jewett THE RECESSIONAL God of our fathers, known of old, Lord of our far-flung battle line, Beneath whose awful Hand we hold Dominion ever palm and pine; Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet, Lest we forgot! Lest we forgot! The tumult and the shouting dies, The Captains and the Kings depart, Still stands thine ancient sacrifice, An humble and a contrite hea t. Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet, Lest we forget! Lest we forget! Par call’d, our navies melt away. On dune and headland sinks the firo, 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 pow’r 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’ 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! Rudyard Kipling