21.04.2012, 16:56
The Great Problem
India to England: -
We gave Thee all our wisdom. Have ye pored
The olden book of life, until the One
Shone forth, the Word that is creation's sun?
Ye did but con the rune our hands had scored.
We gave Thee all our valour. When the horde
That hate Thee strove with crimes the fiend would shun
To bring the work of all Thy life undone,
Straight from our scabbard leapt the angry sword.
We gave Thee faith, and passionate loyalty,
For Thee our blood was spilt, and, dearer stream,
For Thee was poured our spirit's inmost flow:
Then shall Thy children fling us scorn for fee,
And bar us from their borders, that we seem
Hateful as faithless friend or scheming foe?
The White Lands to India:-
Thus would we have thee greet us, knowing full well
We hold thee high in honour, and own thy place
Equal in pride with ours before Her face,
For whose dear sake thy heroes fought and fell
By ours like brethren, when the ineffable
Barbarian hate broke forth, and all the race
Of devils swarmed on earth, and strove apace
To quench her beauty in the night of hell.
Then if we guard our heritage for those
Whose lives are lit with other light than thine,
And bid them garner where their sires have sown,
'Tis because all our being feels and knows
That though our hearts are one before the Shrine
Each man must rule his house, and rule alone.
England speaks, as in prophecy:-
Because you loved me, and your blood was mine
You gave your lives to serve me, when the hate
Of hell was loosed upon me, and my fate
Shone in the heavens with red and angry sign;
Then for my love will ye who fought of late
On through the night like brethren, may abate
All strife betwixt you 'neath the brave sun-shine?
Though Death hath sought you and your flower hath ta'en,
Though at your hearth sits dumb and crazy woe,
Yet hath your life-blood not been spilt in vain
If God hath taught you in your hour of test
His Word that bids men pardon and forgo
And help each others' lives as love knows best.
India to England: -
We gave Thee all our wisdom. Have ye pored
The olden book of life, until the One
Shone forth, the Word that is creation's sun?
Ye did but con the rune our hands had scored.
We gave Thee all our valour. When the horde
That hate Thee strove with crimes the fiend would shun
To bring the work of all Thy life undone,
Straight from our scabbard leapt the angry sword.
We gave Thee faith, and passionate loyalty,
For Thee our blood was spilt, and, dearer stream,
For Thee was poured our spirit's inmost flow:
Then shall Thy children fling us scorn for fee,
And bar us from their borders, that we seem
Hateful as faithless friend or scheming foe?
The White Lands to India:-
Thus would we have thee greet us, knowing full well
We hold thee high in honour, and own thy place
Equal in pride with ours before Her face,
For whose dear sake thy heroes fought and fell
By ours like brethren, when the ineffable
Barbarian hate broke forth, and all the race
Of devils swarmed on earth, and strove apace
To quench her beauty in the night of hell.
Then if we guard our heritage for those
Whose lives are lit with other light than thine,
And bid them garner where their sires have sown,
'Tis because all our being feels and knows
That though our hearts are one before the Shrine
Each man must rule his house, and rule alone.
England speaks, as in prophecy:-
Because you loved me, and your blood was mine
You gave your lives to serve me, when the hate
Of hell was loosed upon me, and my fate
Shone in the heavens with red and angry sign;
Then for my love will ye who fought of late
On through the night like brethren, may abate
All strife betwixt you 'neath the brave sun-shine?
Though Death hath sought you and your flower hath ta'en,
Though at your hearth sits dumb and crazy woe,
Yet hath your life-blood not been spilt in vain
If God hath taught you in your hour of test
His Word that bids men pardon and forgo
And help each others' lives as love knows best.