THE WRATH OF
THE AWAKENED SAXON (Israelite)
THE AWAKENED SAXON (Israelite)
It was not part of their blood
It came to them very late
With long arrears to make good,
When the SAXONS began to hate,
They were not easily moved,
They were icy-willing to wait
Till every count should be proved
Ere the SAXONS began to hate.
Their voices were even and low,
Their eyes were level and straight,
There was neither sign nor show,
When the SAXONS began to hate.
It was not preached to the crowd
It was not taught by the State,
No man spoke it aloud,
When the SAXONS began to hate.
It was not suddenly bred,
It will not swiftly abate
Through the chilled years ahead
When Time shall count from the date
That the SAXONS began to hate.
--- by Rudyard Kipling
2 comments:
That is one of my all-time favorites! You chose an excellent image to illustrate it.
I also like this one from Kipling . . .
The Stranger
The Stranger within my gate,
He may be true or kind,
But he does not talk my talk --
I cannot feel his mind.
I see the face and the eyes and the mouth,
But not the soul behind.
The men of my own stock
They may do ill or well,
But they tell the lies I am wonted to.
They are used to the lies I tell,
And we do not need interpreters
When we go to buy and sell.
The Stranger within my gates,
He may be evil or good,
But I cannot tell what powers control
What reasons sway his mood;
Nor when the Gods of his far-off land
Shall repossess his blood.
The men of my own stock,
Bitter bad they may be,
But, at least, they hear the things I hear,
And see the things I see;
And whatever I think of them and their likes
They think of the likes of me.
This was my father's belief
And this is also mine:
Let the corn be all one sheaf --
And the grapes be all one vine,
Ere our children's teeth are set on edge
By bitter bread and wine.
Rudyard Kipling
Oh I like that too Brooke! Its funny how something (like this)so clearly describes our present situation.
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