Jul 03 2009

The American rebellion by Rudyard Kipling

Published by tony at 10:30 pm under Random

Twas not while England’s sword unsheathed
Put half a world to flight,
Nor while their new-built cities breathed
Secure behind her might
Not while she poured from Pole to Line
Treasure and ships and men –
These worshippers at Freedom’s shrine,
They did not quit her then!

Not till their foes were driven forth
By England o’er the main –
Not till the Frenchman from the North
Had gone with shattered Spain
Not till the clean-swept oceans showed
No hostile flag unrolled
Did they remember what they owed
To Freedom – and were bold!

4 responses so far

4 Responses to “The American rebellion by Rudyard Kipling”

  1. # kortinaon 04 Jul 2009 at 12:06 am

    I thought this was going to be snarkier.

  2. # Matton 18 Aug 2009 at 12:59 pm

    Distant second to ‘If’: http://www.everypoet.com/archive/poetry/Rudyard_Kipling/kipling_if.htm

  3. # tonyon 18 Aug 2009 at 1:01 pm

    True, but it seemed more appropos to the moment :)

  4. # Alastair Humphreyson 21 Aug 2009 at 4:02 pm

    Thanks for this – I didn’t know this one.
    Al

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