Lest We Forget -
The Fate of Dionysus
Perils of ArroganceThe words "Lest We Forget" form the refrain of the poem - "Recessional".
The words offer a warning about the perils of arrogance and the inevitable decline of imperial power, written only 15 years before the Passengers on the Titanic boarded that fateful ship.
"Recessional" is a poem by English short-story writer, novelist and poet laureate, Rudyard Kipling, composed for Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee in 1897. The Victorian Era in the History of Jewelry.
The poem expresses baronial pride in the British Empire, but intense sorrow, lest we forget, Empire might go down in vainglory, like all previous empires.
The writing of Kipling leaves a lasting impact. In 2010 the International Astronomical Union approved that a crater on the planet Mercury would be named after Kipling – one of ten newly discovered impact craters observed by the MESSENGER spacecraft in 2008–9.
Recessional
by Rudyard Kipling
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!
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!
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!
If, drunk with sight of power, we loose
Wild tongues that have not Thee in awe
Such boastings 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!
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