The Children's Song by Rudyard Kipling

To All Our Veterans

I sing to thee a poem -

Land of our Birth, we pledge to thee
Our love and toil in the years to be;
When we are grown and take our place
As men and women with our race.

Father in Heaven who lovest all,
Oh, help Thy children when they call;
That they may build from age to age
An undefiled heritage.

Teach us to bear the yoke in youth,
With steadfastness and careful truth;
That, in our time, Thy Grace may give
The Truth whereby the Nations live.

Teach us to rule ourselves alway,
Controlled and cleanly night and day;
That we may bring, if need arise,
No maimed or worthless sacrifice.

Teach us to look in all our ends
On Thee for judge, and not our friends;
That we, with Thee, may walk uncowed
By fear or favour of the crowd.

Teach us the Strength that cannot seek,
By deed or thought, to hurt the weak;
That, under Thee, we may possess
Man's strength to comfort man's distress.

Teach us Delight in simple things,
And Mirth that has no bitter springs;
Forgiveness free of evil done,
And Love to all men 'neath the sun!

If you have checked my profile, you know I do not have favorite books. I do have favorite Poems and Poets and Authors.

Rudyard Kipling (Born December 30, 1865, Died January 18, 1936) for one.

If you are interested in learning about Mr. Kipling and his work check out this site -http://www.poetryloverspage.com/poets/kipling/kipling_ind.html

The last stanza of this poem is a life creed I live by. What a world this could be if more people adopt and live that as truth. My next post is dedicated to this poem.