The Gods of the Copybook Headings: Difference between revisions
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The Gods of the Copybook Headings | [http://www.kiplingsociety.co.uk/poems_copybook.htm The Gods of the Copybook Headings] | ||
== The Gods of the Copybook Headings == | |||
AS I PASS through my incarnations in every age and race, | [http://www.kiplingsociety.co.uk/kip_fra.htm RUDYARD KIPLING] | ||
I make my proper prostrations to the Gods of the Market Place. | |||
Peering through reverent fingers I watch them flourish and fall, | |||
AS I PASS through my incarnations in every age and race,<Br> | |||
I make my proper prostrations to the Gods of the Market Place.<Br> | |||
Peering through reverent fingers I watch them flourish and fall,<Br> | |||
And the Gods of the Copybook Headings, I notice, outlast them all. | And the Gods of the Copybook Headings, I notice, outlast them all. | ||
We were living in trees when they met us. They showed us each in turn | We were living in trees when they met us. They showed us each in turn<Br> | ||
That Water would certainly wet us, as Fire would certainly burn: | That Water would certainly wet us, as Fire would certainly burn:<Br> | ||
But we found them lacking in Uplift, Vision and Breadth of Mind, | But we found them lacking in Uplift, Vision and Breadth of Mind,<Br> | ||
So we left them to teach the Gorillas while we followed the March of Mankind. | So we left them to teach the Gorillas while we followed the March of Mankind. | ||
We moved as the Spirit listed. They never altered their pace, | We moved as the Spirit listed. They never altered their pace,<Br> | ||
Being neither cloud nor wind-borne like the Gods of the Market Place, | Being neither cloud nor wind-borne like the Gods of the Market Place,<Br> | ||
But they always caught up with our progress, and presently word would come | But they always caught up with our progress, and presently word would come<Br> | ||
That a tribe had been wiped off its icefield, or the lights had gone out in Rome. | That a tribe had been wiped off its icefield, or the lights had gone out in Rome. | ||
With the Hopes that our World is built on they were utterly out of touch, | With the Hopes that our World is built on they were utterly out of touch,<Br> | ||
They denied that the Moon was Stilton; they denied she was even Dutch; | They denied that the Moon was Stilton; they denied she was even Dutch;<Br> | ||
They denied that Wishes were Horses; they denied that a Pig had Wings; | They denied that Wishes were Horses; they denied that a Pig had Wings;<Br> | ||
So we worshipped the Gods of the Market Who promised these beautiful things. | So we worshipped the Gods of the Market Who promised these beautiful things. | ||
When the Cambrian measures were forming, They promised perpetual peace. | When the Cambrian measures were forming, They promised perpetual peace.<Br> | ||
They swore, if we gave them our weapons, that the wars of the tribes would cease. | They swore, if we gave them our weapons, that the wars of the tribes would cease.<Br> | ||
But when we disarmed They sold us and delivered us bound to our foe, | But when we disarmed They sold us and delivered us bound to our foe,<Br> | ||
And the Gods of the Copybook Headings said: "Stick to the Devil you know." | And the Gods of the Copybook Headings said: "Stick to the Devil you know." | ||
On the first Feminian Sandstones we were promised the Fuller Life | On the first Feminian Sandstones we were promised the Fuller Life<Br> | ||
(Which started by loving our neighbour and ended by loving his wife) | (Which started by loving our neighbour and ended by loving his wife)<Br> | ||
Till our women had no more children and the men lost reason and faith, | Till our women had no more children and the men lost reason and faith,<Br> | ||
And the Gods of the Copybook Headings said: "The Wages of Sin is Death." | And the Gods of the Copybook Headings said: "The Wages of Sin is Death." | ||
In the Carboniferous Epoch we were promised abundance for all, | In the Carboniferous Epoch we were promised abundance for all, <Br> | ||
By robbing selected Peter to pay for collective Paul; | By robbing selected Peter to pay for collective Paul; <Br> | ||
But, though we had plenty of money, there was nothing our money could buy, | But, though we had plenty of money, there was nothing our money could buy,<Br> | ||
And the Gods of the Copybook Headings said: "If you don't work you die." | And the Gods of the Copybook Headings said: "If you don't work you die." | ||
Then the Gods of the Market tumbled, and their smooth-tongued wizards withdrew | Then the Gods of the Market tumbled, and their smooth-tongued wizards withdrew<Br> | ||
And the hearts of the meanest were humbled and began to believe it was true | And the hearts of the meanest were humbled and began to believe it was true<Br> | ||
That All is not Gold that Glitters, and Two and Two make Four | That All is not Gold that Glitters, and Two and Two make Four<Br> | ||
And the Gods of the Copybook Headings limped up to explain it once more. | And the Gods of the Copybook Headings limped up to explain it once more. | ||
As it will be in the future, it was at the birth of Man | As it will be in the future, it was at the birth of Man<Br> | ||
There are only four things certain since Social Progress began. | There are only four things certain since Social Progress began. <Br> | ||
That the Dog returns to his Vomit and the Sow returns to her Mire, | That the Dog returns to his Vomit and the Sow returns to her Mire, <Br> | ||
And the burnt Fool's bandaged finger goes wabbling back to the Fire; | And the burnt Fool's bandaged finger goes wabbling back to the Fire; | ||
And that after this is accomplished, and the brave new world begins | And that after this is accomplished, and the brave new world begins<Br> | ||
When all men are paid for existing and no man must pay for his sins, | When all men are paid for existing and no man must pay for his sins,<Br> | ||
As surely as Water will wet us, as surely as Fire will burn, | As surely as Water will wet us, as surely as Fire will burn, <Br> | ||
The Gods of the Copybook Headings with terror and slaughter return! | The Gods of the Copybook Headings with terror and slaughter return! | ||
[[Category:People]] | |||
Latest revision as of 19:18, 28 March 2023
The Gods of the Copybook Headings
The Gods of the Copybook Headings
AS I PASS through my incarnations in every age and race,
I make my proper prostrations to the Gods of the Market Place.
Peering through reverent fingers I watch them flourish and fall,
And the Gods of the Copybook Headings, I notice, outlast them all.
We were living in trees when they met us. They showed us each in turn
That Water would certainly wet us, as Fire would certainly burn:
But we found them lacking in Uplift, Vision and Breadth of Mind,
So we left them to teach the Gorillas while we followed the March of Mankind.
We moved as the Spirit listed. They never altered their pace,
Being neither cloud nor wind-borne like the Gods of the Market Place,
But they always caught up with our progress, and presently word would come
That a tribe had been wiped off its icefield, or the lights had gone out in Rome.
With the Hopes that our World is built on they were utterly out of touch,
They denied that the Moon was Stilton; they denied she was even Dutch;
They denied that Wishes were Horses; they denied that a Pig had Wings;
So we worshipped the Gods of the Market Who promised these beautiful things.
When the Cambrian measures were forming, They promised perpetual peace.
They swore, if we gave them our weapons, that the wars of the tribes would cease.
But when we disarmed They sold us and delivered us bound to our foe,
And the Gods of the Copybook Headings said: "Stick to the Devil you know."
On the first Feminian Sandstones we were promised the Fuller Life
(Which started by loving our neighbour and ended by loving his wife)
Till our women had no more children and the men lost reason and faith,
And the Gods of the Copybook Headings said: "The Wages of Sin is Death."
In the Carboniferous Epoch we were promised abundance for all,
By robbing selected Peter to pay for collective Paul;
But, though we had plenty of money, there was nothing our money could buy,
And the Gods of the Copybook Headings said: "If you don't work you die."
Then the Gods of the Market tumbled, and their smooth-tongued wizards withdrew
And the hearts of the meanest were humbled and began to believe it was true
That All is not Gold that Glitters, and Two and Two make Four
And the Gods of the Copybook Headings limped up to explain it once more.
As it will be in the future, it was at the birth of Man
There are only four things certain since Social Progress began.
That the Dog returns to his Vomit and the Sow returns to her Mire,
And the burnt Fool's bandaged finger goes wabbling back to the Fire;
And that after this is accomplished, and the brave new world begins
When all men are paid for existing and no man must pay for his sins,
As surely as Water will wet us, as surely as Fire will burn,
The Gods of the Copybook Headings with terror and slaughter return!