"To preserve the reputation of the Fraternity unsullied must be your constant care."

BE A FREEMASON

Saturday, January 12, 2008

The Rabbi's Song by Rudyard Kipling

IF THOUGHT can reach to Heaven,
On Heaven let it dwell,
For fear that Thought be given
Like power to reach to Hell.
For fear the desolation
And darkness of thy mind,
Perplex an habitation
Which thou hast left behind.

Let nothing linger after--
No whispering ghost remain,
In wall, or beam, or rafter,
Of any hate or pain:
Cleanse and call home thy spirit,
Deny her leave to cast,
On aught thy heirs inherit,
The shadow of her past.

For think, in all thy sadness,
What road our griefs may take;
Whose brain reflect our madness,
Or whom our terrors shake.
For think, lest any languish
By cause of thy distress
The arrows of our anguish
Fly farther than we guess.

Our lives, our tears, as water,
Are spilled upon the ground;
God giveth no man quarter,
Yet God a means hath found;
Though faith and hope have vanished,
And even love grows dim;
A means whereby His banished
Be not expelled from Him!

2 comments:

  1. That was very beautiful, Thanks for sharing it. I had read several of Kiplings books in the past but have never stumbled upon any of his poetry.

    Ken
    MasonicTravels.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. Much of Bro. Kipling's work is available free on line, including his poetry, all of which is very moving.
    I grew up with one of his poems framed on my wall: "If"
    That poem is at this site, along with his others:
    http://www.poetryloverspage.com/poets/kipling/kipling_ind.html

    ReplyDelete

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