Page:Rudyard Kipling's verse - Inclusive Edition 1885-1918.djvu/122

104 To the trumpet-flowers and the moon beyond,

And the tree-toad's chorus drowning all—

And the lisp of the split banana-frond

That talked us to sleep when we were small.

The wayside magic, the threshold spells,

Shall soon undo what the North has done—

Because of the sights and the sounds and the smells

That ran with our youth in the eye of the sun.

And Earth accepting shall ask no vows,

Nor the Sea our love, nor our lover the Sky.

When we return to our Father's House

Only the English shall wonder why!

ZION

1914-18

HE Doorkeepers of Zion,

They do not always stand

In helmet and whole armour,

With halberds in their hand;

But, being sure of Zion,

And all her mysteries,

They rest awhile in Zion,

Sit down and smile in Zion;

Ay, even jest in Zion;

In Zion, at their ease.

The Gatekeepers of Baal,

They dare not sit or lean,

But fume and fret and posture

And foam and curse between;