Page:Rudyard Kipling's verse - Inclusive Edition 1885-1918.djvu/629

 INCLUSIVE EDITION, 1885-1918 611

Here we sit in a branchy row,

Thinking of beautiful things we know;

Dreaming of deeds that we mean to do,

All complete, in a minute or two

Something noble and grand and good,

Won by merely wishing we could.

Now we're going to never mind, Brother, thy tail hangs down behind !

All the talk we ever have heard Uttered by bat or beast or bird Hide or fin or scale or feather Jabber it quickly and all together! Excellent! Wonderful! Once again! Now we are talking just like men.

Let's pretend we are. . . Nevermind!

Brother, thy tail hangs down behind !

This is the way of the Monkey-kind!

Then join our leaping lines that scumfish through the pines. That rocket by where, light and high, the wild-grape swings. By the rubbish in our wake, and the noble noise we make, Be sure be sure, we're going to do some splendid things!

THE FABULISTS

1914-18

fHEN all the world would keep a matter hid,

Since Truth is seldom friend to any crov/d, Men write in fable, as old ^Esop did,

Jesting at that which none will name aloud. And this they needs mi^st do, or it will fall Unless they please they are not heard at all