Page:Rudyard Kipling's verse - Inclusive Edition 1885-1918.djvu/641

 INCLUSIVE EDITION, 1885-1918 623

THE VOORTREKKER

"TTHE gull shall whistle in his wake, the blind wave break

in fire.

He shall fulfil God's utmost will, unknowing his desire. And he shall see old planets change and alien stars arise, And give the gale his seaworn sail in shadow of new skies, Strong lust of gear shall drive him forth and hunger arm his

hand, To win his food from the desert rude, his pittance from the

sand. His neighbours' smoke shall vex his eyes, their voices break

his rest.

He shall go forth till south is north sullen and dispossessed. He shall desire loneliness and his desire shall bring, Hard on his heels, a thousand wheels, a People and a King. He shall come back on his own track, and by his scarce-cooled

camp There shall he meet the roaring street, the derrick and the

stamp: There he shall blaze a nation's ways with hatchet and with

brand, Till on his last-won wilderness an Empire's outposts stand!

A SCHOOL SONG

T ET us now praise famous

Men of little showing For their work continueth. And their work continueth, Broad and deep continueth, Greater than their knowing !