| Rudyard Kipling (1865–1936). Verse: 1885–1918. 1922. | | | | The Veterans |
| | (Written for the gathering of survivors of the Indian Mutiny, Albert Hall, 1907.) |
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TO-DAY, across our fathers’ graves, | |
| The astonished years reveal | |
| The remnant of that desperate host | |
| Which cleansed our East with steel. | |
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| Hail and farewell! We greet you here, | 5 |
| With tears that none will scorn— | |
| O Keepers of the House of old, | |
| Or ever we were born! | |
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| One service more we dare to ask— | |
| Pray for us, heroes, pray, | 10 |
| That when Fate lays on us our task | |
| We do not shame the Day! | | | |
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