Rudyard Kipling

The Veterans

Written for the  Gathering of  Survivors the  Indian Mutiny,
                            Albert Hall, 1907


To-day, across our fathers' graves,
  The astonished  years reveal
The remnant of that desperate host
  Which cleansed our East with steel.

Hail and farewell! We greet you here,
  With tears that none will scorn--
O Keepers of the House of old,
  Or ever we were born!

One service more we dare to ask--
  Pray for us, heroes, pray,
That when Fate lays on us our task
  We do not shame the Day!