← Autodidact Archive · Original Dissent · Leveller
Thread ID: 12092 | Posts: 4 | Started: 2004-01-31
2004-01-31 18:52 | User Profile
The Stranger Rudyard Kipling
The Stranger within my gate, He may be true or kind, But he does not talk my talk-- I cannot feel his mind. I see the face and the eyes and the mouth, But not the soul behind.
The men of my own stock, They may do ill or well, But they tell the lies I am wonted to, They are used to the lies I tell; And we do not need interpreters When we go to buy or sell.
The Stranger within my gates. He may be evil or good, But I cannot tell what powers control-- What reasons sway his mood; Nor when the gods of his far-off land, Shall repossess his blood.
The men of my own stock, Bitter bad they may be, But, at least, they hear the things I hear, And see the things I see; And whatever I think of them and their likes They think of the likes of me.
This was my father's belief And this is also mine: Let the corn be all of one sheaf-- And the grapes be all one vine, Ere our children's teeth are set on edge By bitter bread and wine.
2004-01-31 20:36 | User Profile
Thank you for this, Leveller. How true it is.
As an epilogue of sorts, here is something a bit more recent:
We may seem cold, or We may even be The most depressing people you've ever known At heart, what's left, we sadly know That we are the last truly British people you'll ever know We are the last truly British people you will ever know
2004-01-31 22:16 | User Profile
More English/Stranger stuff:
*Standing on a beach With a gun in my hand Staring at the sea Staring at the sand Staring down the barrel At the arab on the ground See his open mouth But hear no sound
I'm alive I'm dead I'm the stranger Killing an arab
I can turn and walk away Or I can fire the gun Staring at the sky Staring at the sun Whichever I choose It amounts to the same
Absolutely nothing
I'm alive I'm dead I'm the stranger Killing an arab
Feel the steel butt jump Smooth in my hand Staring at the sea Staring at the sand Staring at myself Reflected in the eyes of The dead man on the beach
The dead man On the beach
I'm alive I'm dead I'm the stranger Killing an arab*
2004-01-31 22:21 | User Profile
And another tip of the hat to Kipling I particularly like and I'll quit spamming:
*The word went round in no dream town They shut us up and the shutters down The planes flew in and laid the ground We built upon and spun around God's one miracle Lost in circles
On the march Berlin to Bombers Bay Traveling dark on the roads to Mandalay
Cannon fire came to call Stood us up and watched us fall The way we were and now outworn Our costumes changed to uniforms Black black days here to stay
On the march Madrid to Bombers Bay Traveling dark on the road to Mandalay
Pack up the troubles and you'll all get by Smile boys that's the style Pack up your troubles and you'll all get by Smile
They give us hope and teach us well with magic moons that cast a spell and hypnotise and draw us in I believe I'm believing God's one miracle moves in circles
On the march Berlin to Bombers Bay Traveling dark on the road
On the march Berlin to Bombers Bay Traveling dark on the roads to Mandalay
Black black days where the flying fishes play Black black days where the flying fishes play Black black days where the flying fishes play Black black days where the flying fishes play...*