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Home  »  The Oxford Book of English Verse  »  865. A Dedication

Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.

Rudyard Kipling. b. 1865

865. A Dedication

MY new-cut ashlar takes the light 
  Where crimson-blank the windows flare; 
By my own work, before the night, 
  Great Overseer, I make my prayer. 
 
If there be good in that I wrought,         5
  Thy hand compell’d it, Master, Thine; 
Where I have fail’d to meet Thy thought 
  I know, through Thee, the blame if mine. 
 
One instant’s toil to Thee denied 
  Stands all Eternity’s offence;  10
Of that I did with Thee to guide 
  To Thee, through Thee, be excellence. 
 
Who, lest all thought of Eden fade, 
  Bring’st Eden to the craftsman’s brain, 
Godlike to muse o’er his own trade  15
  And manlike stand with God again. 
 
The depth and dream of my desire, 
  The bitter paths wherein I stray, 
Thou knowest Who hast made the Fire, 
  Thou knowest Who hast made the Clay.  20
 
One stone the more swings to her place 
  In that dread Temple of Thy worth— 
It is enough that through Thy grace 
  I saw naught common on Thy earth. 
 
Take not that vision from my ken;  25
  O, whatsoe’er may spoil or speed, 
Help me to need no aid from men, 
  That I may help such men as need!