WHEN in the course of human Events, it becomes necessary….
The City of Brass: The fulfillment of Kipling’s prophecy is at hand.
byVanderleunonJune 30, 2022
When the riotous set them at naught they said: “Praise the upheaval!
For the show and the world and the thought of Dominion is evil!”
They unwound and flung from them with rage, as a rag that defied them,
The imperial gains of the age which their forefathers piled them.
They ran panting in haste to lay waste and embitter forever
The wellsprings of Wisdom and Strengths which are Faith and Endeavour.
They nosed out and dug up and dragged forth and exposed to derision
All doctrine of purpose and worth and restraint and prevision:
And it ceased, and God granted them all things for which they had striven,
And the heart of a beast in the place of a man’s heart was given. . . .
. . . . . . . .
When they were fullest of wine and most flagrant in error,
Out of the sea rose a sign – out of Heaven a terror.
Then they saw, then they heard, then they knew – for none troubled to hide it,
A host had prepared their destruction, but still they denied it.
They denied what they dared not abide if it came to the trail;
But the Sward that was forged while they lied did not heed their denial.
It drove home, and no time was allowed to the crowd that was driven.
The preposterous-minded were cowed – they thought time would be given.
There was no need of a steed nor a lance to pursue them;
It was decreed their own deed, and not a chance, should undo them.
The tares they had laughingly sown were ripe to the reaping.
The trust they had leagued to disown was removed from their keeping.
The eaters of other men’s bread, the exempted from hardship,
The excusers of impotence fled, abdicating their wardship, For the hate they had taught through the State brought the State no defender,
And it passed from the roll of the Nations in headlong surrender!
Assyria. Babylon. Rome. The European empires: the Czars, the Austro-Hungarians, and the Holy Roman Germanics.
Pfffffft. (I didn’t want to challenge RK, so I just said Pffft. I’m no writer).
What will happen, in our day, when a large hand floats from the ether, and writes upon the wall? The Death of Sardanapalus will look like a carnival ride.
And let’s not forget that the Saxons learned to hate, and Americans are learning also, slowly but surely.
Steve (retired/recovering lawyer)June 30, 2022, 2:01 PM
The more Kipling I read the more I am convinced that the man had the gift of prophecy.
ThisIsNotNutellaJune 30, 2022, 4:07 PM
Kind of. He had Perspective. Being born and growing up out in the Empire and not in the Metropolitan Core had its advantages here. Add to that that his father was a museum curator and tended the bones of other people’s empires upon which his people’s empire sat…
It’s very hard to have Perspective. Harder yet to do so without being an annoying wanker. K pulled it off.
ThisIsNotNutellaJune 30, 2022, 6:32 PM
Now *this* is a Prophecy:
“And thou shalt eat the fruit of thine own body, the flesh of thy sons and of thy daughters.”
Deuteronomy 28:53
(Hat Tip: The Orthosphere latest post)
They don’t make ’em like they used to. The Prophecies, I mean. Target Audience being another story entirely.
Kipling’s apocalyptic poem is among my favorites. It echoes the thoughts of Ralph Waldo Emerson in his darkest and most penetrating essay, “Compensation:”
“You cannot do wrong without suffering wrong. Justice is not postponed….Every secret is told, every crime is punished, every virtue rewarded, every wrong redressed, in silence and certainty.”
Real World Address for Donations, Mash Notes and Hate Mail
Gerard Van der Leun
1692 MANGROVE AVE
APT 379
Chico, Ca 95926
Green Pants Interior by Klahn
Who Am I? by Carl Sandburg
My head knocks against the stars.
My feet are on the hilltops.
My finger-tips are in the valleys and shores of universal life.
Down in the sounding foam of primal things I reach my hands and play with pebbles of destiny.
I have been to hell and back many times.
I know all about heaven, for I have talked with God.
I dabble in the blood and guts of the terrible.
I know the passionate seizure of beauty
And the marvelous rebellion of man at all signs reading “Keep Off.”
My name is Truth and I am the most elusive captive in the universe.
Duty, Beauty, Liberty, Country, Honor, Family, Faith — Plus a few simple easy to follow rules for guys
Men saw the stars at the edge of the sea
They thought great thoughts about liberty
Poets wrote down words that did fit
Writers wrote books
Thinkers thought about it
Take it where you find it
Can’t leave it alone
You will find a purpose
To carry it on
Mainly when you find it
Your heart will be strong
About it
Many’s the road I have walked upon
Many’s the hour between dusk and dawn
Many’s the time
Many’s the mile
I see it all now
Through the eyes of a child
Take it where you find it
Can’t leave it alone
You will find a purpose
To carry it on
Mainly when you find it
Your heart will be strong
About it
[Chorus]
Lost dreams and found dreams
In America
In America
In America
Lost dreams and found dreams
In America
In America
In America
And close your eyes
Leave it all for a while
Leave the world
And your worries behind
You will build on whatever is real
And wake up each day
To a new waking dream
Take it where you find it
Can’t leave it alone
You will find a purpose
To carry it on
Mainly when you find it
Your heart will be strong
About it
[Chorus]
Change, change come over
Change come over
Talkin’ about a change
Change, change
Change come over, now
Change, change, change come over
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I see my light
See my light
See my shining light
I see my light
See my light
See my shining light
When the riotous set them at naught they said: “Praise the upheaval!
Gerard Van der Leun
Comments on this entry are closed.
Assyria. Babylon. Rome. The European empires: the Czars, the Austro-Hungarians, and the Holy Roman Germanics.
Pfffffft. (I didn’t want to challenge RK, so I just said Pffft. I’m no writer).
What will happen, in our day, when a large hand floats from the ether, and writes upon the wall? The Death of Sardanapalus will look like a carnival ride.
And let’s not forget that the Saxons learned to hate, and Americans are learning also, slowly but surely.
The more Kipling I read the more I am convinced that the man had the gift of prophecy.
Kind of. He had Perspective. Being born and growing up out in the Empire and not in the Metropolitan Core had its advantages here. Add to that that his father was a museum curator and tended the bones of other people’s empires upon which his people’s empire sat…
It’s very hard to have Perspective. Harder yet to do so without being an annoying wanker. K pulled it off.
Now *this* is a Prophecy:
“And thou shalt eat the fruit of thine own body, the flesh of thy sons and of thy daughters.”
Deuteronomy 28:53
(Hat Tip: The Orthosphere latest post)
They don’t make ’em like they used to. The Prophecies, I mean. Target Audience being another story entirely.
Kipling’s apocalyptic poem is among my favorites. It echoes the thoughts of Ralph Waldo Emerson in his darkest and most penetrating essay, “Compensation:”
“You cannot do wrong without suffering wrong. Justice is not postponed….Every secret is told, every crime is punished, every virtue rewarded, every wrong redressed, in silence and certainty.”
The time is almost upon us.