The poem "The Return of the Children" which precedes "They" is very moving
Peter
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Rudyard Kipling
The Return of the Children
"They" -- Traffics and Discoveries
Neither the harps nor the crowns amused, nor the cherubs' dove-winged races--
Holding hands forlornly the Children wandered beneath the Dome,
Plucking the splendid robes of the passers-by, and with pitiful! faces
Begging what Princes and Powers refused:--"Ah, please will you let us go home?"
Over the jewelled floor, nigh weeping, ran to them Mary the Mother,
Kneeled and caressed and made promise with kisses, and drew them along to the gateway--
Yea, the all-iron unbribeable Door which Peter must guard and none other.
Straightway She took the Keys from his keeping, and opened and freed them straightway.
Then, to Her Son, Who had seen and smiled, She said: "On the night that I bore Thee,
What didst Thou care for a love beyond mine or a heaven that was not my arm?
Didst Thou push from the nipple, 0 Child, to hear the angels adore Thee
When we two lay in the breath of the kine?" And He said -- "Thou hast done no harm."
So through the Void the Children ran homeward merrily hand in hand,
Looking neither to left nor right where the breathless Heavens stood still.
And the Guards of the Void resheathed their swords, for they heard the Command:
"Shall I that have suffered the Children to come to Me hold them against their will? "
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From: To exchange information and views on the life and work of Rudyard Kipling [[log in to unmask]] on behalf of Alastair Wilson [[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 24 January 2014 17:42
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: David Page's Funeral
Dear All,
My apologies to those of you who are overseas for using this medium to keep members informed, but David was a very considerable Kipling scholar, and his death will be a sad loss to the society.
Brenda Page has just rung to tell me that David's funeral has been fixed for Wednesday 12 February at Chichester Crematorium at 1100.
She was very apologetic, because she realised too late that she had chosen the day of the Society meeting; I have reassured her that, as far as the meeting is concerned, there would be plenty of time for people to attend the funeral and the 'wake', and then go back to London in time for the meeting ( there is a train from Chichester at 3.41 pm, Victoria, 5.16 pm, which gives ample time to get up to the ROSL by 6 pm.) I fear though that people from north of London will not find it easy to attend.
The Council meeting is a bit more problematical. The Chairman is considering the alternatives, and either she or the Secretary will contact Council members in due course.
Trains from and to London run half-hourly - the 9.02 train from Victoria reaches Chichester at 10.35. The crematorium is 10 minutes taxi-ride from the station.
Brenda also asked me if we could suggest a piece of Kipling verse to go on the back of the Order of Service. Any thoughts, please?
Yours,
Alastair
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