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rudyard kipling - to the city of bombay - ghizela rowe lyrics

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the cities are full of pride
challenging each to each —
this from her mountain*side
that from her burthened beach

they count their ships full tale —
their corn and oil and wine
derrick and loom and bale
and rampart’s gun*flecked line;
city by city they hail:
“hast aught to match with mine?”

and the men that breed from them
they traffic up and down
but cling to their cities’ hem
as a child to their mother’s gown

when they talk with the stranger bands
dazed and newly alone;
when they walk in the stranger lands
by roaring streets unknown;
blessing her where she stands
for strength above their own

(on high to hold her fame
that stands all fame beyond
by oath to back the same
most faithful*foolish*fond;
making her mere*breathed name
their bond upon their bond.)
so thank i god my birth
fell not in isles aside —
waste headlands of the earth
or warring tribes untried —
but that she lent me worth
and gave me right to pride

surely in toil or fray
under an alien sky
comfort it is to say:
“of no mean city am i!”

(neither by service nor fee
come i to mine estate —
mother of cities to me
for i was born in her gate
between the palms and the sea
where the world*end steamers wait.)

now for this debt i owe
and for her far*borne cheer
must i make haste and go
with tribute to her pier

and she shall touch and remit
after the use of kings
(orderly, ancient, fit)
my deep*sea plunderings
and purchase in all lands
and this we do for a sign
her power is over mine
and mine i hold at her hands!

- ghizela rowe lyrics

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