"ONCE in so often," King Solomon said, <br /> Watching his quarrymen drill the stone, <br />"We will curb our garlic and wine and bread <br /> And banquet together beneath my Throne, <br />And all Brethren shall come to that mess <br />As Fellow-Craftsmen-no more and no less." <br /> <br />"Send a swift shallop to Hiram of Tyre, <br /> Felling and floating our beautiful trees, <br />Say that the Brethren and I desire <br /> Talk with our Brethren who use the seas. <br />And we shall be happy to meet them at mess <br />As Fellow-Craftsmen-no more and no less." <br /> <br />"Carry this message to Hiram Abif- <br /> Excellent master of forge and mine :- <br />I and the Brethren would like it if <br /> He and the Brethren will come to dine <br />(Garments from Bozrah or morning-dress) <br />As Fellow-Craftsmen-no more and no less." <br /> <br />"God gave the Cedar their place- <br /> Also the Bramble, the Fig and the Thorn- <br />But that is no reason to black a man's face <br /> Because he is not what he hasn't been born. <br />And, as touching the Temple, I hold and profess <br />We are Fellow-Craftsmen-no more and no less." <br /> <br />So it was ordered and so it was done, <br /> And the hewers of wood and the Masons of Mark, <br />With foc'sle hands of Sidon run <br /> And Navy Lords from the ROYAL ARK, <br />Came and sat down and were merry at mess <br />As Fellow-Craftsmen-no more and no less. <br /> <br />The Quarries are hotter than Hiram's forge, <br /> No one is safe from the dog-whip's reach. <br />It's mostly snowing up Lebanon gorge, <br /> And it's always blowing off Joppa beach; <br /> <br />But once in so often, the messenger brings <br />Solomon's mandate : "Forget these things! <br />Brother to Beggars and Fellow to Kings, <br />Companion of Princes-forget these things! <br />Fellow-Craftsmen, forget these things!"<br /><br />Rudyard Kipling<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/banquet-night-2/
