One moment bid the horses wait, <br />Since tiffin is not laid till three, <br />Below the upward path and straight <br />You climbed a year ago with me. <br />Love came upon us suddenly <br />And loosed - an idle hour to kill - <br />A headless, armless armory <br />That smote us both on Jakko Hill. <br /> <br />Ah Heaven! we would wait and wait <br />Through Time and to Eternity! <br />Ah Heaven! we could conquer Fate <br />With more than Godlike constancy <br />I cut the date upon a tree - <br />Here stand the clumsy figures still: <br />'10-7-85, A.D.' <br />Damp with the mist of Jakko Hill. <br /> <br />What came of high resolve and great, <br />And until Death fidelity! <br />Whose horse is waiting at your gate? <br />Whose 'rickshaw-wheels ride over me? <br />No Saint's, I swear; and - let me see <br />To-night what names your programme fill - <br />We drift asunder merrily, <br />As drifts the mist on Jakko Hill. <br /> <br />L'ENVOI. <br />Princess, behold our ancient state <br />Has clean departed; and we see <br />'Twas Idleness we took for Fate <br />That bound light bonds on you and me. <br />Amen! Here ends the comedy <br />Where it began in all good will; <br />Since Love and Leave together flee <br />As driven mist on Jakko Hill!<br /><br />Rudyard Kipling<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-ballad-of-jakko-hill/
