The passing chimes

Of Westminster Cathedral bring to mind

A former time

When belief in empire still burned strong.

Yet in his song

Rudyard Kipling foresaw

That the fire

Of the British Empire

Would burn no more.

Westminster Cathedral’s chimes

Will continue on

When I am gone

And Kipling’s great rhymes

Will be condemned

(As before)

By men

Who have never read

“Recessional”. and know not he foresaw

That the red

Of empire would show no more.