WHEN

 WHEN (TRIBUTE TO RUDYARD KIPLING)

By Peter Woodgate

WHEN YOU HAVE BEEN TRANSMUTED

FROM THE ESSENCE OF TIME

YET FIND YOURSELF JUST ONE AMONGST THE MANY

 

WHEN YOU HAVE EXISTED

FOR 5000 MILLION YEARS

AND WILL CONTINUE

FOR 5000 MILLION MORE

 

WHEN YOU CAN TAKE THE CHEMICAL ELEMENTS

AND BAKE THEM INTO THE MOST EXOTIC OF DISHES

AND STILL PRODUCE A SURPRISE FOR DESSERT

 

WHEN YOU CAN SHINE MORE BRIGHTLY

THAN THE BRIGHTEST OF, MOST PRECIOUS JEWELS

AND YET BE NO MORE THOUGHT OF

THAN THE AIR WE BREATHE

 

WHEN YOU CAN FEED THE MULTI-MILLION LIFEFORMS

THAT CO-EXIST IN ORGANISED CONFUSION

AND STILL HAVE HEART ENOUGH TO WARM THEM TOO

 

WHEN YOU HAVE DONE ALL THIS

WITH NO MORE GUIDANCE SAVE FOR NATURES PLAN

THEN YOU DESERVE A LITTLE PRAISE AT LEAST

 

AND WHICH IS MORE YOU WILL BE A SUN MY MAN.

 

Copyright Peter Woodgate