Land of our Birth, we pledge to thee

Land of our Birth, we pledge to thee. Rudyard Kipling* (1865-1936). This is the concluding poem in Kipling’s Puck of Pook’s Hill (1906), a series of stories and poems for young people constructed on episodes of English history. It was entitled ‘The Children’s Song’. It had eight stanzas, all of which are found in SofP: Land of our Birth, we pledge to theeOur love and toil in the years to be;When we are grown and take our place,As men and women of our race. Father in heaven, who lovest all,O help thy children when they call,,That they may build from age to ageAn undefilèd heritage. Teach us to bear the yoke in youth,With steadfastness and careful truth;That, in our time thy grace may giveThe...