THE SEVEN SEAS

BY RUDYARD KIPLING

METHUEN AND CO.

LONDON

Colonial Library

PUBLIC LI BARY

575005B

ASTOR, LINA AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS R 1951 L

DEDICATION

TO THE CITY OF BOMBAY

The Cities are full of pride,
Challenging each to each-
This from her mountain-side,

That from her burthened beach.

They count their ships full tale—
Their corn and oil and wine,
Derrick and loom and bale,

And rampart's gun-flecked line;
City by City they hail :

'Hast aught to match with mine?'

And the men that breed from them
They traffic up and down,
But cling to their cities' hem

As a child to the mother's gonn.

When they talk with the stranger bands, Dazed and newly alone;

When they walk in the stranger lands,
By roaring streets unknown ;

Blessing her where she stands
For strength above their own.