photo sharing and upload picture albums photo forums search pictures popular photos photography help login
Sony Forums Challenges | all galleries >> Challenge 77: Literary Reference (hosted by Michael Puff) >> Challenge 77 Exhibition > edit image
previous | next
16/04/2004

"Recessional" by Rudyard Kipling*
by

London

God of our fathers, known of old--
Lord of our far-flung battle line
Beneath whose awful hand we hold
Dominion over palm and pine--
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget - lest we forget!

The tumult and the shouting dies;
The captains and the kings depart:
Still stands Thine ancient sacrifice,
An humble and a contrite heart.
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget - lest we forget!

Far-called, our navies melt away;
On dune and headland sinks the fire:
Lo, all our pomp of yesterday
Is one with Nineveh and Tyre!
Judge of the Nations, spare us yet,
Lest we forget - lest we forget!

If, drunk with sight of power, we loose
Wild tongues that have not Thee in awe--
Such boasting as the Gentiles use
Or lesser breeds without the law--
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget - lest we forget!

For heathen heart that puts her trust
In reeking tube and iron shard--
All valiant dust that builds on dust,
And guarding, calls not Thee to guard--
For frantic boast and foolish word,
Thy mercy on Thy people, Lord!

NOTES:
1) This is a politically charged poem, however please lets not use this forum to dicuss the politics of this poem.
2) Please do comment on how the poem relates to the photo from a photographic standpoint and how the photograph can be improved.
3) Image manipulated in photoshop to give it an Old inky newspaper look, similar to the one on St.Pauls.
Regards

Hassan


other sizes: small medium large original auto
comment | share
Guest 20-Sep-2004 20:02
Thanks for your support Helen.
Helen Betts20-Sep-2004 12:21
Very powerful image, Hassan. I was going to vote for this one, anyway, of the two but never seemed to have time to comment until now. Nicely done. Helen
Guest 19-Sep-2004 21:35
Thanks for the comment Michael.
Guest 18-Sep-2004 19:34
Hassan, I remember the two original images and I believe your final solution fits the Kipling verse like a glove. A great idea, powerfully executed. -Michael
Guest 16-Sep-2004 10:53
Dear Mike,
I very much appreciate your thoughts and comments.
Hassan
Guest 16-Sep-2004 01:10
Hassan, yes I do think this sombre mood fits. Kipling was evoking gravity and melancholy, and disowning fanfare and false glory. I think he would approve... - Mike
Guest 16-Sep-2004 00:22
Dear Mike,

I like the idea, see updated image above. I'll remove entry 2. Thanks alot for the comments. Looks much better now.

Hassan
Guest 15-Sep-2004 22:30
Hassan, excellent choice; I think Kipling's words and this image go together extraordinarily well. As for my own leanings, well I prefer the second one, but would like a bit of detail left in the statue. Try inverting version 2 (still in RGB) to negative, and then fading the inversion to around 15% to 17%, and see what you think. -- Mike