Daily Kipling Poem III.

[The Beatles]

Cold Iron

Gold is for the mistress�silver for the maid�
Copper for the craftsman cunning at his trade.�
“Good!� said the Baron, sitting in his hall,
“But Iron�Cold Iron�is master of them all.�

So he made rebellion ’gainst the King his liege,
Camped before his citadel and summoned it to siege.
“Nay!� said the cannoneer on the castle wall,
“But Iron�Cold Iron�shall be master of you all!�

Woe for the Baron and his knights so strong,
When the cruel cannon-balls laid ’em all along;
He was taken prisoner, he was cast in thrall,
And Iron�Cold Iron�was master of it all!

Yet his King spake kindly (ah, how kind a Lord!)
“What if I release thee now and give thee back thy sword?�
“Nay!� said the Baron, “mock not at my fall,
For Iron�Cold Iron�is master of men all.�

“Tears are for the craven, prayers are for the clown�
Halters for the silly neck that cannot keep a crown.�
“As my loss is grievous, so my hope is small,
For Iron�Cold Iron�must be master of men all!�

Yet his King made answer (few such Kings there be!)
“Here is Bread and here is Wine�sit and sup with me.
Eat and drink in Mary’s Name, the whiles I do recall
How Iron�Cold Iron�can be master of men all!�

He took the Wine and blessed it. He blessed and brake the Bread,
With His own Hands He served Them, and presently He Said:
“See! These Hands they pierced with nails, outside My city wall,
Show Iron�Cold Iron�to be master of men all:

“Wounds are for the desperate, blows are for the strong.
Balm and oil for weary hearts all cut and bruised with wrong.
I forgive thy treason�I redeem thy fall�
For Iron�Cold Iron�must be master of men all!�

“Crowns are for the valiant�sceptres for the bold!
Thrones and powers for mighty men who dare to take and hold.�
“Nay!� said the Baron, kneeling in his hall,
“But Iron�Cold Iron�is master of men all!
Iron out of Calvary is master of men all!�


--Rudyard Kipling