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\centerline{\bf A PILGRIM'S WAY}
\centerline{Rudyard Kipling}
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I do not look for holy saints to guide me on my way,
Or male and female devilkins to lead my feet astray.
If these are added, I rejoice---if not, I shall not mind,
So long as I have leave and choice to meet my fellow-kind.
\quad For as we come and as we go (and deadly-soon go we!)
\quad The people, Lord, Thy people, are good enough for me!

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Thus I will honour pious men whose virtue shines so bright
(Though none are more amazed than I when I by chance do right),
And I will pity foolish men for woe their sins have bred
(Though ninety-nine per cent. of mine I brought on my own head).
\quad And, Amorite or Eremite, or General Averagee,
\quad The people, Lord, Thy people, are good enough for me!

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And when they bore me overmuch, I will not shake mine ears,
Recalling many thousand such whom I have bored to tears.
And when they labour to impress, I will not doubt nor scoff;
Since I myself have done no less and---sometimes pulled it off.
\quad Yea, as we are and we are not, and we pretend to be,
\quad The people, Lord, Thy people, are good enough for me!

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And when they work me random wrong, as oftentimes hath been,
I will not cherish hate too long (my hands are none too clean).
And when they do me random good I will not feign surprise.
No more than those whom I have cheered with wayside charities.
\quad But, as we give and as we take---whate'er our takings be---
\quad The people, Lord, Thy people, are good enough for me!

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But when I meet with frantic folk who sinfully declare
There is no pardon for their sin, the same I will not spare
Till I have proved that Heaven and Hell which in our hearts we have
Show nothing irredeemable on either side of the grave.
\quad For as we live and as we die---if utter Death there be---
\quad The people, Lord, Thy people, are good enough for me!

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Deliver me from every pride---the Middle, High, and Low---
That bars me from a brother's side, whatever pride he show.
And purge me from all heresies of thought and speech and pen
That bid me judge him otherwise than I am judged. {\it Amen!}
That I may sing of Crowd or King or road-borne company,
That I may labour in my day, vocation and degree,
To prove the same in deed and name, and hold unshakenly
(Where'er I go, whate'er I know, whoe'er my neighbor be)
This single faith in Life and Death and to Eternity:
``The people, Lord, Thy people, are good enough for me!''

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