• Rudyard Kipling

    The Anvil

    England’s on the anvil — hear the hammers ring —
    Clanging from the Severn to the Tyne!
    Never was a blacksmith like our Norman King —
    England’s being hammered, hammered, hammered into line.

    England’s on the anvil! Heavy are the blows!
    (But the work will be a marvel when it’s done.)
    Little bits of Kingdoms cannot stand against their foes.
    England’s being hammered, hammered, hammered into one!

    There shall be one people — it shall serve one Lord —
    (Neither Priest nor Baron shall escape!)
    It shall have one speech and law, soul and strength and sword.
    England’s being hammered, hammered, hammered into shape!