To Rudyard Kipling

What need have you of praising? Could I find Some lonely poet no one praises yet, Him rather would I choose, that he might know A fellow-craftsman knew him, marked him, loved. But you — the whole world praises you. What need Have you of any speech I have to give? Yet for the craft's sake I must give you praise; And for the craft's sake you will pardon me. But I would rather meet you face to face And talk of other and indifferent things, And say no word of all that I would say, Praise and thanksgiving for your splendid song, Praise and the pride of the empires of the Blood — But leave you, silent, as we English do — And you would know — and you would understand.