English for today Class Eight, Unite 5, Lesson 8,The children's song

Unit Five

Making a difference

Lesson 8: The children's song

A. Read and recite the poem.

The children's song
Land of our Birth, we pledge to thee
Our love and toil in the years to be;
When we are grown and take our place
As men and women of our race.

Father in Heaven, Who lovest all,
Oh help Thy children when they call;
That they may build from age to age,
An undefined heritage.

Teach us to bear the yoke in youth,
With steadfastness and careful truth;

That, in our time, Thy Grace may give
The Truth whereby the Nations live.

Teach us to rule ourselves always,
Controlled and cleanly night and day;
That we may bring, if need arise,
No maimed and worthless sacrifice.

Teach us to look, in all our ends,
On Thee for judge, and not our friends
That we, with Thee, may walk uncowed
By fear or favour of the crowd.
Teach us the strength that cannot seek,
By deed or thought, to hurt the weak;
That, under Thee, we may possess
Man's strength to comfort man's destress.

Teach us Delight in simple things,
And Mirth that had no bitter springs;
Forgiveness free of evil done,

And Love to all men, 'neath the sun!
Land of our Birth, our faith, our pride,
For whose dear sake our fathers died
Head, heart and hand through the years to be!
Rudyard Kipling

Word notes :
pledge : make a promise
toll : hard work
lovest : love
thy : your
undefiled  : pure
heritage  : the history, traditions, buildings and qualities that a country has had for many years and that are an important part of the country's character
yoke  : a piece of wood that holds two oxen together, while ploughing or pulling a cart
bear the yoke : shoulder the great responsibility

B. Read the poem silently and answer the questions.
1 What do the children promise to their motherland?
2 What do the children ask God to teach them?
3 Do you like the poem? Why?