by Daniel Kelly – 2025
Inspired by Rudyard Kipling’s words for the Canadian Engineering ‘Iron Ring’ ceremony.
In the presences of my betters and my equals I am called, To bind myself by iron cold, with the power that I hold, To suffer not a fault at work, or fault in steel or stone, But deal upright before mankind, that my soul remain my own. My time I sure will not refuse, I’ll grudge not thoughts to share, And likewise I will lend my care, each time my hand is there, To every work that I am called, on land or sea or air, With honour and the perfect goal, of every engineer. I’ll draw a wage that’s fair and just, and equal unto my part, My reputation I will guard, with courage in my heart, The praises of another I’ll not seek or entertain, But deal with each in honest faith without favour or gain, And further, I will early strive against the sin of pride, No envy of my peers’ success, in my heart will I hide, I seek pardon now, for times I’ll fail, but once acknowledge then, I’ll draw strength from this solemn oath, to rise better again.