The Declaration of London by Rudyard Kipling
We were all one heart and one race When the Abbey trumpets blew. For a moment’s breathing-space We had forgotten you. Now you return to your honoured place Panting to shame us anew. We have walked with the Ages dead– With our Past alive and ablaze. And you bid us pawn our honour for bread, […]
The Dead King by Rudyard Kipling
(EDWARD VII.) 1910 Who in the Realm to-day lays down dear life for the sake of a land more dear? And, unconcerned for his own estate, toils till the last grudged sands have run? Let him approach. It is proven here Our King asks nothing of any man more than Our King himself, has done. […]
The Day’s Work by Rudyard Kipling
We now, held in captivity, Spring to our bondage nor grieve– See now, how it is blesseder, Brothers, to give than receive! Keep trust, wherefore we were made, Paying the debt that we owe; For a clean thrust, and the shear of the blade, Will carry us where would go. The Ship that Found Herself. […]
The Craftsman by Rudyard Kipling
Once, after long-drawn revel at The Mermaid, He to the overbearing Boanerges Jonson, uttered (if half of it were liquor, Blessed be the vintage!) Saying how, at an alehouse under Cotswold, He had made sure of his very Cleopatra, Drunk with enormous, salvation-con temning Love for a tinker. How, while he hid from Sir Thomas’s […]
The Conundrum of the Workshops by Rudyard Kipling
When the flush of a new-born sun fell first on Eden’s green and gold, Our father Adam sat under the Tree and scratched with a stick in the mould; And the first rude sketch that the world had seen was joy to his mighty heart, Till the Devil whispered behind the leaves, “It’s pretty, but […]
The Comforters by Rudyard Kipling
Until thy feet have trod the Road Advise not wayside folk, Nor till thy back has borne the Load Break in upon the broke. Chase not with undesired largesse Of sympathy the heart Which, knowing her own bitterness, Presumes to dwell apart. Employ not that glad hand to raise The God-forgotten head To Heaven and […]
The Coastwise Lights by Rudyard Kipling
Our brows are bound with spindrift and the weed is on our knees; Our loins are battered ‘neath us by the swinging, smoking seas. From reef and rock and skerry — over headland, ness, and voe — The Coastwise Lights of England watch the ships of England go! Through the endless summer evenings, on the […]
The Children’s Song by Rudyard Kipling
Puck of Poock’s Hills 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 with our race. Father in Heaven who lovest all, Oh, help Thy children when they call; That they may build from age […]
The Captive by Rudyard Kipling
Not with an outcry to Allah nor any complaining He answered his name at the muster and stood to the chaining. When the twin anklets were nipped on the leg-bars that held them, He brotherly greeted the armourers stooping to weld them. Ere the sad dust of the marshalled feet of the chain-gang swallowed him, […]
The Burial by Rudyard Kipling
1904(C. F. Rhodes, buried in the Matoppos, April 10, 1902) When that great Kings return to clay, Or Emperors in their pride, Grief of a day shall fill a day, Because its creature died. But we — we reck on not with those Whom the mere Fates ordain, This Power that wrought on us and […]
The Broken Men by Rudyard Kipling
For things we never mention, For Art misunderstood — For excellent intention That did not turn to good; From ancient tales’ renewing, From clouds we would not clear — Beyond the Law’s pursuing We fled, and settled here. We took no tearful leaving, We bade no long good-byes; Men talked of crime and thieving, Men […]
The Betrothed by Rudyard Kipling
“You must choose between me and your cigar.” — BREACH OF PROMISE CASE, CIRCA 1885. Open the old cigar-box, get me a Cuba stout, For things are running crossways, and Maggie and I are out. We quarrelled about Havanas — we fought o’er a good cheroot, And I knew she is exacting, and she says […]
The Benefactors by Rudyard Kipling
Ah! What avails the classic bent And what the cultured word, Against the undoctored incident That actually occurred? And what is Art whereto we press Through paint and prose and rhyme– When Nature in her nakedness Defeats us every time? It is not learning, grace nor gear, Nor easy meat and drink, But bitter pinch […]
The Bell Buoy by Rudyard Kipling
1896 They christened my brother of old– And a saintly name he bears– They gave him his place to hold At the head of the belfry-stairs, Where the minister-towers stand And the breeding kestrels cry. Would I change with my brother a league inland? (Shoal! ‘Ware shoal!) Not I! In the flush of the hot […]
The Ballad of the Red Earl by Rudyard Kipling
(It is not for them to criticize too minutely the methods the Irish followed, though they might deplore some of their results. During the past few years Ireland had been going through what was tantamount to a revolution. — EARL SPENCER) Red Earl, and will ye take for guide The silly camel-birds, That ye bury […]
The Ballad of the King’s Mercy by Rudyard Kipling
Abdhur Rahman, the Durani Chief, of him is the story told. His mercy fills the Khyber hills — his grace is manifold; He has taken toll of the North and the South — his glory reacheth far, And they tell the tale of his charity from Balkh to Kandahar. Before the old Peshawur Gate, where […]
The Ballad of the King’s Jest by Rudyard Kipling
When spring-time flushes the desert grass, Our kafilas wind through the Khyber Pass. Lean are the camels but fat the frails, Light are the purses but heavy the bales, As the snowbound trade of the North comes down To the market-square of Peshawur town. In a turquoise twilight, crisp and chill, A kafila camped at […]
The Ballad of Fisher’s Boarding-House by Rudyard Kipling
‘T was Fultah Fisher’s boarding-house, Where sailor-men reside, And there were men of all the ports From Mississip to Clyde, And regally they spat and smoked, And fearsomely they lied. They lied about the purple Sea That gave them scanty bread, They lied about the Earth beneath, The Heavens overhead, For they had looked too […]
The Ballad of East and West by Rudyard Kipling
Oh, East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall meet, Till Earth and Sky stand presently at God’s great Judgment Seat; But there is neither East nor West, Border, nor Breed, nor Birth, When two strong men stand face to face, tho’ they come from the ends of the earth! Kamal […]
The Answer by Rudyard Kipling
A Rose, in tatters on the garden path, Cried out to God and murmured ‘gainst His Wrath, Because a sudden wind at twilight’s hush Had snapped her stem alone of all the bush. And God, Who hears both sun-dried dust and sun, Had pity, whispering to that luckless one, “Sister, in that thou sayest We […]
Tarrant Moss by Rudyard Kipling
I closed and drew for my love’s sake That now is false to me, And I slew the Reiver of Tarrant Moss And set Dumeny free. They have gone down, they have gone down, They are standing all arow– Twenty knights in the peat-water, That never struck a blow! Their armour shall not dull nor […]
Sussex by Rudyard Kipling
God gave all men all earth to love, But, since our hearts are small Ordained for each one spot should prove Beloved over all; That, as He watched Creation’s birth, So we, in godlike mood, May of our love create our earth And see that it is good. So one shall Baltic pines content, As […]
Study of an Elevation, In Indian Ink by Rudyard Kipling
Potiphar Gubbins, C.E. Stands at the top of the tree; And I muse in my bed on the reasons that led To the hoisting of Potiphar G. Potiphar Gubbins, C.E., Is seven years junior to Me; Each bridge that he makes either buckles or breaks, And his work is as rough as he. Potiphar Gubbins, […]
South Africa by Rudyard Kipling
1903 Lived a woman wonderful, (May the Lord amend her!) Neither simple, kind, nor true, But her Pagan beauty drew Christian gentlemen a few Hotly to attend her. Christian gentlemen a few From Berwick unto Dover; For she was South Africa, Ana she was South Africa, She was Our South Africa, Africa all over! Half […]
Song of the Wise Children by Rudyard Kipling
1902 When the darkened Fifties dip to the North, And frost and the fog divide the air, And the day is dead at his breaking-forth, Sirs, it is bitter beneath the Bear! Far to Southward they wheel and glance, The million molten spears of morn — The spears of our deliverance That shine on the […]
Song of the Red War-Boat by Rudyard Kipling
Shove off from the wharf-edge! Steady! Watch for a smooth! Give way! If she feels the lop already She’ll stand on her head in the bay. It’s ebb–it’s dusk–it’s blowing– The shoals are a mile of white, But ( snatch her along! ) we’re going To find our master to-night. For we hold that in […]
Song of Diego Valdez by Rudyard Kipling
The God of Fair Beginnings Hath prospered here my hand — The cargoes of my lading, And the keels of my command. For out of many ventures That sailed with hope as high, My own have made the better trade, And Admiral am I. To me my King’s much honour, To me my people’s love […]
Soldier an’ Sailor Too by Rudyard Kipling
As I was spittin’ into the Ditch aboard o’ the Crocodile, I seed a man on a man-o’-war got up in the Reg’lars’ style. ‘E was scrapin’ the paint from off of ‘er plates, an’ I sez to ‘im, “‘Oo are you?” Sez ‘e, “I’m a Jolly — ‘Er Majesty’s Jolly — soldier an’ sailor […]
Snarleyow by Rudyard Kipling
This ‘appened in a battle to a batt’ry of the corps Which is first among the women an’ amazin’ first in war; An’ what the bloomin’ battle was I don’t remember now, But Two’s off-lead ‘e answered to the name o’ Snarleyow. Down in the Infantry, nobody cares; Down in the Cavalry, Colonel ‘e swears; […]
Sir Richard’s Song by Rudyard Kipling
(A. D. 1066) I followed my Duke ere I was a lover, To take from England fief and fee; But now this game is the other way over– But now England hath taken me! I had my horse, my shield and banner, And a boy’s heart, so whole and free; But now I sing in […]
Shillin’ a Day by Rudyard Kipling
My name is O’Kelly, I’ve heard the Revelly From Birr to Bareilly, from Leeds to Lahore, Hong-Kong and Peshawur, Lucknow and Etawah, And fifty-five more all endin’ in “pore”. Black Death and his quickness, the depth and the thickness, Of sorrow and sickness I’ve known on my way, But I’m old and I’m nervis, I’m […]
Seven Watchmen by Rudyard Kipling
1918 SEVEN Watchmen sitting in a tower, Watching what had come upon mankind, Showed the Man the Glory and the Power, And bade him shape the Kingdom to his mind. “All things on Earth your will shall win you.” (‘Twas so their council ran) ” But the Kingdom–the Kingdom is within you,” Said the Man’s […]
Seal Lullaby by Rudyard Kipling
Oh! hush thee, my baby, the night is behind us And black are the waters that sparkled so green. The moon, O’er the combers, looks downward to find us At rest in the hollows that rustle between. Where billow meets billow, there soft by the pillow. Oh, weary wee flipperling, curl at thy ease! The […]
Screw-Guns by Rudyard Kipling
Smokin’ my pipe on the mountings, sniffin’ the mornin’ cool, I walks in my old brown gaiters along o’ my old brown mule, With seventy gunners be’ind me, an’ never a beggar forgets It’s only the pick of the Army that handles the dear little pets — ‘Tss! ‘Tss! For you all love the screw-guns […]
Russia To The Pacifists by Rudyard Kipling
1918 God rest you, peaceful gentlemen, let nothing you dismay, But–leave your sports a little while–the dead are borne this way! Armies dead and Cities dead, past all count or care. God rest you, merry gentlemen, what portent see you there? Singing:–Break ground for a wearied host That have no ground to keep. Give them […]
Route Marchin’ by Rudyard Kipling
We’re marchin’ on relief over Injia’s sunny plains, A little front o’ Christmas-time an’ just be’ind the Rains; Ho! get away you bullock-man, you’ve ‘eard the bugle blowed, There’s a regiment a-comin’ down the Grand Trunk Road; With its best foot first And the road a-sliding past, An’ every bloomin’ campin’-ground exactly like the last; […]
Romulus and Remus by Rudyard Kipling
Oh, little did the Wolf-Child care– When first he planned his home, What City should arise and bear The weight and state of Rome. A shiftless, westward-wandering tramp, Checked by the Tiber flood, He reared a wall around his camp Of uninspired mud. But when his brother leaped the Wall And mocked its height and […]
Road-Song of the Bandar-Log by Rudyard Kipling
(From The Jungle Book) Here we go in a flung festoon, Half-way up to the jealous moon! Don’t you envy our pranceful bands? Don’t you wish you had extra hands? Would n’t you like if your tails were — so — Curved in the shape of a Cupid’s bow? Now you’re angry, but — never […]
Rimmon by Rudyard Kipling
1903 After Boer War Duly with knees that feign to quake– Bent head and shaded brow,– Yet once again, for my father’s sake, In Rimmon’s House I bow. The curtains part, the trumpet blares, And the eunuchs howl aloud; And the gilt, swag-bellied idol glares Insolent over the crowd. “This is Rimmon, Lord of the […]
Rimini by Rudyard Kipling
Marching Song of a Roman Legion of the Later Empire Enlarged From “Puck of Pook’s Hill” When I left Rome for Lalage’s sake, By the Legions’ Road to Rimini, She vowed her heart was mine to take With me and my shield to Rimini– (Till the Eagles flew from Rimini–) And I’ve tramped Britain, and […]