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 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 […]
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 […]
Recessional (A Victorian Ode) by Rudyard Kipling
God of our fathers, known of old — Lord of our far-flung battle line — Beneath whose awful hand we hold Dominion over palm and pine — Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet, Lest we forget — lest we forget! The tumult and the shouting dies — The Captains and the Kings depart […]
Recessional by Rudyard Kipling
God of our fathers, known of old — Lord of our far-flung battle line — Beneath whose awful hand we hold Dominion over palm and pine — Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet, Lest we forget — lest we forget! The tumult and the shouting dies — The Captains and the Kings depart […]
Rebirth by Rudyard Kipling
If any God should say, “I will restore The world her yesterday Whole as before My Judgment blasted it”–who would not lift Heart, eye, and hand in passion o’er the gift? If any God should will To wipe from mind The memory of this ill Which is Mankind In soul and substance now–who would not […]
Public Waste by Rudyard Kipling
By the Laws of the Family Circle ’tis written in letters of brass That only a Colonel from Chatham can manage the Railways of State, Because of the gold on his breeks, and the subjects wherein he must pass; Because in all matters that deal not with Railways his knowledge is great. Now Exeter Battleby […]
Poor Honest Men by Rudyard Kipling
Your jar of Virginny Will cost you a guinea, Which you reckon too much by five shillings or ten; But light your churchwarden And judge it according, When I’ve told you the troubles of poor honest men. From the Capes of the Delaware, As you are well aware, We sail which tobacco for England-but then, […]
Natural Theology by Rudyard Kipling
Primitive I ate my fill of a whale that died And stranded after a month at sea. . . . There is a pain in my inside. Why have the Gods afflicted me? Ow! I am purged till I am a wraith! Wow! I am sick till I cannot see! What is the sense of […]
My New-Cut Ashler by Rudyard Kipling
My New-Cut ashlar takes the light Where crimson-blank the windows flare. By my own work before the night, Great Overseer, I make my prayer. If there be good in that I wrought Thy Hand compelled it, Master, Thine– Where I have failed to meet Thy Thought I know, through Thee, the blame was mine. The […]
My Lady’s Law by Rudyard Kipling
The Law whereby my lady moves Was never Law to me, But ’tis enough that she approves Whatever Law it be. For in that Law, and by that Law My constant course I’ll steer; Not that I heed or deem it dread, But that she holds it dear. Tho’ Asia sent for my content Her […]
My Boy Jack by Rudyard Kipling
1914-18 Have you news of my boy Jack?” Not this tide. “When d’you think that he’ll come back?” Not with this wind blowing, and this tide. “Has any one else had word of him?: “ Not this tide. For what is sunk will hardly swim, Not with this wind blowing, and this tide. “Oh, dear, […]
Mulholland’s Contract by Rudyard Kipling
The fear was on the cattle, for the gale was on the sea, An’ the pens broke up on the lower deck an’ let the creatures free — An’ the lights went out on the lower deck, an’ no one near but me. I had been singin’ to them to keep ’em quiet there, For […]
Morning Song in the Jungle by Rudyard Kipling
One moment past our bodies cast No shadow on the plain; Now clear and black they stride our track, And we run home again. In morning-hush, each rock and bush Stands hard, and high, and raw: Then give the Call: “Good rest to all That keep the Jungle Law!” Now horn and pelt our peoples […]
Mine Sweepers by Rudyard Kipling
Dawn off the Foreland–the young flood making Jumbled and short and steep– Black in the hollows and bright where it’s breaking– Awkward water to sweep. “Mines reported in the fairway, “Warn all traffic and detain. “‘Sent up Unity, Cralibel, Assyrian, Stormcock, and Golden Gain.” Noon off the Foreland–the first ebb making Lumpy and strong in […]
Mesopotamia by Rudyard Kipling
1917 They shall not return to us, the resolute, the young, The eager and whole-hearted whom we gave: But the men who left them thriftily to die in their own dung, Shall they come with years and honour to the grave? They shall not return to us; the strong men coldly slain In sight of […]
Merrow Down by Rudyard Kipling
There runs a road by Merrow Down– A grassy track to-day it is– An hour out Guildford town, Above the river Wey it is. Here, when they heard the hors-bells ring, The ancient Britons dressed and rode To which the dark Phoenicians bring Their goods along the Western Road. Yes, here, or hereabouts, they met […]