Rudyard Kipling's Verse :: :: University of Virginia Library

Rudyard Kipling's Verse

Definitive Edition

Kipling, Rudyard (1865-1936)

[section]

PRELUDE (To “Departmental Ditties”)

A GENERAL SUMMARY

ARMY HEADQUARTERS

STUDY OF AN ELEVATION, IN INDIAN INK

DELILAH

A LEGEND OF THE FOREIGN OFFICE

THE MAN WHO COULD WRITE

TO THE UNKNOWN GODDESS

THE RUPAIYAT OF OMAR KAL'VIN

Chorus of the Crystallised Facts

THE MARE'S NEST

THE BALLAD OF FISHER'S BOARDING-HOUSE

POSSIBILITIES

ARITHMETIC ON THE FRONTIER

THE SONG OF THE WOMEN

THE BETROTHED

A BALLADE OF JAKKO HILL

THE PLEA OF THE SIMLA DANCERS

“AS THE BELL CLINKS”

CHRISTMAS IN INDIA

THE GRAVE OF THE HUNDRED HEAD

AN OLD SONG

CERTAIN MAXIMS OF HAFIZ

THE MOON OF OTHER DAYS

THE FALL OF JOCK GILLESPIE

WHAT THE PEOPLE SAID

THE UNDERTAKER'S HORSE

L'ENVOI (to Departmental Ditties)

THE FIRES

DEDICATION FROM “BARRACK-ROOM BALLADS”

TO THE TRUE ROMANCE

SESTINA OF THE TRAMP-ROYAL

THE MIRACLES

SONG OF THE WISE CHILDREN

ZION

BUDDHA AT KAMAKURA

THE GREEK NATIONAL ANTHEM

THE SEA-WIFE

THE BROKEN MEN

GETHSEMANE

THE SONG OF THE BANJO

THE SPIES' MARCH

THE EXPLORER

THE PRO-CONSULS

THE RUNNERS Indian Frontier, 1904

THE SEA AND THE HILLS

ANCHOR SONG

THE RHYME OF THE THREE SEALERS

McANDREW'S HYMN

MULHOLLAND'S CONTRACT

THE “MARY GLOSTER”

THE BALLAD OF THE “BOLIVAR”

THE BALLAD OF THE “CLAMPHERDOWN”

THE SONG OF DIEGO VALDEZ

THE SECOND VOYAGE

THE OLDEST SONG

THE LINER SHE'S A LADY

IN THE MATTER OF ONE COMPASS

AVE IMPERATRIX!

A SONG OF THE ENGLISH

[Fair is our lot—O goodly is our heritage!]

II.

THE SONG OF THE CITIES

ENGLAND'S ANSWER

THE HOUSES

TO THE CITY OF BOMBAY

THE GIPSY TRAIL

OUR LADY OF THE SNOWS

AN AMERICAN

THE CHOICE

THE YOUNG QUEEN

MELBOURNE SHRINE OF REMEMBRANCE

PHARAOH AND THE SERGEANT

THE LAST OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE

KITCHENER'S SCHOOL

LORD ROBERTS

BRIDGE-GUARD IN THE KARROO

SOUTH AFRICA

THE BURIAL

RHODES MEMORIAL, TABLE MOUNTAIN

DIRGE OF DEAD SISTERS

THE VAMPIRE

THE ENGLISH FLAG

THE DEAD KING

WHEN EARTH'S LAST PICTURE IS PAINTED

“CLEARED”

THE BALLAD OF THE RED EARL

ULSTER

THE BALLAD OF EAST AND WEST

THE LAST SUTTEE

GENERAL JOUBERT

GEHAZI

THE BALLAD OF THE KING'S MERCY

THE BALLAD OF THE KING'S JEST

WITH SCINDIA TO DELHI

THE DOVE OF DACCA

THE BALLAD OF BOH DA THONE

THE SACRIFICE OF ER-HEB

THE LAMENT OF THE BORDER CATTLE THIEF

THE FEET OF THE YOUNG MEN

A BOY SCOUTS' PATROL SONG

THE TRUCE OF THE BEAR

RUSSIA TO THE PACIFISTS

THE PEACE OF DIVES

A SONG OF THE WHITE MEN

“BEFORE A MIDNIGHT BREAKS IN STORM”

THE DECLARATION OF LONDON

THE WAGE-SLAVES

THE SONG OF THE LATHES

RIMMON

THE SONG OF THE OLD GUARD

THE WHITE MAN'S BURDEN

“FOR ALL WE HAVE AND ARE”

THE THREE-DECKER

THE RHYME OF THE THREE CAPTAINS

THE CONUNDRUM OF THE WORKSHOPS

“WHEN 'OMER SMOTE 'IS BLOOMIN' LYRE”

THE FEMALE OF THE SPECIES

A RECANTATION (TO LYDE OF THE MUSIC HALLS)

THE LAST RHYME OF TRUE THOMAS

THE SONS OF MARTHA

HYMN OF BREAKING STRAIN

THE PALACE

EPITAPHS OF THE WAR

“EQUALITY OF SACRIFICE”

HINDU SEPOY IN FRANCE

THE COWARD

SHOCK

A GRAVE NEAR CAIRO

PELICANS IN THE WILDERNESS

TWO CANADIAN MEMORIALS

THE FAVOUR

THE BEGINNER

R.A.F. (AGED EIGHTEEN)

THE REFINED MAN

NATIVE WATER-CARRIER (M.E.F.)

BOMBED IN LONDON

THE SLEEPY SENTINEL

BATTERIES OUT OF AMMUNITION

A DRIFTER OFF TARENTUM

DESTROYERS IN COLLISION

CONVOY ESCORT

UNKNOWN FEMALE CORPSE

RAPED AND REVENGED

SALONIKAN GRAVE

THE BRIDEGROOM

V.A.D. (MEDITERRANEAN)

THE YOUNG BRITISH SOLDIER

PRIVATE ORTHERIS'S SONG

SHILLIN' A DAY

“BACK TO THE ARMY AGAIN”

“BIRDS OF PREY” MARCH

“SOLDIER AN' SAILOR TOO”

SAPPERS

THAT DAY

“THE MEN THAT FOUGHT AT MINDEN”

THE SERGEANT'S WEDDIN'

THE ABSENT-MINDED BEGGAR

CHANT-PAGAN

M. I.

COLUMNS

THE PARTING OF THE COLUMNS

HALF-BALLADE OF WATERVAL

“CITIES AND THRONES AND POWERS”

THE RECALL

PUCK'S SONG

THE WAY THROUGH THE WOODS

In the Pride of his Youth.

The Conversion of Aurelian McGoggin.

The Rout of the White Hussars.

The Bronckhorst Divorce Case.

In the House of Suddhoo.

False Dawn.

Cupid's Arrows.

A Bank Fraud.

The Rescue of Pluffles.

His Chance in Life.

Consequences.

The Taking of Lungtungpen.

A Germ-Destroyer.

Kidnapped.

The Broken-Link Handicap.

The Bisara of Pooree.

OUR LADY OF THE SACKCLOTH

THE LEGEND OF MIRTH

SHIV AND THE GRASSHOPPER

OUTSONG IN THE JUNGLE

HARP SONG OF THE DANE WOMEN

[There was a strife 'twixt man and maid—]

[Beware the man who's crossed in love]

[Your patience, Sirs. The Devil took me up]

[Now it is not good for the Christian's health to hustle the Aryan brown]

[There is pleasure in the wet, wet clay]

[We meet in an evil land]

[This I saw when the rites were done]

[Beat off in our last fight were we?]

[Because I sought it far from men]

[We be the Gods of the East—]

[Will they gape for the husks that ye proffer]

[CHAPTER HEADINGS]

[So we settled it all when the storm was done]

[Then we brought the lances down—then the trumpets blew—]

[The wolf-cub at even lay hid in the corn]

[“I have a thousand men,” said he]

[“If I have taken the common clay]

[The lark will make her hymn to God]

[There were three friends that buried the fourth]

[Yet at the last, ere our spearmen had found him]

GALLIO'S SONG

THE BEES AND THE FLIES

ROAD-SONG OF THE BANDAR-LOG

THE LAW OF THE JUNGLE

“A SERVANT WHEN HE REIGNETH”

[The beasts are very wise]

[CHAPTER HEADINGS]

The Return of Imray.

Without Benefit of Clergy.

The Head of the District.

The Man Who Was.

At the End of the Passage.

[CHAPTER HEADINGS]

[Unto whose use the pregnant suns are poised]

[CHAPTER HEADINGS]

My Lord the Elephant.

[CHAPTER HEADINGS]

The Ship that Found Herself.

[CHAPTER HEADINGS]

[All the world over, nursing their scars]

[Put forth to watch, unschooled, alone]

[CHAPTER HEADINGS]

[Farewell and adieu to you, Harwich Ladies]

SONG OF THE FIFTH RIVER

THE CHILDREN'S SONG

PARADE-SONG OF THE CAMP-ANIMALS

ELEPHANTS OF THE GUN-TEAMS

ALL THE BEASTS TOGETHER

“THE POWER OF THE DOG”

THE RABBI'S SONG

THE BEE-BOY'S SONG

THE SONG OF SEVEN CITIES

THE RETURN OF THE CHILDREN

MERROW DOWN

TO JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY

OLD MOTHER LAIDINWOOL

THE LAND

[CHAPTER HEADINGS]

How the Whale Got his Throat.

How the Camel Got his Hump.

How the Leopard Got his Spots.

The Elephant's Child.

The Sing-Song of Old Man Kangaroo.

The Beginning of the Armadilloes.

The Crab that Played with the Sea.

The Cat that Walked by Himself.

How the Rhinoceros got his Skin.

The Butterfly that Stamped.

THE LOOKING-GLASS

THE QUEEN'S MEN

A PAGEANT OF ELIZABETH

THE CITY OF SLEEP

“HELEN ALL ALONE”

THE WIDOWER

THE PRAYER OF MIRIAM COHEN

THE COMFORTERS

THE SONG OF THE LITTLE HUNTER

“BY THE HOOF OF THE WILD GOAT”

SONG OF THE RED WAR-BOAT

MINE SWEEPERS

MORNING SONG IN THE JUNGLE

A RIPPLE SONG

THE LOVE SONG OF HAR DYAL

A DEDICATION (To “Soldiers Three”)

MOTHER O' MINE

THE ONLY SON

MOWGLI'S SONG AGAINST PEOPLE

Letting in the Jungle.

Toomai of the Elephants.

Quiquern.

The Undertakers.

The Miracle of Purun Bhagat.

KING HENRY VII. AND THE SHIPWRIGHTS

THE WET LITANY

THE BALLAD OF MINEPIT SHAW

HUNTING-SONG OF THE SEEONEE PACK

SONG OF THE MEN'S SIDE

THE RUNES ON WELAND'S SWORD

DARZEE'S CHAUNT

SONG OF THE GALLEY-SLAVES

THE FOUR ANGELS

THE BEGINNINGS

THE PRAYER

THE MUSE AMONG THE MOTORS 1900–1930

THE CONSOLATIONS OF MEMORY (Circa 1904)

THE FOUR POINTS

TO A LADY, PERSUADING HER TO A CAR

THE PROGRESS OF THE SPARK (XVIth Circuit)

THE BRAGGART

“WHEN THE JOURNEY WAS INTENDED TO THE CITY”

LADY GERALDINE'S HARDSHIP

THE BOTHER

THE DYING CHAUFFEUR

THE INVENTOR

THE BALLAD OF THE CARS

A CHILD'S GARDEN

THE MORAL

THE MARRÈD DRIVES OF WINDSOR

PREFACE BY SAMUEL JOHNSON

Act I

II.

Act II

III.

Act III

SONGS WRITTEN FOR C. R. L. FLETCHER'S “A HISTORY OF ENGLAND”

THE RIVER'S TALE

THE ROMAN CENTURION'S SONG

THE PIRATES IN ENGLAND

DANE-GELD

THE ANVIL

NORMAN AND SAXON

THE REEDS OF RUNNYMEDE

MY FATHER'S CHAIR

THE DAWN WIND

THE KING'S JOB

WITH DRAKE IN THE TROPICS

“TOGETHER”

JAMES I.

EDGEHILL FIGHT

THE DUTCH IN THE MEDWAY

“BROWN BESS”

THE AMERICAN REBELLION

THE FRENCH WARS

BIG STEAMERS

THE SECRET OF THE MACHINES

THE BELLS AND QUEEN VICTORIA

THE GLORY OF THE GARDEN

VERSES FROM “LAND AND SEA TALES” 1919–1923

A PREFACE

THE JUNK AND THE DHOW

THE MASTER-COOK

THE HOUR OF THE ANGEL

VERSES FROM “DEBITS AND CREDITS” 1919–1926

ALNASCHAR AND THE OXEN

THE LAST ODE: NOV. 27, 8 B.C.

THE BURDEN

THE SUPPORTS

VERSES FROM “LIMITS AND RENEWALS”

SONG OF SEVENTY HORSES

HYMN TO PHYSICAL PAIN

THE PENALTY

AZRAEL'S COUNT

MISCELLANEOUS VERSE

THE GODS OF THE COPYBOOK HEADINGS

THE SCHOLARS

THE CLERKS AND THE BELLS

A RECTOR'S MEMORY

LOLLIUS

A SONG OF FRENCH ROADS

CHARTRES WINDOWS

LONDON STONE

THE KING'S PILGRIMAGE

SUPPLICATION OF THE BLACK ABERDEEN

“HIS APOLOGIES”

HYMN OF THE TRIUMPHANT AIRMAN

Collapse All | Expand All expand section

634

A RIPPLE SONG

[_]

(“The Undertakers”—The Second Jungle Book)

Once a ripple came to land
In the golden sunset burning—
Lapped against a maiden's hand,
By the ford returning.

Dainty foot and gentle breast—
Here, across, be glad and rest.
“Maiden, wait,” the ripple saith;
“Wait awhile, for I am Death!”

“Where my lover calls I go—
Shame it were to treat him coldly—
'Twas a fish that circled so,
Turning over boldly.”

Dainty foot and tender heart,
Wait the loaded ferry-cart.
“Wait, ah, wait!” the ripple saith;
“Maiden, wait, for I am Death!”

“When my lover calls I haste—
Dame Disdain was never wedded!”
Ripple-ripple round her waist,
Clear the current eddied.

Foolish heart and faithful hand,
Little feet that touched no land.
Far away the ripple sped,
Ripple—ripple running red!