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Rudyard Kipling
Rudyard Kipling

The Watcher

The Watcher Put forth to watch, unschooled, alone, 'Twixt hostile earth and sky; The mottled lizard 'neath the stone Is wiser here than I. What stir across the haze of heat? Wha…

467
Rudyard Kipling
Rudyard Kipling

The Virginity

The Virginity Try as he will, no man breaks wholly loose From his first love, no matter who she be. Oh, was there ever sailor free to choose, That didn't settle somewhere near t…

467
Rudyard Kipling
Rudyard Kipling

The Veterans

The Veterans To-day, across our fathers' graves, The astonished years reveal The remnant of that desperate host Which cleansed our East with steel. Hail and farewell! We greet y…

386
Rudyard Kipling
Rudyard Kipling

The Undertaker's Horse

The Undertaker's Horse The eldest son bestrides him, And the pretty daughter rides him, And I meet him oft o' mornings on the Course; And there kindles in my bosom An emotion ch…

469
Rudyard Kipling
Rudyard Kipling

The Vampire

The Vampire A fool there was and he made his prayer (Even as you and I!) To a rag and a bone and a hank of hair (We called her the woman who did not care), But the fool he calle…

480
Rudyard Kipling
Rudyard Kipling

The Tour

The Tour Thirteen as twelve my Murray always took-- He was a publisher. The new Police Have neater ways of bringing men to book, So Juan found himself before J.P.'s Accused of s…

422
Rudyard Kipling
Rudyard Kipling

The Two-Sided Man

The Two-Sided Man Much I owe to the Lands that grew-- More to the Lives that fed-- But most to Allah Who gave me two Separate sides to my head. Much I reflect on the Good and th…

520
Rudyard Kipling
Rudyard Kipling

The Thousandth Man

The Thousandth Man One man in a thousand, Solomon says, Will stick more close than a brother. And it's worth while seeking him half your days If you find him before the other. N…

880
Rudyard Kipling
Rudyard Kipling

The Threshold

The Threshold In their deepest caverns of limestone They pictured the Gods of Food-- The Horse, the Elk, and the Bison That the hunting might be good; With the Gods of Death and…

482
Rudyard Kipling
Rudyard Kipling

The Story of Uriah

The Story of Uriah Jack Barrett went to Quetta Because they told him to. He left his wife at Simla On three-fourths his monthly screw. Jack Barrett died at Quetta Ere the next m…

500
Rudyard Kipling
Rudyard Kipling

The Survival

The Survival Securely, after days Unnumbered, I behold Kings mourn that promised praise Their cheating bars foretold. Of earth-constructing Wars, Of Princes passed in chains, Of…

574
Rudyard Kipling
Rudyard Kipling

The Sons of Martha

The Sons of Martha The Sons of Mary seldom bother, for they have inherited that good part; But the Sons of Martha favour their Mother of the careful soul and the troubled heart.…

748
Rudyard Kipling
Rudyard Kipling

The Spring Running

The Spring Running Man goes to Man! Cry the challenge through the Jungle! He that was our Brother goes away. Hear, now, and judge, O ye People of the Jungle-- Answer, who can tu…

470
Rudyard Kipling
Rudyard Kipling

The Song of the Women

The Song of the Women How shall she know the worship we would do her? The walls are high, and she is very far. How shall the woman's message reach unto her Above the tumult of t…

445
Rudyard Kipling
Rudyard Kipling

The Song of the Old Guard

The Song of the Old Guard Know this, my brethren, Heaven is clear And all the clouds are gone-- The Proper Sort shall flourish now, Good times are coming on"-- The evil that was…

431
Rudyard Kipling
Rudyard Kipling

The Song of the English

The Song of the English Fair is our lot -- O goodly is our heritage! (Humble ye, my people, and be fearful in your mirth!) For the Lord our God Most High He hath made the deep a…

464
Rudyard Kipling
Rudyard Kipling

The Song OF The Cities

The Song OF The Cities BOMBAY Royal and Dower-royal, I the Queen Fronting thy richest sea with richer hands -- A thousand mills roar through me where I glean All races from all…

653
Rudyard Kipling
Rudyard Kipling

The Sing-Song of Old Man Kangaroo

The Sing-Song of Old Man Kangaroo This is the mouth-filling song of the race that was run by a Boomer. Run in a single burst--only event of its kind-- Started by Big God Nqong f…

666
Rudyard Kipling
Rudyard Kipling

The Song of Diego Valdez

The Song of Diego Valdez 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 wi…

633
Rudyard Kipling
Rudyard Kipling

The Ship That Found Herself

The Ship That Found Herself 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…

378
Rudyard Kipling
Rudyard Kipling

The Servant When He Reigneth

The Servant When He Reigneth For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot bear. For a servant when he reigneth, and a fool when he is filled with meat;…

440
Rudyard Kipling
Rudyard Kipling

The Secret of the Machines

The Secret of the Machines Modern Machinery We were taken from the ore-bed and the mine, We were melted in the furnace and the pit-- We were cast and wrought and hammered to des…

811
Rudyard Kipling
Rudyard Kipling

The Second Voyage

The Second Voyage We've sent our little Cupids all ashore -- They were frightened, they were tired, they were cold: Our sails of silk and purple go to store, And we've cut away…

467
Rudyard Kipling
Rudyard Kipling

The Rupaiyat of Omar Kal'vin

The Rupaiyat of Omar Kal'vin Allowing for the difference 'twixt prose and rhymed exaggeration, this ought to reproduce the sense of what Sir A-- told the nation sometime ago, wh…

472