Poems

Poems List

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Rudyard Kipling
Rudyard Kipling

Arithmetic on the Frontier

Arithmetic on the Frontier
A great and glorious thing it is
To learn, for seven years or so,
The Lord knows what of that and this,
Ere reckoned f…

511
Rudyard Kipling
Rudyard Kipling

Arterial

Arterial
I
Frost upon small rain--the ebony-lacquered avenue
Reflecting lamps as a pool shows goldfish.
The sight suddenly emptied out of the youn…

368
Rudyard Kipling
Rudyard Kipling

Anchor Song

Anchor Song
Heh! Walk her round. Heave, ah heave her short again!
Over, snatch her over, there, and hold her on the pawl.
Loose all sail, and brace your …

520
Rudyard Kipling
Rudyard Kipling

An Imperial Rescript

An Imperial Rescript
Now this is the tale of the Council the German Kaiser decreed,
To ease the strong of their burden, to help the weak in their need,
H…

495
Rudyard Kipling
Rudyard Kipling

An American

An American
The American Spirit speaks:
"If the Led Striker call it a strike,
Or the papers call it a war,
They know not much what I am like,

489
Rudyard Kipling
Rudyard Kipling

A Song of Kabir

A Song of Kabir
Oh, light was the world that he weighed in his hands!
Oh, heavy the tale of his fiefs and his lands!
He has gone from the guddee and put …

459
Rudyard Kipling
Rudyard Kipling

A Ripple Song

A Ripple Song
Once red ripple came to land
In the golden sunset burning--
Lapped against a maiden's hand,
By the ford returning.
Dainty…

470
Rudyard Kipling
Rudyard Kipling

A Smuggler's Song

A Smuggler's Song
If you wake at midnight, and hear a horse's feet,
Don't go drawing back the blind, or looking in the street.
Them that ask no questions…

415
Rudyard Kipling
Rudyard Kipling

A Recantation

A Recantation

What boots it on the Gods to call?
Since, answered or unheard,
We perish with the Gods and all
Things made--except the W…

546
Rudyard Kipling
Rudyard Kipling

A Pilgrim's Way

A Pilgrim's Way
I do not look for holy saints to guide me on my way,
Or male and female devilkins to lead my feet astray.
If these are added, I rejoice--…

545
Rudyard Kipling
Rudyard Kipling

A Pageant of Elizabeth

A Pageant of Elizabeth
Written for "The Pageant of Parliament,"
Like Princes crowned they bore them--
Like Demi-Gods they wrought,
When the Ne…

515
Rudyard Kipling
Rudyard Kipling

A Lover's Journey

A Lover's Journey
When a lover hies abroad
Looking for his love,
Azrael smiling sheathes his sword,
Heaven smiles above.
Earth and sea

396
Rudyard Kipling
Rudyard Kipling

A Dedication

A Dedication
And they were stronger hands than mine
That digged the Ruby from the earth--
More cunning brains that made it worth
The large desire…

506
Rudyard Kipling
Rudyard Kipling

A General Summary

A General Summary
We are very slightly changed
From the semi-apes who ranged
India's Prehistoric clay;
He that drew the longest bow
Ran h…

510
Rudyard Kipling
Rudyard Kipling

A Child's Garden

A Child's Garden
R. L. Stevenson
Now there is nothing wrong with me
Except -- I think it's called T.B.
And that is why I have to lay
Ou…

558
Rudyard Kipling
Rudyard Kipling

A Counting-Out Song

A Counting-Out Song
What is the song the children sing,
When doorway lilacs bloom in Spring,
And the Schools are loosed, and the games are played

546
Rudyard Kipling
Rudyard Kipling

A Carol

A Carol
Our Lord Who did the Ox command
To kneel to Judah's King,
He binds His frost upon the land
To ripen it for Spring --
To ripen it …

541
Rudyard Kipling
Rudyard Kipling

A Boy Scouts' Patrol Song

A Boy Scouts' Patrol Song
These are our regulations --
There's just one law for the Scout
And the first and the last, and the present and the past,

688
Rudyard Kipling
Rudyard Kipling

A Ballade of Jakko Hill

A Ballade of Jakko Hill
One moment bid the horses wait,
Since tiffin is not laid till three,
Below the upward path and straight
You climbed a yea…

507
Rudyard Kipling
Rudyard Kipling

A Ballad of Jakko Hill

A Ballad of Jakko Hill
One moment bid the horses wait,
Since tiffin is not laid till three,
Below the upward path and straight
You climbed a year…

510
Rudyard Kipling
Rudyard Kipling

The Men That Fought At Minden

"The Men That Fought At Minden"
A Song of Instruction
The men that fought at Minden, they was rookies in their time --
So was them that fought at Waterlo…

516
Rudyard Kipling
Rudyard Kipling

Snarleyow

"Snarleyow"
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…

555
Rudyard Kipling
Rudyard Kipling

Our Fathers Also

"Our Fathers Also"
Thrones, Powers, Dominions, Peoples, Kings,
Are changing 'neath our hand.
Our fathers also see these things
But they do not un…

439
Rudyard Kipling
Rudyard Kipling

Poor Honest Men

"Poor Honest Men"
Your jar of Virginny
Will cost you a guinea,
Which you reckon too much by five shillings or ten;
But light your churchwarden

485