The Best of Rudyard Kipling - A Collection of Essential Poetry

Kipling

• Publisher: Ragged Hand - Read & Co.
• Year: 2020
• ISBN:
  9781528790710
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: Middle Eastern Poetry
• Index: Literature

Joseph Rudyard Kipling (1865–1936) was an English novelist, journalist, poet, and short-story writer most famous for his stories set in and related to colonial India. He innovated the art of short story writing and was one of the most popular writers in the U.K. during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. A brand new collection of Kipling's best poetry, including "Gunga Din", "If—", "Recessional", "The Gods of the Copybook Headings", "The White Man's Burden", "Mesopotamia", "The Female of the Species", "The Ballad of East and West", "Epitaphs of the War", "The Way Through the Woods", "Mother O' Mine", and many more. A fantastic collection not to be missed by poetry lovers and fans of Kipling's seminal work. Other notable works by this author include: "The Jungle Book" (1894), "Kim" (1901), and "The Man Who Would be King" (1888).

EPITAPHS OF THE WAR

1914-18

“EQUALITY OF SACRIFICE”

A. "I was a Have.” B. "I was a ‘have-not.’”

(Together)"What hast thou given which I gave not?”

A SERVANT

We were together since the War began.

He was my servant—and the better man.

A SON

My son was killed while laughing at some jest. I would I knew

What it was, and it might serve me in a time when jests are few.

AN ONLY SON

I have slain none except my Mother. She

(Blessing her slayer) died of grief for me.

EX-CLERK

Pity not! The Army gave

Freedom to a timid slave:

In which Freedom did he find

Strength of body, will, and mind:

By which strength he came to prove

Mirth, Companionship, and Love:

For which Love to Death he went:

In which Death he lies content.

THE WONDER

Body and Spirit I surrendered whole

To harsh Instructors—and received a soul . . .

If mortal man could change me through and through

From all I was—what may The God not do?

HINDU SEPOY IN FRANCE

This man in his own country prayed we know not to what Powers.

We pray Them to reward him for his bravery in ours.

THE COWARD

I could not look on Death, which being known,

Men led me to him, blindfold and alone.

SHOCK

My name, my speech, my self I had forgot.

My wife and children came—I knew them not.

I died. My Mother followed. At her call

And on her bosom I remembered all.

A GRAVE NEAR CAIRO

Gods of the Nile, should this stout fellow here

Get out—get out! He knows not shame nor fear.

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