Rudyard Kipling

Poems by Rudyard Kipling

Joseph Rudyard Kipling ( RUD-yərd; 30 December 1865 – 18 January 1936) was an English journalist, novelist, poet, and short-story writer. He was born in British India, which inspired much of his work.

Kipling's works of fiction include the Jungle Book duology (The Jungle Book, 1894; The Second Jungle Book, 1895), Kim (1901), the Just So Stories (1902) and many short stories, including 'The Man Who Would Be King' (1888). His poems include 'Mandalay' (1890), 'Gunga Din' (1890), 'The Gods of the Copybook Headings' (1919), 'The White Man's Burden' (1899), and 'If—' (1910). He is seen as an innovator in the art of the short story. His children's books are classics; one critic noted 'a versatile and luminous narrative gift'.

Kipling in the late 19th and early 20th centuries was among the United Kingdom's most popular writers. Henry James said 'Kipling strikes me personally as the most complete man of genius, as distinct from fine intelligence, that I have ever known.' In 1907, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, as the first English-language writer to receive the prize, and at 41, its youngest recipient to date. He was also sounded out for the British Poet Laureateship and several times for a knighthood, but declined both. Following his death in 1936, his ashes were interred at Poets' Corner, part of the South Transept of Westminster Abbey.

Kipling's subsequent reputation has changed with the political and social climate of the age. The contrasting views of him continued for much of the 20th century. Literary critic Douglas Kerr wrote: '[Kipling] is still an author who can inspire passionate disagreement and his place in literary and cultural history is far from settled. But as the age of the European empires recedes, he is recognised as an incomparable, if controversial, interpreter of how empire was experienced. That, and an increasing recognition of his extraordinary narrative gifts, make him a force to be reckoned with.'

Poems

  • 'Tin Fish' Read Poem
  • A Ballad of Burial Read Poem
  • A Bank Fraud Read Poem
  • A Boy Scouts' Patrol Song Read Poem
  • A British-Roman Song Read Poem
  • A Carol Read Poem
  • A Charm Read Poem
  • A Child's Garden Read Poem
  • A Code of Morals Read Poem
  • A Counting-Out Song Read Poem
  • A Dead Statesman Read Poem
  • A Death-Bed Read Poem
  • A Dedication Read Poem
  • A Dedication to Soldiers Three Read Poem
  • A Departure Read Poem
  • A General Summary Read Poem
  • A Legend of Truth Read Poem
  • A Lover's Journey Read Poem
  • A Nativity Read Poem
  • A Pageant of Elizabeth Read Poem
  • A Pict Song Read Poem
  • A Pilgrim's Way Read Poem
  • A Preface Read Poem
  • A Recantation Read Poem
  • A Rector's Memory Read Poem
  • A Ripple Song Read Poem
  • A School Song Read Poem
  • A Servant When He Reigneth Read Poem
  • A Smuggler's Song Read Poem
  • A Son Read Poem
  • A Song in Storm Read Poem
  • A Song of Kabir Read Poem
  • A Song Of The English Read Poem
  • A Song of the White Men Read Poem
  • Alnaschar and the Oxen Read Poem
  • An American Read Poem
  • An Astrologer's Song Read Poem
  • An Imperial Rescript Read Poem
  • An Old Song Read Poem
  • Anchor Song Read Poem
  • Angutivaun Taina Read Poem
  • Arithmetic on the Frontier Read Poem
  • Army Headquarters Read Poem
  • Arterial Read Poem
  • As the Bell Clinks Read Poem
  • At His Execution Read Poem
  • Azrael's Count Read Poem
  • Back To The Army Again Read Poem
  • Banquet Night Read Poem
  • Barrack-Room Ballads Read Poem
  • Beast and Man in India Read Poem
  • Before a Midnight Breaks in Storm Read Poem
  • Belts Read Poem
  • Big Steamers Read Poem
  • Bill 'Awkins Read Poem
  • Birds of Prey March Read Poem
  • Blue Roses Read Poem
  • Bobs Read Poem
  • Boots Read Poem
  • Bridge-Guard in the Karroo Read Poem
  • Brookland Road Read Poem
  • Brown Bess Read Poem
  • Buddha at Kamakura Read Poem
  • Butterflies Read Poem
  • By the Hoof of the Wild Goat Read Poem
  • By Word of Mouth Read Poem
  • Cain and Abel Read Poem
  • Carmen Circulare Read Poem
  • Cells Read Poem
  • Certain Maxims of Hafiz Read Poem
  • Chant-Pagan Read Poem
  • Cholera Camp Read Poem
  • Christmas in India Read Poem
  • Cities and Thrones and Powers Read Poem
  • Cleared Read Poem
  • Cold Iron Read Poem
  • Columns Read Poem
  • Common Form Read Poem
  • Contradictions Read Poem
  • Cruisers Read Poem
  • Cuckoo Song Read Poem
  • Cupid's Arrows Read Poem
  • Dane-Geld Read Poem
  • Danny Deever Read Poem
  • Darzee's Chaunt Read Poem
  • Death of a Believer Read Poem
  • Dedication Read Poem
  • Deep Sea Cables Read Poem
  • Delilah Read Poem
  • Dinah in Heaven Read Poem
  • Dirge Of The Dead Sisters Read Poem
  • Divided Destinies Read Poem
  • Doctors Read Poem
  • Eddi's Service Read Poem
  • Edgehill Fight Read Poem
  • En-dor Read Poem
  • England's Answer Read Poem
  • Epitaphs Of The War Read Poem
  • Et Dona Ferentes Read Poem
  • Evarra And His Gods Read Poem
  • Evil Land Read Poem
  • False Dawn Read Poem
  • Farewell and adieu.... Read Poem
  • Fastness Read Poem
  • Follow Me 'Ome Read Poem
  • For All We Have and Are Read Poem
  • For To Admire Read Poem
  • Ford O' Kabul River Read Poem
  • Four-Feet Read Poem
  • Fox-Hunting Read Poem
  • France Read Poem
  • Frankie's Trade Read Poem
  • Fuzzy-Wuzzy Read Poem
  • Gallio's Song Read Poem
  • Gehazi Read Poem
  • General Joubert Read Poem
  • Gentleman-Rankers Read Poem
  • Gertrude's Prayer Read Poem
  • Gethsemane Read Poem
  • Giffen's Debt Read Poem
  • Gipsy Vans Read Poem
  • Gods of the East Read Poem
  • Great-Heart Read Poem
  • Gunga Din Read Poem
  • Hadramauti Read Poem
  • Half-Ballad of Waterval Read Poem
  • Harp Song of the Dane Women Read Poem
  • Have You News of my Boy Jack? Read Poem
  • Helen All Alone Read Poem
  • Heriot's Ford Read Poem
  • His Apologies Read Poem
  • His Wedded Wife Read Poem
  • How Fear Came Read Poem
  • How It All Began Read Poem
  • How the Leopard Got His Spots Read Poem
  • How the Rhinoceros got His Skin Read Poem
  • How the Whale Got His Throat Read Poem
  • Hunting Song of the Seeonee Pack Read Poem
  • Hymn Before Action Read Poem
  • Hymn of Breaking Strain Read Poem
  • I Keep Six Honest Serving Men Read Poem
  • If.... Read Poem
  • In Error Read Poem
  • In Springtime Read Poem
  • In the House of Suddhoo Read Poem
  • In the Matter of One Compass Read Poem
  • In The Neolithic Age Read Poem
  • James I Read Poem
  • Jane's Marriage Read Poem
  • Jubal and Tubal Cain Read Poem
  • Justice Read Poem
  • Kaa’s Hunting Read Poem
  • Kim Read Poem
  • Kitchener's School Read Poem
  • L'envoi Read Poem
  • La Nuit Blanche Read Poem
  • Lady Geraldine's Hardship Read Poem
  • Late Came the God Read Poem
  • Letting in the Jungle Read Poem
  • Lichtenberg Read Poem
  • Lispeth Read Poem
  • London Stone Read Poem
  • Loot! Read Poem
  • Lord Roberts Read Poem
  • Lukannon Read Poem
  • M'Andrew's Hymn Read Poem
  • Macdonough's Song Read Poem
  • Mandalay Read Poem
  • Many Inventions Read Poem
  • Mary's Son Read Poem
  • Mary, Pity Women! Read Poem
  • Memories Read Poem
  • Merrow Down Read Poem
  • Mesopotamia Read Poem
  • Mother o' Mine Read Poem
  • Mowgli's Brothers Read Poem
  • Mowgli's Song Read Poem
  • Mowgli's Song Against People Read Poem
  • Mulholland's Contract Read Poem
  • Municipal Read Poem
  • My Father's Chair Read Poem
  • My Lady's Law Read Poem
  • My New-Cut Ashlar Read Poem
  • My Rival Read Poem
  • Natural Theology Read Poem
  • Neighbours Read Poem
  • Norman and Saxon Read Poem
  • Old Fighting-Men Read Poem
  • Old Mother Laidinwool Read Poem
  • One Viceroy Resigns Read Poem
  • Oonts Read Poem
  • Our Fathers Also Read Poem
  • Our Fathers of Old Read Poem
  • Our Lady Of The Sackcloth Read Poem
  • Outsong in the Jungle Read Poem
  • Pagett, M.P. Read Poem
  • Pan in Vermont Read Poem
  • Parade-Song of the Camp-Animals Read Poem
  • Pharaoh and the Sergeant Read Poem
  • Philadelphia Read Poem
  • Pig Read Poem
  • Pink Dominoes Read Poem
  • Poor Honest Men Read Poem
  • Poseidon's Law Read Poem
  • Possibilities Read Poem
  • Prelude Read Poem
  • Prophets at Home Read Poem
  • Public Waste Read Poem
  • Puck's Song Read Poem
  • Quiquern Read Poem
  • Rebirth Read Poem
  • Recessional (A Victorian Ode) Read Poem
  • Red Dog Read Poem
  • Ride to Kandahar Read Poem
  • Rikki-Tikki-Tavi Read Poem
  • Rimini Read Poem
  • Rimmon Read Poem
  • Road Song of the Bandar-Log Read Poem
  • Romulus and Remus Read Poem
  • Route Marchin' Read Poem
  • Russia to the Pacifists Read Poem
  • Sappers Read Poem
  • Screw-Guns Read Poem
  • Sepulchral Read Poem
  • Sestina Of The Tramp-Royal Read Poem
  • Seven Watchmen Read Poem
  • Shillin' A Day Read Poem
  • Sir Richard's Song Read Poem
  • Snarleyow Read Poem
  • Soldier An' Sailor Too Read Poem
  • Soldier, Soldier Read Poem
  • Song of the Fifth River Read Poem
  • Song of the Galley Slaves Read Poem
  • Song of the Red War-Boat Read Poem
  • Sussex Read Poem
  • Tarrant Moss Read Poem
  • That Day Read Poem
  • The 'Eathen Read Poem
  • The Absent Minded Beggar Read Poem
  • The Advertisement Read Poem
  • The American Rebellion Read Poem
  • The Answer Read Poem
  • The Anvil Read Poem
  • The Appeal Read Poem
  • The Ballad of 'Bolivar' Read Poem
  • The Ballad of Ahmed Shah Read Poem
  • The Ballad Of Boh Da Thone Read Poem
  • The Ballad Of East And West Read Poem
  • The Ballad of Fisher's Boarding-House Read Poem
  • The Ballad of Jakko Hill Read Poem
  • The Ballad of Minepit Shaw Read Poem
  • The Ballad of the Cars Read Poem
  • The Ballad of the Clampherdown Read Poem
  • The Ballad Of The King's Jest Read Poem
  • The Ballad Of The King's Mercy Read Poem
  • The Ballad of the Red Earl Read Poem
  • The Bee-Boy's Song Read Poem
  • The Bees and Flies Read Poem
  • The Beginner Read Poem
  • The Beginning Of The Armadilloes Read Poem
  • The Beginnings Read Poem
  • The Bell Buoy Read Poem
  • The Bells and Queen Victoria Read Poem
  • The Benefactors Read Poem
  • The Betrothed Read Poem
  • The Birthright Read Poem
  • The Bother Read Poem
  • The Braggart Read Poem
  • The Broken Men Read Poem
  • The Bronckhurst Divorce Case Read Poem
  • The Burden Read Poem
  • The Burial Read Poem
  • The Butterfly That Stamped Read Poem
  • The Camels Hump Read Poem
  • The Captive Read Poem
  • The Cat That Walked by Himself Read Poem
  • The Centaurs Read Poem
  • The Changelings Read Poem
  • The Children Read Poem
  • The Children's Song Read Poem
  • The Choice (The American Spirit Speaks) Read Poem
  • The City of Brass Read Poem
  • The City of Sleep Read Poem
  • The Coastwise Lights Read Poem
  • The Coiner Read Poem
  • The Comforters Read Poem
  • The Consolations Of Memory Read Poem
  • The Conundrum Of The Workshops Read Poem
  • The Conversion of Aurelian McGoggin Read Poem
  • The Covenant Read Poem
  • The Crab That Played with the Sea Read Poem
  • The Craftsman Read Poem
  • The Cure Read Poem
  • The Dawn Wind Read Poem
  • The Dead King Read Poem
  • The Declaration of London Read Poem
  • The Decline of the West Read Poem
  • The Derelict Read Poem
  • The Destroyers Read Poem
  • The Disciple Read Poem
  • The Dove of Dacca Read Poem
  • The Dutch in the Medway Read Poem
  • The Dying Chauffeur Read Poem
  • The Dykes Read Poem
  • The Egg-Shell Read Poem
  • The English Flag Read Poem
  • The English Way Read Poem
  • The Exiles' Line Read Poem
  • The Expert Read Poem
  • The Explanation Read Poem
  • The Explorer Read Poem
  • The Fabulists Read Poem
  • The Fairies' Siege Read Poem
  • The Fall of Jock Gillespie Read Poem
  • The Feet of the Young Men Read Poem
  • The Female of the Species Read Poem
  • The Files Read Poem
  • The Fires Read Poem
  • The First Chantey Read Poem
  • The Flight Read Poem
  • The Floods Read Poem
  • The Flowers Read Poem
  • The Four Angels Read Poem
  • The Four Points Read Poem
  • The French Wars Read Poem
  • The Galley-Slave Read Poem
  • The Gift Of The Sea Read Poem
  • The Gipsy Trail Read Poem
  • The Glory of the Garden Read Poem
  • The Gods of the Copybook Headings Read Poem
  • The Grave of the Hundred Heads Read Poem
  • The Greek National Anthem Read Poem
  • The Heritage Read Poem
  • The Holy War Read Poem
  • The Hour of the Angel Read Poem
  • The Houses Read Poem
  • The Hyaenas Read Poem
  • The Hymn to Physical Pain Read Poem
  • The Idiot Boy Read Poem
  • The Instructor Read Poem
  • The Inventor Read Poem
  • The Irish Guards Read Poem
  • The Jacket Read Poem
  • The Jester Read Poem
  • The Juggler's Song Read Poem
  • The Junk and the Dhow Read Poem
  • The Justice's Tale Read Poem
  • The King Read Poem
  • The King and the Sea Read Poem
  • The King's Ankus Read Poem
  • The King's Job Read Poem
  • The King's Pilgrimage Read Poem
  • The King's Task Read Poem
  • The Kingdom Read Poem
  • The Ladies Read Poem
  • The Lament OF The Border Cattle Thief Read Poem
  • The Land Read Poem
  • The Landau Read Poem
  • The Last Chantey Read Poem
  • The Last Department Read Poem
  • The Last Lap Read Poem
  • The Last Ode Read Poem
  • The Last of the Light Brigade Read Poem
  • The Last Rhyme Of True Thomas Read Poem
  • The Last Suttee Read Poem
  • The Law Of The Jungle Read Poem
  • The Legend Of Evil Read Poem
  • The Legend of Mirth Read Poem
  • The Legend of the Foreign Office Read Poem
  • The Lesson Read Poem
  • The Light That Failed Read Poem
  • The Liner She's A Lady Read Poem
  • The Long Trail Read Poem
  • The Lost Legion Read Poem
  • The Love Song of Har Dyal Read Poem
  • The Lovers' Litany Read Poem
  • The Lowestoft Boat Read Poem
  • The Man Who Could Write Read Poem
  • The Mare's Nest Read Poem
  • The Married Man Read Poem
  • The Mary Gloster Read Poem
  • The Masque of Plenty Read Poem
  • The Master-Cook Read Poem
  • The Men That Fought at Minden Read Poem
  • The Merchantmen Read Poem
  • The Mine-Sweepers Read Poem
  • The Miracle of Purun Bhagat Read Poem
  • The Miracles Read Poem
  • The Moon of Other Days Read Poem
  • The Moral Read Poem
  • The Morning Song of the Jungle Read Poem
  • The Mother's Son Read Poem
  • THe Mother-Lodge Read Poem
  • The Native-Born Read Poem
  • The Naulahka Read Poem
  • The Necessitarian Read Poem
  • The New Knighthood Read Poem
  • The North Sea Patrol Read Poem
  • The Nursing Sister Read Poem
  • The Old Issue Read Poem
  • The Old M en Read Poem
  • The Oldest Song Read Poem
  • The Only Son Read Poem
  • The Other Man Read Poem
  • The Outlaws Read Poem
  • The Overland Mail Read Poem
  • The Palace Read Poem
  • The Parting of the Column Read Poem
  • The Peace of Dives Read Poem
  • The Penalty Read Poem
  • The Pirates in England Read Poem
  • The Playmate Read Poem
  • The Plea of the Simla Dancers Read Poem
  • The Portent Read Poem
  • The Post That Fitted Read Poem
  • The Power of the Dog Read Poem
  • The Prairie Read Poem
  • The Prayer Read Poem
  • The Prayer of Miriam Cohen Read Poem
  • The Press Read Poem
  • The Pro-Consuls Read Poem
  • The Prodigal Son Read Poem
  • The Progress of the Spark Read Poem
  • The Puzzler Read Poem
  • The Queen of Fairy Land Read Poem
  • The Queen's Men Read Poem
  • The Question Read Poem
  • The Rabbi's Song Read Poem
  • The Recall Read Poem
  • The Reeds of Runnymede Read Poem
  • The Reformers Read Poem
  • The Return Read Poem
  • The Return of the Children Read Poem
  • The Rhyme Of The Three Captains Read Poem
  • The Rhyme Of The Three Sealers Read Poem
  • The River's Tale Read Poem
  • The Roman Centurion's Song Read Poem
  • The Rout of the White Hussars Read Poem
  • The Rowers Read Poem
  • The Run of the Downs Read Poem
  • The Runes of Weland's Sword Read Poem
  • The Rupaiyat of Omar Kal'vin Read Poem
  • The Sacrifice Of Er-Heb Read Poem
  • The Sea and the Hills Read Poem
  • The Sea-Wife Read Poem
  • The Second Voyage Read Poem
  • The Secret of the Machinery Read Poem
  • The Sergeant's Weddin' Read Poem
  • The Servant When He Reigneth Read Poem
  • The Settler Read Poem
  • The Ship That Found Herself Read Poem
  • The Shut-Eye Sentry Read Poem
  • The Sing-Song of Old Man Kangaroo Read Poem
  • The Song at Cock-Crow Read Poem
  • The Song of Diego Valdez Read Poem
  • The Song Of The Banjo Read Poem
  • The Song Of The Cities Read Poem
  • The Song Of The Dead Read Poem
  • The Song of the Little Hunter Read Poem
  • The Song Of The Old Guard Read Poem
  • The Song of the Sons Read Poem
  • The Song Of The Women Read Poem
  • The Songs Of The Lathes Read Poem
  • The Sons of Martha Read Poem
  • The Spies' March Read Poem
  • The Spring Running Read Poem
  • The Storm Cone Read Poem
  • The Story Of Ung Read Poem
  • The Story Of Uriah Read Poem
  • The Stranger Read Poem
  • The Survival Read Poem
  • The Thousandth Man Read Poem
  • The Three-Decker Read Poem
  • The Threshold Read Poem
  • The Totem Read Poem
  • The Tour Read Poem
  • The Truce Of The Bear Read Poem
  • The Two-Sided Man Read Poem
  • The Ubique Read Poem
  • The Undertaker's Horse.. Read Poem
  • The Undertakers Read Poem
  • The Vampire Read Poem
  • The Verdicts [Jutland] Read Poem
  • The Veterans Read Poem
  • The Vineyard Read Poem
  • The Virginity Read Poem
  • The Voortrekker Read Poem
  • The Wage-Slaves Read Poem
  • The Watcher Read Poem
  • The Way Through The Woods Read Poem
  • The Wet Litany Read Poem
  • The White Man's Burden Read Poem
  • The White Seal Read Poem
  • The Widow At Windsor Read Poem
  • The Widow's Party Read Poem
  • The Widower Read Poem
  • The Winners Read Poem
  • The Wishing-Caps Read Poem
  • Epitaphs of the War Read Poem
  • "For All We Have And Are" Read Poem
  • If— Read Poem
  • Recessional Read Poem
  • The Secret of the Machines Read Poem
  • Sestina of the Tramp-Royal Read Poem
  • The Song of the Banjo Read Poem
  • Song of the Galley-Slaves Read Poem
  • "Tin Fish" Read Poem
  • "The Trade" Read Poem
  • The Verdicts Read Poem