Wednesday 11 July 2012

The Complete Verse - Rudyard Kipling

Today we will talk about a Kipling book. Now he is known more for The Jungle Book and Kim but do you know he was a prolific verse writer too!

We have this book, The Complete Verse with us in Bookrack. Considering the upcoming exam week (for the PGP2s) and the test overload (for the PGP1s) we feel this would be a good breather in between your studies. There are many many excellent verses there; here is one we like (and this will appeal to the Animal Lovers out there):

The Power of the Dog

There is sorrow enough in the natural way
From men and women to fill our day;
And when we are certain of sorrow in store,
Why do we always arrange for more?
Brothers and Sisters, I bid you beware
Of giving your heart to a dog to tear.

Buy a pup and your money will buy
Love unflinching that cannot lie --
Perfect passion and worship fed
By a kick in the ribs or a pat on the head.
Nevertheless it is hardly fair
To risk your heart for a dog to tear.

When the fourteen years which Nature permits
Are closing in asthma, or tumour, or fits,
And the vet's unspoken prescription runs
To lethal chambers or loaded guns,
Then you will find -- it's your own affair --
But . . . you've given your heart to a dog to tear.

When the body that lived at your single will,
With its whimper of welcome, is stilled (how still!)
When the spirit hat answered your every mood
Is gone -- wherever it goes -- for good,
You will discover how much you care,
And will give your heart to a dog to tear.

We've sorrow enough in the natural way,
When it comes to burying Christian clay.
Our loves are not given, but only lent,
At compound interest of cent per cent.
Though it is not always the case, I believe,
That the longer we've kept'em, the more do we grieve;

For, when debts are payable, right or wrong,
A short-time loan is as bad as a long --
So why in -- Heaven (before we are there)
Should we give our hearts to a dog to tear?

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Thanks to the net these 'poems' are there online; here's a link:
http://www.poetryloverspage.com/poets/kipling/kipling_ind.html

But if you are of the kind who prefers the crinkle of paper come on down to Bookrack!

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