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Collected Verse of Rudyard Kipling
1911. Collection of poetry from Kipling, English short-story writer, novelist and poet, who celebrated the heroism of British colonial soldiers in India and Burma, was the first Englishman to receive the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1907. See other titles by this author available from Kessinger Publishing.
392 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1907
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About the author
Rudyard Kipling
7,246 books3,740 followersJoseph Rudyard Kipling was a journalist, short-story writer, poet, and novelist.
Kipling's works of fiction include The Jungle Book (1894), Kim (1901), 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 regarded as a major innovator in the art of the short story; his children's books are classics of children's literature; and one critic described his work as exhibiting "a versatile and luminous narrative gift".
Kipling was one of the most popular writers in the United Kingdom, in both prose and verse, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. 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, at the age of 41, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, making him the first English-language writer to receive the prize, and its youngest recipient to date. He was also sounded out for the British Poet Laureateship and on several occasions for a knighthood, both of which he declined.
Awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1907 "in consideration of the power of observation, originality of imagination, virility of ideas and remarkable talent for narration which characterize the creations of this world-famous author."
Kipling kept writing until the early 1930s, but at a slower pace and with much less success than before. On the night of 12 January 1936, Kipling suffered a haemorrhage in his small intestine. He underwent surgery, but died less than a week later on 18 January 1936 at the age of 70 of a perforated duodenal ulcer. Kipling's death had in fact previously been incorrectly announced in a magazine, to which he wrote, "I've just read that I am dead. Don't forget to delete me from your list of subscribers."
Kipling's works of fiction include The Jungle Book (1894), Kim (1901), 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 regarded as a major innovator in the art of the short story; his children's books are classics of children's literature; and one critic described his work as exhibiting "a versatile and luminous narrative gift".
Kipling was one of the most popular writers in the United Kingdom, in both prose and verse, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. 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, at the age of 41, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, making him the first English-language writer to receive the prize, and its youngest recipient to date. He was also sounded out for the British Poet Laureateship and on several occasions for a knighthood, both of which he declined.
Awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1907 "in consideration of the power of observation, originality of imagination, virility of ideas and remarkable talent for narration which characterize the creations of this world-famous author."
Kipling kept writing until the early 1930s, but at a slower pace and with much less success than before. On the night of 12 January 1936, Kipling suffered a haemorrhage in his small intestine. He underwent surgery, but died less than a week later on 18 January 1936 at the age of 70 of a perforated duodenal ulcer. Kipling's death had in fact previously been incorrectly announced in a magazine, to which he wrote, "I've just read that I am dead. Don't forget to delete me from your list of subscribers."
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
February 14, 2026
"I have told the naked stars the Grief of man!"
"The roar of the Milky Way"
"But most the ocean-meadows all purple to the stars!"
"The Injian Ocean sets and smiles"
"I cannot get to sleep tonight; old bones are hard to please;"
"I've a head like a concertina I've a tongue like a button stick"
"Lord, Thou hast made this world below the shadow of a dream,"
Like many readers, I find that I need a steady supply of poetry to feed some inner poet who must live rent-free within the human psyche. These are a collage of lines from different poems found in the book, just a taste to get started in case you were hungry, like appetizers for whatever you are reading. Rudyard Kipling is well-known for his books, such as The Jungle Book, The Just So Stories, Kim, and Rikki-Tikki-Tavi. He is know just about as well for his poetry, most of which this book includes. It's quite old (over a century) and can be found in libraries today. It's also free on the Internet Archive in case you don't want to wait for a smelly ancient print copy.
He wrote from a colonial perspective, so much of his verse centers around ships and his love of adventure. He wrote of the world as he saw it. At times he appears to have critiqued the policy of the British Admiralty, while at other times he is known for spouting propaganda and the dogma of imperialism. He certainly shared some of the dark racial and cultural attitudes reflective of colonialism. A few statements can be not only shocking but coldhearted and cruel.
Born in India where his father was an art professor, JRK was educated in Britain, served as a reporter in the British Raj, and later wrote for The Times. All of his experiences in India, Africa, and the colonies were reflected in his imagery, content, and the rhythmic cadence of his verse. He wrote ballads, nature poems, and much about war and religion within the framework of his poetic storytelling style.
Despite his penchant for stereotypes, the reader can enjoy his deep awareness of and depictions of "otherness" and his encounters with a variety of peoples and landscapes. I personally think that some of his best poetry speaks of memory and family relationships. But, it is the rhythm and sound of his poetry that causes most of us to find ourselves reading these delightful lines aloud to no one but ourselves. I enjoy the deep imagery and symbolism as well. I will share a few larger fragments and then leave a list of some of the most notable titles you can find yourself online.
Some of my favorite poems :
These can be searched individually online.
*Cells, 1890
*Tomlinson, 1891
*The Ballad of the Clamperdown, 1892
*Rhyme of the Three Sealers, 1893
*The Sea-Wife, 1893
*M'Andrew's Hymn 1893
*In the Neolithic Age, 1895
*The First Chantey, 1896
*The Ballad of East and West, 1889
*The Story of Ung, 1894
*Sussex, 1902
*South Africa, 1903
*For to Admire,
*Wilful-Missing (Deserters)
"The roar of the Milky Way"
"But most the ocean-meadows all purple to the stars!"
"The Injian Ocean sets and smiles"
"I cannot get to sleep tonight; old bones are hard to please;"
"I've a head like a concertina I've a tongue like a button stick"
"Lord, Thou hast made this world below the shadow of a dream,"
Like many readers, I find that I need a steady supply of poetry to feed some inner poet who must live rent-free within the human psyche. These are a collage of lines from different poems found in the book, just a taste to get started in case you were hungry, like appetizers for whatever you are reading. Rudyard Kipling is well-known for his books, such as The Jungle Book, The Just So Stories, Kim, and Rikki-Tikki-Tavi. He is know just about as well for his poetry, most of which this book includes. It's quite old (over a century) and can be found in libraries today. It's also free on the Internet Archive in case you don't want to wait for a smelly ancient print copy.
He wrote from a colonial perspective, so much of his verse centers around ships and his love of adventure. He wrote of the world as he saw it. At times he appears to have critiqued the policy of the British Admiralty, while at other times he is known for spouting propaganda and the dogma of imperialism. He certainly shared some of the dark racial and cultural attitudes reflective of colonialism. A few statements can be not only shocking but coldhearted and cruel.
Born in India where his father was an art professor, JRK was educated in Britain, served as a reporter in the British Raj, and later wrote for The Times. All of his experiences in India, Africa, and the colonies were reflected in his imagery, content, and the rhythmic cadence of his verse. He wrote ballads, nature poems, and much about war and religion within the framework of his poetic storytelling style.
Despite his penchant for stereotypes, the reader can enjoy his deep awareness of and depictions of "otherness" and his encounters with a variety of peoples and landscapes. I personally think that some of his best poetry speaks of memory and family relationships. But, it is the rhythm and sound of his poetry that causes most of us to find ourselves reading these delightful lines aloud to no one but ourselves. I enjoy the deep imagery and symbolism as well. I will share a few larger fragments and then leave a list of some of the most notable titles you can find yourself online.
"Beyond the path of the outmost sun through utter darkness hurled—
Further than ever comet flared or vagrant star-dust swirled—
Live such as fought and sailed and ruled and loved and made our world..." -From the Dedication of Barrack Room Ballads
"Lie down, lie down, my bold A.B." Spoken to his shipmates the Able-Bodied Seamen onboard. When the top-heavy ship rolls over the bold A.B. has no choice but to "lie down" in a watery grave.
"...What do it matter where or 'ow we die,
So long as we've our 'ealth to watch it all—
The different ways that different things are done,
An' men an' women lovin' in this world;"
-From Sestina of the Tramp-Royal
"And they said" The soul that he got from God he has bartered clean away.
We have threshed a stook of print and book, and winnowed a chattering wind
And many a soul wherefrom he stole, but his we cannot find:
We have handled him, we have dandled him, we have seared him to the bone,
And sure if tooth and nail show truth he has no soul of his own." Spoken to Satan by his imps who had been sent to torture Tomlinson in hell. They send him back to live long enough for some worthier sin for hell than just all the garbage he'd been reading.
"O her nose flung up to sky, groaning to be still—
Up and down and back we went, never time for breath...
And the stars ran round and round dancin' at our death!
... Watched the compass chase it's tail like a cat at play—"
-fragments from The Battle of the Clampherdown, 1892.
Some of my favorite poems :
These can be searched individually online.
*Cells, 1890
*Tomlinson, 1891
*The Ballad of the Clamperdown, 1892
*Rhyme of the Three Sealers, 1893
*The Sea-Wife, 1893
*M'Andrew's Hymn 1893
*In the Neolithic Age, 1895
*The First Chantey, 1896
*The Ballad of East and West, 1889
*The Story of Ung, 1894
*Sussex, 1902
*South Africa, 1903
*For to Admire,
*Wilful-Missing (Deserters)
Displaying 1 of 1 review