20+ Rudyard Kipling Poems, Ranked by Poetry Experts

If—

Many people consider ‘If—’ to be one of the most inspirational poems ever written. It is certainly a poem that has garnered a great deal of attention in popular culture.

Rudyard Kipling's poetry, including 'If,' is known for its didactic and moralistic tone. His poetry often imparts life lessons and wisdom, aiming to guide readers towards ethical and virtuous behavior. "If" exemplifies Kipling's style, offering a set of values and virtues to be embraced as a guide to navigate life's challenges. His poetry is characterized by its directness and clarity, presenting concise and impactful messages. 'If' is without a doubt his best-known poem and his most commonly studied.

If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;

If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim;

If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster

And treat those two impostors just the same;

The Gods of Copybook Headings

‘The Gods of Copybook Headings’ by Rudyard Kipling speaks on the nature of progress and humanity’s eventual return to basic principles of a good life.

The speaker discusses the malevolent nature of progress and humanity’s eventual return to the basic principles of a good life. The word “copybook” refers to an exercise book that is generally used to practice a language. In these books, there is a heading at the top of the page which is usually a quote which speaks on kindness. Humankind, the speaker thinks, was directed by a few tenants of common sense and goodness in the past. These past “gods” were replaced with new gods, those of “The Market Place”.

As it will be in the future, it was at the birth of Man

There are only four things certain since Social Progress began.

That the Dog returns to his Vomit and the Sow returns to her Mire,

And the burnt Fool's bandaged finger goes wabbling back to the Fire;

Recessional

‘Recessional’ by Rudyard Kipling was written in 1897 for the Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee and speaks on the state of the British Empire.

‘Recessional’ is one of Rudyard Kipling’s best-known poems. Within the text, the speaker is very interested in reminding the reader of the many battles fought in Britain. No one should forget that God saw them through dark times and brought them triumphantly into the light. As the poem continues, the speaker flushes out his concerns about the state of the Empire. He is worried that the nation is becoming complacent and forgetful of everything they owe to God.

God of our fathers, known of old,

Lord of our far-flung battle line,

Beneath whose awful hand we hold

Dominion over palm and pine,

Gunga Din

A soldier’s perspective in India, “Gunga Din” centers on an Indian water carrier who saves the soldier, only to be fatally shot by him, sparking deep regret.

This piece comes from the perspective of an English soldier in India. The most important character is an Indian water carrier, named Gunga Din though. The water carrier saves the soldier’s life after he is wounded in battle. But then, the soldier shoots and kills him. The poem concludes with the soldier feeling regret for how he treated the water carrier, and coming to the conclusion that Din was the better man.

You may talk o' gin and beer

When you're quartered safe out 'ere,

An' you're sent to penny-fights an' Aldershot it;

But when it comes to slaughter

The White Man’s Burden

In this controversial poem, Rudyard Kipling taps into the imperialist mindset and what he, and others, saw as the “white man’s burden.”

This poem is one of Kipling's best-known and commonly studied. It's a controversial, complicated poem that expresses a highly offensive sentiment regarding the civilizing of non-white cultures. The poem is often studied as a representative example of his work and the period.

Take up the White man's burden

Send forth the best ye breed

Go bind your sons to exile

To serve your captives' need;

Mesopotamia

‘Mesopotamia’ by Rudyard Kipling describes the aftermath of the siege of Kut-al-Amara and those who do and do not feel the imapct of it.

This poem describes the aftermath of the siege of Kut-al-Amara and the lack of consequences that the politicians responsible faced for their “arrogance”. The speaker describes the loss of the men in Mesopotamia in the first two lines of each stanza. He speaks the fact that there is no place or time on Earth in which these “whole-hearted” and “eager” men shall be returned to “us”.

They shall not return to us, the resolute, the young,

The eager and whole-hearted whom we gave:

But the men who left them thriftily to die in their own dung,

Shall they come with years and honour to the grave?

The City of Sleep

Kipling’s ‘The City of Sleep’ connects to ‘The Brushwood Boy,’ depicting George Cottar’s life, dreams, and realization of shared dreams with a woman.

This piece connects back to one of his most popular short stories, “The Brushwood Boy”. In the story, Kipling describes George Cottar’s life. He depicts his youth, his dreams, and his tour of duty in India. The fantastical elements of the story come together as the main character realizes, after hearing the words of this poem, that he has been sharing his dreams with a young woman.

Over the edge of the purple down,

Where the single lamplight gleams,

Know ye the road to the Merciful Town

That is hard by the Sea of Dreams,

Blue Roses

‘Blue Roses’ symbolizes impossible love, with a quest for a blue rose ending in the speaker’s return to find that his lover has died.

‘Blue Roses’ uses the symbol of a blue rose to represent an impossible love. To please his lover in this poem the speaker goes on a quest to find her a blue rose. She refuses to accept any other color. The speaker travels everywhere looking for this color rose but finds nothing. The world laughs in his face and eventually, he has to come home. When he does, he finds that his lover is dead.

Roses red and roses white

Plucked I for my love's delight.

She would none of all my posies,

Bade me gather her blue roses.

The Glory of the Garden

‘The Glory of the Garden’ delves into the symbolism of English gardens, intertwining themes of hard work, national pride, and religious connotations.

This piece is about English gardens and the hard work that is needed to create a perfectly organized natural space. The poem extolls hard work over laziness and expands the “garden” to include all of England. Its beauty is in more “than meets the eye”. There is a great deal to see beyond the exterior of the country/garden.

Our England is a garden that is full of stately views,

Of borders, beds and shrubberies and lawns and avenues,

With statues on the terraces and peacocks strutting by;

But the Glory of the Garden lies in more than meets the eye.

The Way Through the Woods

‘The Way Through the Woods’ by Rudyard Kipling describes the changes that have come over one particular forest since a road was closed.

This poem exhibits a unique blend of narrative storytelling and vivid imagery. The poem describes a natural scene in beautiful detail. There is the “keeper” of the woods. The keeper can see the secret interactions of animals and exist among them freely. Kipling’s speaker concludes the poem by describing all the things that one might see if they were to enter the woods at night.

They shut the road through the woods

Seventy years ago.

Weather and rain have undone it again,

And now you would never know

Explore more poems from Rudyard Kipling

The Appeal

‘The Appeal’ is Kipling’s request for posthumous privacy, reflecting his views on life, death, and the intrusion of fame.

‘The Appeal’ rejects any future attempts at communicating with the writer, Kipling, after he dies. Kipling was notoriously private. Before his death, he destroyed many of his unfinished works and journals, a process that was completed by his wife. He desired that he be left to rest in peace, without the prying eyes of clairvoyants or even biographers.

It I have given you delight

By aught that I have done,

Let me lie quiet in that night

Which shall be yours anon:

A Child’s Garden

‘A Child’s Garden’ by Rudyard Kipling is written from the perspective of a young sick boy who is dreaming of escaping his confining and frightening life by taking to the sky in an airplane.

Now there is nothing wrong with me

Except -- I think it's called T.B.

And that is why I have to lay

Out in the garden all the day.

L’Envoi (1881)

‘L’Envoi’ by Rudyard Kipling reflects on the nature and purpose of poetry and considers the poet’s legacy.

Rudyard Kipling's poetry is renowned for exploring universal themes, and 'L'Envoi' is a powerful example of this. Through his writing, Kipling encourages readers to contemplate their own lives and legacies and focus on the things that truly matter.

Rhymes, or of grief or of sorrow

Pass and are not,

Rhymes of today—tomorrow

Lie forgot.

The Sea and the Hills

‘The Sea and the Hills’ by Rudyard Kipling depicts the ocean, its heaving waves, incredible winds, and ever-present danger. It has evoked longing in men throughout time and will continue to do so, just as one longs to return home.

Although not one of Kipling's best known poems, 'The Sea and the Hills' is undoubtedly one of his finest works.

Who hath desired the Sea? - the sight of salt water unbounded -

The heave and the halt and the hurl and the crash of the comber wind-hounded?

The sleek-barrelled swell before storm, grey, foamless, enormous, and growing

Stark calm on the lap of the Line or the crazy-eyed hurricane blowing -

Boots

‘Boots’ by Rudyard Kipling is a memorable poem. In it, Kipling uses repetition to emphasize the struggle of soldiers on a forced march.

We're foot—slog—slog—slog—sloggin’ over Africa!

Foot—foot—foot—foot—sloggin’ over Africa—

(Boots—boots—boots—boots—movin’ up and down again!)

There’s no discharge in the war!

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