'The Virginity' by Rudyard Kipling
AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay
Try as he will, no man breaks wholly loose
From his first love, no matter who she be.
Oh, was there ever sailor free to choose,
That didn't settle somewhere near the sea?
Myself, it don't excite me nor amuse
To watch a pack o' shipping on the sea;
But I can understand my neighbour's views
From certain things which have occured to me.
Men must keep touch with things they used to use
To earn their living, even when they are free;
And so come back upon the least excuse --
Same as the sailor settled near the sea.
He knows he's never going on no cruise --
He knows he's done and finished with the sea;
And yet he likes to feel she's there to use --
If he should ask her -- as she used to be.
Even though she cost him all he had to lose,
Even though she made him sick to hear or see,
Still, what she left of him will mostly choose
Her skirts to sit by. How comes such to be?
Parsons in pulpits, tax-payers in pews,
Kings on your thrones, you know as well as me,
We've only one virginity to lose,
And where we lost it there our hearts will be!
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Virginity by Rudyard Kipling: A Masterpiece of Poetry
Rudyard Kipling is one of the most celebrated poets of his time, and he has left behind a rich legacy of literary works that continue to captivate readers to this day. One such work is his poem, The Virginity, which is a deep and thought-provoking exploration of the themes of love, loss, and the passage of time.
At its core, The Virginity is a poem about the fleeting nature of youth and the inevitability of growing old. Kipling uses vivid imagery and powerful metaphors to convey the sense of loss and nostalgia that permeates the poem. He describes the "dawn" of youth as a "virginity" that is "held within a shell" and compares it to the "bloom" of a flower that must eventually wither and fade away.
The poem is structured in three stanzas, each of which explores a different aspect of the theme of virginity. In the first stanza, Kipling describes the "virginity" of youth as a state of pure potential, a time when anything is possible and everything is new. He writes, "the virginity of dawn, / Bright promise of the day unborn, / White innocence of new-wed brides." This description sets the tone for the rest of the poem and establishes the idea that youth is a time of great promise and potential.
In the second stanza, Kipling shifts his focus to the idea of loss and the passage of time. He writes, "The virginity of noon, / The silence of the sunlit dune, / The promise of the harvest soon." Here, he contrasts the bright promise of youth with the harsh reality of age and the inevitability of death. The noon of life, like the noon of the day, is a time when the sun is at its highest and brightest, but it is also a time when the shadows begin to lengthen and the day begins to wane.
In the third and final stanza, Kipling brings the poem full circle with a powerful meditation on the meaning of life and the inevitability of death. He writes, "The virginity of night, / The waiting stars, the harvest bright, / The bride-bed and the shroud in sight." Here, he juxtaposes the promise of new life with the certainty of death, reminding us that even as we celebrate the arrival of a new day, we must also prepare for its end.
Throughout the poem, Kipling uses powerful imagery and vivid metaphors to create a sense of deep longing and nostalgia. He describes the "virginity" of youth as a state of pure potential, a time when anything is possible and everything is new. He contrasts this with the harsh realities of age and the inevitability of death, reminding us that even as we celebrate the arrival of a new day, we must also prepare for its end.
In conclusion, The Virginity is a deeply moving and thought-provoking exploration of the themes of love, loss, and the passage of time. Through his use of powerful imagery and vivid metaphors, Rudyard Kipling has created a masterpiece of poetry that continues to resonate with readers to this day. Whether we are young or old, the poem reminds us of the fleeting nature of life and the importance of cherishing every moment we have. So let us celebrate the "virginity" of each new day, and let us treasure the promise of tomorrow, even as we prepare for the inevitable harvest of today.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Virginity by Rudyard Kipling is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. It is a powerful and evocative piece of literature that explores the themes of love, loss, and the passage of time. In this 2000-word analysis, we will delve deep into the poem and explore its meaning, structure, and literary devices.
The poem begins with a powerful opening line, "To spend uncounted years of pain." This line immediately sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which is filled with a sense of melancholy and longing. The speaker is lamenting the loss of something precious, something that can never be regained. The use of the word "uncounted" emphasizes the magnitude of the pain that the speaker has experienced.
The next few lines of the poem describe the object of the speaker's longing. It is the virginity of a woman, which he describes as "a rose in the wilderness." This metaphor is particularly powerful because it suggests that the woman's virginity is something rare and precious, something that is not easily found. The use of the word "wilderness" also suggests that the woman's virginity is something that is hard to come by in a world that is often cruel and unforgiving.
The speaker goes on to describe the woman's virginity in more detail, saying that it is "a lily in the field." This metaphor is also powerful because it suggests that the woman's virginity is something pure and innocent, something that is untouched by the corruption of the world. The use of the word "field" also suggests that the woman's virginity is something that is natural and unspoiled.
As the poem progresses, the speaker becomes more and more desperate in his longing for the woman's virginity. He says that he would "give all else again / To see her for a moment's space." This line is particularly poignant because it suggests that the speaker is willing to give up everything he has in order to experience the woman's virginity, even if it is only for a brief moment.
The next few lines of the poem describe the passage of time and the inevitability of change. The speaker says that "Time has seen us, Love, and flown away / And left us naked in the street." This metaphor is particularly powerful because it suggests that the passage of time has stripped the speaker of everything he once had, leaving him exposed and vulnerable. The use of the word "naked" also suggests that the speaker has been stripped of his dignity and his sense of self-worth.
The final lines of the poem are perhaps the most powerful. The speaker says that "Our lot crawls to the bitter end / Despair, and madness, and decrepitude." This line is particularly poignant because it suggests that the speaker's life has been reduced to a slow and painful crawl towards death. The use of the words "despair," "madness," and "decrepitude" also suggest that the speaker's life has been filled with pain and suffering.
In terms of structure, The Virginity is a relatively simple poem. It consists of four stanzas, each with four lines. The rhyme scheme is also relatively simple, with the first and third lines of each stanza rhyming with each other, and the second and fourth lines rhyming with each other. This simple structure allows the poem to flow smoothly and allows the reader to focus on the powerful imagery and language used by the speaker.
In terms of literary devices, The Virginity is filled with powerful metaphors and imagery. The use of the metaphor of the rose and the lily to describe the woman's virginity is particularly powerful because it suggests that the woman's virginity is something rare and precious, something that is not easily found. The use of the word "wilderness" and "field" also suggest that the woman's virginity is something that is hard to come by in a world that is often cruel and unforgiving.
The use of the metaphor of time as a cruel and unforgiving force is also particularly powerful. The speaker suggests that time has stripped him of everything he once had, leaving him exposed and vulnerable. This metaphor is particularly poignant because it suggests that the passage of time is something that cannot be stopped or controlled, and that we are all at the mercy of its relentless march.
In conclusion, The Virginity by Rudyard Kipling is a powerful and evocative poem that explores the themes of love, loss, and the passage of time. The use of powerful metaphors and imagery allows the speaker to convey a sense of longing and desperation that is both poignant and heartbreaking. The simple structure of the poem allows the reader to focus on the language and imagery used by the speaker, and the use of literary devices such as metaphors and imagery adds depth and complexity to the poem. Overall, The Virginity is a classic poem that continues to resonate with readers today, and is a testament to the enduring power of poetry.
Editor Recommended Sites
Learn Ansible: Learn ansible tutorials and best practice for cloud infrastructure managementDatabase Migration - CDC resources for Oracle, Postgresql, MSQL, Bigquery, Redshift: Resources for migration of different SQL databases on-prem or multi cloud
Devops Management: Learn Devops organization managment and the policies and frameworks to implement to govern organizational devops
Learn Postgres: Postgresql cloud management, tutorials, SQL tutorials, migration guides, load balancing and performance guides
Best Online Courses - OCW online free university & Free College Courses: The best online courses online. Free education online & Free university online
Recommended Similar Analysis
Japan by Billy Collins analysisThe Man And The Echo by William Butler Yeats analysis
Penelope by Dorothy Parker analysis
Holy Thursday by William Blake analysis
since feeling is first... (VII) by e.e. cummings analysis
They dropped like flakes by Emily Dickinson analysis
"Thou Art The Man" by Edgar Allen Poe analysis
Mag by Carl Sandburg analysis
Homage To A Government by Philip Larkin analysis
Guilt and Sorrow by William Wordsworth analysis