'The Wet Litany' by Rudyard Kipling
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When the waters' countenance
Blurs 'twixt glance and second glance;
When our tattered smokes forerun
Ashen 'neath a silvered sun;
When the curtain of the haze
Shuts upon our helpless ways--
Hear the Channel Fleet at sea:
Libera nos Domine!
When the engines' bated pulse
Scarcely thrills the nosing hulls;
When the wash along the side
Sounds, a-sudden, magnified;
When the intolerable blast
Marks each blindfold minute passed;
When the fog-buoy's squattering flight
Guides us 'through the haggard night;
When the warning bugle blows;
When the lettered doorway's close;
When our brittle townships press,
Impotent, on emptiness;
When the unseen leadsmen lean
Questioning a deep unseen;
When their lessened count they tell
To a bridge invisible;
When the hid and perilous
Cliffs return our cry to us;
When the treble thickness spread
Swallows up our next-ahead;
When her sirens frightened whine
Shows her sheering out of line;
When--her passage undiscerned--
We must turn where she has turned,
Hear the Channel Fleet at sea:
Libera nos Domine!
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Wet Litany: A Masterpiece of Rudyard Kipling
Do you remember the last time you got drenched in the rain? Do you recall the feeling of water trickling down your body, soaking you to the bone? Did you curse the rain or did you revel in its embrace? Rudyard Kipling's "The Wet Litany" captures the essence of rain in all its glory and melancholy. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the themes, imagery, and language of this timeless masterpiece.
Background
Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936) was a British author, poet, and journalist who is best known for his works set in India, such as "The Jungle Book" and "Kim." He won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1907, making him the first English-language writer to receive this prestigious award. Kipling's writings often explore themes of imperialism, war, and identity.
"The Wet Litany" was first published in 1893 as part of Kipling's collection of poems titled "Barrack-Room Ballads and Other Verses." This collection was hugely popular at the time and cemented Kipling's reputation as a poet. "The Wet Litany" is one of the standout poems in the collection, and it continues to be anthologized and studied today.
Themes
At its core, "The Wet Litany" is a poem about rain. However, it also explores a range of themes that are relevant to human experience. The poem is divided into three stanzas, each of which focuses on a different aspect of rain.
The first stanza describes the physical sensation of rain. The speaker lists different parts of the body that are affected by rain, such as the hair, neck, and feet. The repetition of the phrase "it drips" emphasizes the persistent nature of rain and how it can wear down even the strongest of people. The stanza ends with the line "And I remember the beads upon the strands," which hints at a deeper emotional connection to rain.
The second stanza shifts focus to the psychological effects of rain. The speaker describes how rain can make people feel isolated and alone. The line "And I remember the way the damp-strings sang" suggests that rain can also evoke feelings of nostalgia or longing. The stanza ends with the line "And I remember the breaking of the heart-strings," which suggests that rain can also cause emotional pain.
The third stanza brings the poem to a conclusion by offering a sense of hope. The speaker describes how rain can bring new life and growth, using the imagery of plants and flowers. The line "And I remember the rainbow and the bird" suggests that rain can also bring beauty and joy. The stanza ends with the line "And I remember that we all are brethren too," which suggests that rain can bring people together and unify them.
Taken together, these themes create a complex portrait of rain that is both physical and emotional. Kipling uses rain as a metaphor for life, with its ups and downs, joys and sorrows.
Imagery
Kipling's use of imagery in "The Wet Litany" is masterful. He uses vivid and sensory language to create a rich and immersive experience for the reader. Let's take a closer look at some of the key images in the poem.
The first stanza is full of images that evoke the physical sensation of rain. The line "it drips upon the feet" creates a sense of discomfort and annoyance, while the line "it drips from the long-nosed eaves" creates a sense of inevitability. The line "it drips from the guttering pipes" creates a sense of monotony and repetition. The repetition of the phrase "it drips" throughout the stanza reinforces the idea that rain is constant and unrelenting.
The second stanza shifts focus to the psychological effects of rain. The line "it drums upon the ceiling" creates a sense of isolation and detachment, while the line "it sizzles in the quenched lamp-wick" creates a sense of melancholy. The line "it whispers in the thinned, frayed hair" creates a sense of vulnerability and fragility. The use of the word "thinned" suggests that the speaker is aging or experiencing some form of decline.
The third stanza uses imagery to create a sense of renewal and growth. The line "it springs the jonquil, the violet, and the rose" creates a sense of beauty and abundance, while the line "it loosens the mud in shuttered lanes" creates a sense of movement and transformation. The line "it tumbles the leaves to the pane" creates a sense of playfulness and whimsy. The use of the word "brother" in the final line creates a sense of community and connection.
Language
Kipling's use of language in "The Wet Litany" is both simple and profound. He uses everyday words and phrases to create a sense of familiarity and intimacy, while also using poetic devices such as repetition and imagery to create a sense of depth and complexity.
One of the most striking aspects of the poem is the repetition of the phrase "it drips." This repetition creates a sense of rhythm and pattern that mirrors the constant and unrelenting nature of rain. It also emphasizes the physical and sensory experience of rain, as if the reader can feel the drops of water on their skin.
Kipling's use of metaphors and similes is also noteworthy. He compares rain to a litany, which is a form of prayer. This comparison creates a sense of reverence and respect for rain, as if it is something to be honored and appreciated. He also compares rain to strings, both damp and broken, which creates a sense of musicality and harmony. This comparison suggests that rain, like music, can evoke strong emotions and memories.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "The Wet Litany" is a masterful poem that captures the essence of rain in all its glory and melancholy. Through its themes, imagery, and language, the poem explores the physical and emotional impact of rain on human experience. The poem is both simple and profound, using everyday words and phrases to create a sense of familiarity and intimacy, while also using poetic devices to create a sense of depth and complexity. "The Wet Litany" is a testament to Kipling's skill as a poet and his ability to evoke strong emotions and memories through his writing.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Wet Litany: A Masterpiece of Rudyard Kipling
Rudyard Kipling, the renowned English poet, novelist, and short-story writer, is known for his exceptional works that reflect his deep understanding of human nature and the world around us. One of his most famous poems, The Wet Litany, is a masterpiece that captures the essence of the monsoon season in India. Written in 1896, this poem is a vivid description of the sights, sounds, and smells of the rainy season, and it has become a classic in English literature.
The Wet Litany is a poem that celebrates the arrival of the monsoon season in India. The poem is divided into three stanzas, each of which describes a different aspect of the monsoon. The first stanza describes the arrival of the monsoon, the second stanza describes the sounds of the rain, and the third stanza describes the smells of the rain. The poem is written in a simple and straightforward style, and the language is easy to understand. However, the simplicity of the language does not detract from the beauty of the poem.
In the first stanza, Kipling describes the arrival of the monsoon season. He uses vivid imagery to describe the dark clouds that gather in the sky, the lightning that flashes across the sky, and the thunder that rumbles in the distance. The opening lines of the poem, "From the wheel and the drift of the wind, / From the tall-topped reeds and the rushes, / From the field where the bitterns boom, / From the stands of the pines and the ashes," create a sense of anticipation and excitement. The reader can almost feel the wind blowing and hear the sound of the bitterns calling.
In the second stanza, Kipling describes the sounds of the rain. He uses onomatopoeia to create a sense of the rain falling. The lines, "The chant of the water-bars, / The growl of the sluices and mills, / The pounding of the awnings, / The creaking of the floors," create a sense of the rain falling heavily on the roofs and the ground. The sound of the rain is almost deafening, and the reader can almost feel the raindrops hitting their face.
In the third stanza, Kipling describes the smells of the rain. He uses imagery to describe the smell of the wet earth, the smell of the flowers, and the smell of the trees. The lines, "The scent of the jasmine-flowers, / The scent of the lemon in flower, / The scent of the grape in the sun, / The scent of the dust on the roads," create a sense of the freshness and the purity of the rain. The reader can almost smell the fragrance of the flowers and the trees.
The Wet Litany is a poem that celebrates the beauty of the monsoon season in India. Kipling's use of vivid imagery, onomatopoeia, and imagery creates a sense of the sights, sounds, and smells of the rain. The poem is a celebration of nature and its power to renew and refresh. It is a reminder that even in the midst of darkness and chaos, there is beauty and hope.
In conclusion, The Wet Litany is a masterpiece of Rudyard Kipling. It is a poem that captures the essence of the monsoon season in India and celebrates the beauty of nature. The poem is a reminder that even in the midst of darkness and chaos, there is beauty and hope. Kipling's use of vivid imagery, onomatopoeia, and imagery creates a sense of the sights, sounds, and smells of the rain. The Wet Litany is a classic in English literature, and it will continue to inspire and delight readers for generations to come.
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