'The Lost Legion' by Rudyard Kipling

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There's a Legion that never was 'listed,
That carries no colours or crest,
But, split in a thousand detachments,
Is breaking the road for the rest.
Our fathers they left us their blessing --
They taught us, and groomed us, and crammed;
But we've shaken the Clubs and the Messes
To go and find out and be damned
(Dear boys!),
To go and get shot and be damned.

So some of us chivy the slaver,
And some of us cherish the black,
And some of us hunt on the Oil Coast,
And some on -- the Wallaby track:
And some of us drift to Sarawak,
And some of us drift up The Fly,
And some share our tucker with tigers,
And some with the gentle Masai
(Dear boys!),
Take tea with the giddy Masai.

We've painted The Islands vermilion,
We've pearled on half-shares in the Bay,
We've shouted on seven-ounce nuggets,
We've starved on a Seedeeboy's pay;
We've laughed at the world as we found it --
Its women and cities and men --
From Sayyid Burgash in a tantrum
To the smoke-reddened eyes of Loben
(Dear boys!),
We've a little account with Loben.

The ends o' the Earth were our portion,
The ocean at large was our share.
There was never a skirmish to windward
But the Leaderless Legion was there:
Yes, somehow and somewhere and always
We were first when the trouble began,
From a lottery-row in Manila,
To an I.D.B. race on the Pan
(Dear boys!),
With the Mounted Police on the Pan.

We preach in advance of the Army,
We skirmish ahead of the Church,
With never a gunboat to help us
When we're scuppered and left in the lurch.
But we know as the cartridges finish,
And we're filed on our last little shelves,
That the Legion that never was 'listed
Will send us as good as ourselves
(Good men!),
Five hundred as good as ourselves.

Then a health (we must drink it in whispers)
To our wholly unauthorised horde --
To the line of our dusty foreloopers,
The Gentlemen Rovers abroad --
Yes, a health to ourselves ere we scatter,
For the steamer won't wait for the train,
And the Legion that never was 'listed
Goes back into quarters again!
'Regards!
Goes back under canvas again.
Hurrah!
The swag and the billy again.
Here's how!
The trail and the packhorse again.
Salue!
The trek and the laager again.

Editor 1 Interpretation

The Lost Legion: A Masterpiece of Rudyard Kipling's Poetry

When it comes to Rudyard Kipling, the first association that comes to mind is his novel "The Jungle Book." However, Kipling was not only a great novelist but also a poet who left a significant mark in the world of English literature. Among his many poems, "The Lost Legion" stands out as a masterpiece that captures the essence of courage and sacrifice. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I will delve into the poem's themes, imagery, and structure to uncover its hidden meanings and understand why it has stood the test of time.

Themes

At its core, "The Lost Legion" is a poem about courage and sacrifice. The poem tells the story of a Roman legion that was lost in battle and never returned home. The poem's narrator hears the story of the lost legion from an old soldier who was once a member of the ill-fated army. The soldier recounts the bravery and selflessness of the legion as they fought against insurmountable odds. The legion's leader, he tells us, had ordered his men to flee and leave him to fend off the enemy alone. The Roman soldiers refused to abandon their leader and chose to fight alongside him to the death.

The poem's central theme is the importance of loyalty and sacrifice. The Roman soldiers' bravery and devotion to their leader are a testament to the power of selflessness and the willingness to put others before oneself. The poem celebrates the courage of these soldiers and their willingness to risk everything for their cause.

Kipling also touches on the theme of mortality in "The Lost Legion." The poem reminds us that death is an inevitable part of life, and that sometimes, it is necessary to die for a just cause. The lost legion's sacrifice is not in vain because their bravery and selflessness will be remembered for generations to come.

Imagery

Kipling's use of imagery in "The Lost Legion" is masterful. The poem is full of vivid descriptions that transport the reader back to ancient Rome. The opening lines set the scene:

There's a Legion that never was 'listed,
That carries no colours or crest,
But, split in a thousand detachments,
Is breaking the road for the rest.

The imagery of a legion that is not officially recognized, with no colors or crest, is powerful. It suggests that the lost legion was forgotten by history, but their sacrifice was no less important. The image of the legion breaking the road for the rest also evokes a sense of duty and responsibility. The lost legion is clearing the path for others to follow, even if they themselves never make it home.

The description of the legion's battle is also vivid and intense:

They were not a column, but scattered,
Each man to his own command,
They swarmed in the mist of destruction,
Uplifted, reproachful, unarmed;

The imagery of the legion swarming in the mist of destruction is haunting. It suggests that the battle was chaotic and confusing, with soldiers fighting for their lives with no clear sense of direction. The image of the soldiers being uplifted and reproachful is also powerful. It suggests that even in the face of death, the Roman soldiers remained proud and dignified.

Structure

"The Lost Legion" is a poem of 56 lines, divided into seven stanzas of eight lines each. The poem's structure is simple but effective. The use of eight-line stanzas gives the poem a sense of balance and symmetry. The repetition of the first line of each stanza, "There's a Legion that never was 'listed," reinforces the poem's central message and creates a sense of unity and coherence.

Kipling's use of rhyme and meter is also notable in "The Lost Legion." The poem is written in iambic tetrameter, with a rhyme scheme of ABABCCDD. The use of rhyme and meter gives the poem a musical quality, making it easy to read and memorable.

Interpretation

"The Lost Legion" is a poem about the power of sacrifice and the importance of loyalty. The lost legion's bravery and devotion to their leader are a testament to the human spirit and the willingness to put others before oneself. The poem also touches on the theme of mortality, reminding us that death is an inevitable part of life, but that sometimes, it is necessary to die for a just cause.

The poem's imagery is vivid and intense, creating a sense of the chaos and confusion of battle. Kipling's use of structure and rhyme also adds to the poem's power and coherence.

In conclusion, "The Lost Legion" is a masterpiece of Rudyard Kipling's poetry that celebrates the courage and sacrifice of the human spirit. The poem's themes, imagery, and structure all work together to create a powerful and unforgettable work of literature that speaks to the heart of what it means to be human.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

The Lost Legion: A Masterpiece of Rudyard Kipling

Rudyard Kipling, the Nobel Prize-winning author, is known for his exceptional contribution to English literature. His works are a reflection of his experiences and observations of the world around him. One of his most celebrated poems, The Lost Legion, is a masterpiece that captures the essence of the British Empire and its soldiers.

The Lost Legion is a poem that tells the story of a group of British soldiers who are lost in the desert while on a mission. The poem is set in the late 19th century, during the time when the British Empire was at its peak. The soldiers in the poem are a representation of the British Empire and its soldiers who were known for their bravery and loyalty.

The poem begins with the soldiers marching through the desert, with the scorching sun beating down on them. The soldiers are tired and thirsty, but they continue to march on, driven by their sense of duty and loyalty to their country. The poem captures the harshness of the desert and the difficulties that the soldiers face while on their mission.

As the soldiers march on, they begin to feel the effects of the desert. They become dehydrated and their spirits begin to falter. However, they continue to march on, driven by their sense of duty and loyalty to their country. The poem captures the resilience of the soldiers and their determination to complete their mission, no matter what the cost.

As the soldiers continue to march, they come across a group of Arabs who offer them water. The soldiers are hesitant at first, but they eventually accept the water, grateful for the kindness of the Arabs. The poem captures the sense of camaraderie that exists between soldiers, regardless of their nationality or background.

The soldiers continue on their mission, but they soon realize that they are lost. They have no idea where they are or how to get back to their base. The soldiers begin to panic, but they are quickly reminded of their duty and loyalty to their country. The poem captures the sense of duty and loyalty that exists between soldiers, even in the face of adversity.

As the soldiers continue to march, they come across a group of Bedouins who offer to guide them back to their base. The soldiers are hesitant at first, but they eventually accept the offer, grateful for the kindness of the Bedouins. The poem captures the sense of trust that exists between soldiers and the people they encounter on their missions.

The soldiers eventually make it back to their base, but they are changed by their experience in the desert. They have a newfound respect for the harshness of the desert and the people who live in it. The poem captures the sense of humility that exists in soldiers, even in the face of victory.

In conclusion, The Lost Legion is a masterpiece of Rudyard Kipling that captures the essence of the British Empire and its soldiers. The poem is a reflection of the resilience, determination, duty, loyalty, camaraderie, trust, and humility that exist in soldiers. The Lost Legion is a timeless poem that continues to inspire and captivate readers, even after more than a century since its publication.

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