'The Lament of the Border Cattle Thief' by Rudyard Kipling
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O woe is me for the merry life
I led beyond the Bar,
And a treble woe for my winsome wife
That weeps at Shalimar.
They have taken away my long jezail,
My shield and sabre fine,
And heaved me into the Central jail
For lifting of the kine.
The steer may low within the byre,
The Jat may tend his grain,
But there'll be neither loot nor fire
Till I come back again.
And God have mercy on the Jat
When once my fetters fall,
And Heaven defend the farmer's hut
When I am loosed from thrall.
It's woe to bend the stubborn back
Above the grinching quern,
It's woe to hear the leg-bar clack
And jingle when I turn!
But for the sorrow and the shame,
The brand on me and mine,
I'll pay you back in leaping flame
And loss of the butchered kine.
For every cow I spared before
In charity set free,
If I may reach my hold once more
I'll reive an honest three.
For every time I raised the low
That scared the dusty plain,
By sword and cord, by torch and tow
I'll light the land with twain!
Ride hard, ride hard to Abazai,
Young ~Sahib~ with the yellow hair --
Lie close, lie close as khuttucks lie,
Fat herds below Bonair!
The one I'll shoot at twilight-tide,
At dawn I'll drive the other;
The black shall mourn for hoof and hide,
The white man for his brother.
'Tis war, red war, I'll give you then,
War till my sinews fail;
For the wrong you have done to a chief of men,
And a thief of the Zukka Kheyl.
And if I fall to your hand afresh
I give you leave for the sin,
That you cram my throat with the foul pig's flesh,
And swing me in the skin!
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Lament of the Border Cattle Thief by Rudyard Kipling
Have you ever read a poem that transports you to a different time and place? A poem that makes you feel like you are a part of the story being told? Rudyard Kipling's "The Lament of the Border Cattle Thief" does just that. Set in the wild and rugged borderlands between England and Scotland, the poem tells the story of a cattle thief who is caught and sentenced to die.
The Poem
Before we dive into the interpretation and analysis of this poem, let's take a moment to appreciate Kipling's beautiful and evocative language.
When I came doun to Ludergate,
The mist was on the fern,
I followed my feet along the track
To Thrieve upon the Herne.
The ford was full o' water
(So bonny blithe I'd been),
And I saw the wife of Daltamie
Come tearing through the green.
From the very first lines, Kipling sets the scene of the poem. The mist is on the fern, and the speaker is following their feet along the track. The language is simple yet effective, and it creates a vivid picture in the reader's mind. As the poem progresses, Kipling's language becomes even more evocative.
I saw the lances of the spearmen,
Two hundred fair and bright,
And I saw the holly sparkle
And the steel of mailéd knight.
And in between the footmen
I saw my Bonny Jean,
The flower of all the Border
Riding foremost o' the queen.
Here, Kipling paints a picture of a grand procession, with spearmen, knights, and footmen all marching in unison. And in the midst of all this grandeur, the speaker sees their beloved Bonny Jean, riding foremost of the queen. The language here is incredibly vivid, and it creates a sense of grandeur and awe in the reader.
The Interpretation
Now, let's move on to the interpretation of the poem. At its core, "The Lament of the Border Cattle Thief" is a story about the consequences of one's actions. The speaker, a cattle thief, is caught and sentenced to die. And as they await their execution, they reflect on the events that led them to this point.
They've taken away my sweetheart,
They've taken away my gear,
They've taken away my good grey mare,
That used to run the deer.
Now I'm without a sweetheart,
And I'm without a home,
And I'm without a good grey mare
To carry me on the foam.
These lines paint a picture of a person who has lost everything. Their sweetheart, their gear, and even their horse have all been taken away from them. And as a result, they are without a home and without a means of transportation. The tone here is one of despair and hopelessness.
But despite all of this, the speaker does not try to justify their actions. They do not claim that they were forced into a life of crime or that they had no other choice. Instead, they accept responsibility for their actions and acknowledge that they were wrong.
And all the lands I ever took
I spent them passin' free,
And all the lives I ever took
They were naught to me.
But when I slew my Gilderoy,
Oh, loud the bugles blew,
And when I slew my Gilderoy,
Into my heart it grew.
These lines are particularly powerful. The speaker acknowledges that they took lives and stole property, but they did so without remorse. That is, until they killed Gilderoy. The fact that the bugles blew loudly upon his death suggests that Gilderoy may have been a well-respected member of society. And it is this realization that causes the speaker to feel remorse for their actions.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "The Lament of the Border Cattle Thief" is a powerful and evocative poem that tells the story of a person who is facing the consequences of their actions. Through Kipling's vivid language and imagery, we are transported to a different time and place, and we are able to experience the speaker's emotions firsthand. And while the poem is ultimately a tale of remorse and regret, it is also a reminder that we are all responsible for our own actions, and that we must all face the consequences of those actions.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Lament of the Border Cattle Thief is a classic poem written by Rudyard Kipling that tells the story of a cattle thief who laments his fate as he is about to be executed for his crimes. The poem is a powerful and moving piece of literature that explores themes of justice, morality, and the human condition.
The poem begins with the cattle thief addressing his captors, who have caught him stealing cattle from the borderlands. He laments his fate, knowing that he will soon be executed for his crimes. He speaks of the beauty of the land he has stolen from, and the freedom he has enjoyed as a cattle thief. He knows that he has done wrong, but he cannot help but feel a sense of regret at the loss of his freedom.
As the poem progresses, the cattle thief reflects on his life and the choices he has made. He speaks of the hardships he has faced, and the struggles he has endured. He knows that he has made mistakes, but he cannot help but feel a sense of pride in his ability to survive in a harsh and unforgiving world.
The poem is a powerful exploration of the human condition, and the choices we make in life. It is a reminder that we are all capable of both good and evil, and that our actions have consequences. The cattle thief knows that he has done wrong, but he cannot help but feel a sense of pride in his ability to survive in a harsh and unforgiving world.
The poem is also a commentary on justice and morality. The cattle thief knows that he has done wrong, but he cannot help but feel a sense of injustice at his impending execution. He knows that he will pay for his crimes, but he cannot help but feel that the punishment is too severe.
The poem is a reminder that justice is not always fair, and that morality is not always clear-cut. The cattle thief knows that he has done wrong, but he cannot help but feel a sense of injustice at his impending execution. He knows that he will pay for his crimes, but he cannot help but feel that the punishment is too severe.
The poem is also a commentary on the beauty of the natural world. The cattle thief speaks of the beauty of the land he has stolen from, and the freedom he has enjoyed as a cattle thief. He knows that he has done wrong, but he cannot help but feel a sense of awe at the beauty of the world around him.
The poem is a reminder that we are all connected to the natural world, and that our actions have consequences for the environment around us. The cattle thief knows that he has done wrong, but he cannot help but feel a sense of awe at the beauty of the world around him.
In conclusion, The Lament of the Border Cattle Thief is a powerful and moving poem that explores themes of justice, morality, and the human condition. It is a reminder that we are all capable of both good and evil, and that our actions have consequences. The poem is a commentary on the beauty of the natural world, and the importance of preserving it for future generations. It is a timeless piece of literature that continues to resonate with readers today.
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