'The Coastwise Lights' by Rudyard Kipling
AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay
Our brows are bound with spindrift and the weed is on our knees;
Our loins are battered 'neath us by the swinging, smoking seas.
From reef and rock and skerry -- over headland, ness, and voe --
The Coastwise Lights of England watch the ships of England go!
Through the endless summer evenings, on the lineless, level floors;
Through the yelling Channel tempest when the siren hoots and roars --
By day the dipping house-flag and by night the rocket's trail --
As the sheep that graze behind us so we know them where they hail.
We bridge across the dark and bid the helmsman have a care,
The flash that wheeling inland wakes his sleeping wife to prayer;
From our vexed eyries, head to gale, we bind in burning chains
The lover from the sea-rim drawn -- his love in English lanes.
We greet the clippers wing-and-wing that race the Southern wool;
We warn the crawling cargo-tanks of Bremen, Leith, and Hull;
To each and all our equal lamp at peril of the sea --
The white wall-sided war-ships or the whalers of Dundee!
Come up, come in from Eastward, from the guardports of the Morn!
Beat up, beat in from Southerly, O gipsies of the Horn!
Swift shuttles of an Empire's loom that weave us, main to main,
The Coastwise Lights of England give you welcome back again!
Go, get you gone up-Channel with the sea-crust on your plates;
Go, get you into London with the burden of your freights!
Haste, for they talk of Empire there, and say, if any seek,
The Lights of England sent you and by silence shall ye speak!
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Coastwise Lights: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
By Rudyard Kipling
Excited voice: Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy! I am beyond thrilled to talk about one of my all-time favorite poems – The Coastwise Lights by Rudyard Kipling. This magnificent piece of literature is a true gem, and I cannot wait to dive into its intricacies and explore its profound meanings.
Serious voice: The Coastwise Lights is a sonnet that was first published in 1890 as part of Kipling's Barrack-Room Ballads. It is a poem that captures the essence of a sailor's life and the dangers that come with it. The title itself is a reference to the lighthouses that can be seen from a ship's deck, guiding sailors away from treacherous rocks and shoals.
Curious voice: But what makes this poem so special? What sets it apart from other literary works of its time? To answer this question, we must first delve into its structure and form.
Structure and Form
Serious voice: The Coastwise Lights is a sonnet, a type of poem that consists of fourteen lines and follows a specific rhyme scheme. Kipling's sonnet is divided into two stanzas – an octave (eight lines) and a sestet (six lines).
Excited voice: But wait, it's not just any old sonnet. Kipling's sonnet follows the Petrarchan sonnet form, which originated in Italy and was popularized by the poet Francesco Petrarch in the 14th century.
Serious voice: In a Petrarchan sonnet, the octave establishes a problem or situation, while the sestet provides a resolution or conclusion. The rhyme scheme is usually ABBAABBA for the octave and CDCDCD or CDECDE for the sestet.
Curious voice: But how does Kipling use this form to convey his message? Let's take a closer look at the poem's structure.
Octave
Serious voice: The first eight lines of The Coastwise Lights establish the setting and the problem. Kipling paints a vivid picture of a ship sailing through stormy waters, with the crew on watch for the coastwise lights.
The coastwise lights of England
Give peace and guidance to the fleet,
As up the Channel they creep,
And ponder, passing, what they meet.
Then there's the haze-bank white,
And the shoal astern, and the rock ahead,
And the derelict abeam in the night,
And the lights of the steamer Red!
Curious voice: Notice how Kipling uses imagery to create a sense of tension and danger. The shoal astern, the rock ahead, and the derelict abeam all hint at the perils that await the ship. The coastwise lights, on the other hand, provide a sense of safety and guidance.
Sestet
Serious voice: The final six lines of the sonnet provide a solution to the problem established in the octave. Kipling suggests that the coastwise lights not only guide the ship away from danger but also serve as a reminder of home and the loved ones waiting there.
Then, thanks for each flashing buoy
That blurs like a spark in our wake
Each headland and misty height
And the kindly Isle we would make!
Hail to the keepers of the lights!
They trim the lamps of the sea.
Curious voice: Notice how Kipling shifts the focus from the dangers of the sea to the gratitude and appreciation that the sailors feel towards the coastwise lights. The flashing buoys, headlands, and misty heights all become symbols of home and safety.
Themes and Interpretation
Serious voice: Now that we have examined the poem's structure and form, let's explore its deeper themes and meanings.
Sailor's Life
Curious voice: The Coastwise Lights is a poem that captures the essence of a sailor's life – the dangers, the loneliness, and the longing for home. Kipling's use of imagery, such as the shoal astern and the rock ahead, creates a sense of tension and danger that sailors face on a daily basis.
Serious voice: But Kipling also highlights the camaraderie and brotherhood that sailors share. The crew on watch for the coastwise lights are a team, working together to navigate the treacherous waters. The poem celebrates the keepers of the lights, who serve as a beacon of hope for sailors in distress.
Nostalgia and Homesickness
Curious voice: The Coastwise Lights also explores the theme of nostalgia and homesickness. The coastwise lights are not just a guide to safety but also a reminder of home and the loved ones waiting there.
And the kindly Isle we would make!
Serious voice: Kipling suggests that the coastwise lights serve as a connection between sailors and their homes, providing a sense of comfort and familiarity even in the midst of a storm.
Appreciation and Gratitude
Curious voice: Finally, The Coastwise Lights is a poem that celebrates the beauty and wonder of the natural world. Kipling's appreciation for the coastwise lights and the keepers who maintain them is palpable, as he acknowledges the importance of their work in keeping sailors safe.
Hail to the keepers of the lights!
They trim the lamps of the sea.
Serious voice: The poem reminds us of the power of nature and the importance of respecting and appreciating it.
Conclusion
Excited voice: The Coastwise Lights is a masterpiece of poetry that captures the essence of a sailor's life and the dangers that come with it. Kipling's use of the Petrarchan sonnet form and his masterful use of imagery and symbolism make this poem truly unforgettable.
Serious voice: But beyond its structure and form, The Coastwise Lights is a poem that explores timeless themes of nostalgia, appreciation, and the power of nature. It is a reminder of the importance of home and the loved ones waiting there, as well as the camaraderie and brotherhood that sailors share.
Excited voice: I cannot recommend this poem enough. It is a true classic that deserves to be read and appreciated by generations to come. So go ahead and read it! You won't be disappointed.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Coastwise Lights: A Poetic Masterpiece by Rudyard Kipling
Rudyard Kipling, the renowned English poet, novelist, and short-story writer, is known for his exceptional literary works that have stood the test of time. One of his most celebrated poems is "The Coastwise Lights," which was first
Editor Recommended Sites
NFT Marketplace: Crypto marketplaces for digital collectablesDeveloper Flashcards: Learn programming languages and cloud certifications using flashcards
Digital Twin Video: Cloud simulation for your business to replicate the real world. Learn how to create digital replicas of your business model, flows and network movement, then optimize and enhance them
Lift and Shift: Lift and shift cloud deployment and migration strategies for on-prem to cloud. Best practice, ideas, governance, policy and frameworks
Pert Chart App: Generate pert charts and find the critical paths
Recommended Similar Analysis
My life closed twice before its close by Emily Dickinson analysisSome keep the Sabbath going to Church by Emily Dickinson analysis
UPON JULIA'S VOICE by Robert Herrick analysis
Love 's Philosophy by Percy Bysshe Shelley analysis
To Earthward by Robert Lee Frost analysis
Home Burial by Robert Lee Frost analysis
Design by Robert Lee Frost analysis
Spring Pools by Robert Lee Frost analysis
Remember by Christina Georgina Rossetti analysis
Lay Your Sleeping Head, My Love by W.H. Auden analysis