'The Broken Men' by Rudyard Kipling

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For things we never mention,
For Art misunderstood --
For excellent intention
That did not turn to good;
From ancient tales' renewing,
From clouds we would not clear --
Beyond the Law's pursuing
We fled, and settled here.

We took no tearful leaving,
We bade no long good-byes;
Men talked of crime and thieving,
Men wrote of fraud and lies.
To save our injured feelings
'T was time and time to go --
Behind was dock and Dartmoor,
Ahead lay Callao!

The widow and the orphan
That pray for ten per cent,
They clapped their trailers on us
To spy the road we went.
They watched the foreign sailings
(They scan the shipping still),
And that's your Christian people
Returning good for ill!

God bless the thoughtfull islands
Where never warrants come;
God bless the just Republics
That give a man a home,
That ask no foolish questions,
But set him on his feet;
And save his wife and daughters
From the workhouse and the street!

On church and square and market
The noonday silence falls;
You'll hear the drowsy mutter
Of the fountain in our halls.
Asleep amid the yuccas
The city takes her ease --
Till twilight brings the land-wind
To the clicking jalousies.

Day long the diamond weather,
The high, unaltered blue --
The smell of goats and incense
And the mule-bells tinkling through.
Day long the warder ocean
That keeps us from our kin,
And once a month our levee
When the English mail comes in.

You'll find us up and waiting
To treat you at the bar;
You'll find us less exclusive
Than the average English are.
We'll meet you with a carriage,
Too glad to show you round,
But -- we do not lunch on steamers,
For they are English ground.

We sail o' nights to England
And join our smiling Boards --
Our wives go in with Viscounts
And our daughters dance with Lords,
But behind our princely doings,
And behind each coup we make,
We feel there's Something Waiting,
And -- we meet It when we wake.

Ah God! One sniff of England --
To greet our flesh and blood --
To hear the traffic slurring
Once more through London mud!
Our towns of wasted honour --
Our streets of lost delight!
How stands the old Lord Warden?
Are Dover's cliffs still white?

Editor 1 Interpretation

The Broken Men: A Criticism and Interpretation

Introduction

Rudyard Kipling's poem "The Broken Men" is a poignant and powerful piece of literature that delves into the experiences of soldiers returning from war. Kipling himself was a prolific writer and poet, and his works often dealt with themes of imperialism, patriotism, and the human condition. "The Broken Men" is no exception, as it explores the physical and emotional scars that war can leave on those who fight in it.

In this 4000 word literary criticism and interpretation, we will delve into the themes of "The Broken Men" and analyze Kipling's use of language, imagery, and metaphor to convey his message. From the poem's opening lines to its haunting conclusion, we will explore the depths of Kipling's words and the emotions they evoke.

Analysis

The Opening Stanzas

The poem begins with the lines:

We are the broken men who lie
In rotted row and column;
The weary, the sick, the sad, the bad,
The lads that will never be old.

The opening stanzas immediately set the tone for the poem, as Kipling describes the soldiers as "broken men." This phrase alone conveys a sense of loss and defeat, as if the soldiers have been irreparably damaged by their experiences in war. Kipling then goes on to list various types of soldiers - the weary, the sick, the sad, the bad - all of whom have been affected by the war in different ways.

The use of alliteration in "rotted row and column" adds to the bleakness and desolation of the scene, as if the soldiers are nothing more than dead bodies arranged in a macabre display. Kipling then introduces the idea that these soldiers will "never be old," implying that they were robbed of their youth and their future by the war.

The Middle Stanzas

The middle stanzas of the poem delve deeper into the experiences and emotions of the soldiers. Kipling writes:

We are the broken men who had
A country of our own;
But you came over the sea to us
And brought the strangers in.

Here, Kipling touches on the idea of imperialism and the ways in which foreign powers can disrupt the lives and cultures of those they conquer. The soldiers had "a country of our own," but this was taken away from them by outside forces. The line "you came over the sea to us and brought the strangers in" is particularly powerful, as it suggests a sense of betrayal and invasion.

Kipling then goes on to describe the soldiers' experiences in war:

You have ground us into the ground,
And set your feet on our necks;
You have taken away our gods and our babes,
Our women and our peace.

These lines are particularly effective in conveying the brutality and violence of war. The soldiers have been "ground into the ground" and have had their very identity stripped away from them. The use of the word "babes" to describe children adds a sense of innocence and vulnerability to the scene, as if even the most innocent among them have been targeted.

The Final Stanzas

The final stanzas of the poem are perhaps the most haunting, as Kipling describes the soldiers returning from war:

We are the broken men who had
A home and a wife and a son;
A home and a sapling before you came;
But the husk of the years is gone.

These lines are particularly effective in conveying a sense of loss and emptiness. The soldiers had "a home and a wife and a son," but these have been taken away from them by the war. The use of the word "husk" to describe the passing of time adds a sense of decay and futility to the scene.

The poem ends with the lines:

We are the broken men who served
In shattered ranks and bitter;
But we have kept the Faith with our dead,
And we'll go back to them cleaner.

These lines are perhaps the most hopeful in the entire poem, as Kipling suggests that the soldiers have maintained their faith in the face of hardship and loss. The phrase "we'll go back to them cleaner" implies a sense of redemption and renewal, as if the soldiers will be able to find peace and closure in death.

Interpretation

"The Broken Men" is a powerful and poignant poem that explores the physical and emotional scars that war can leave on those who fight in it. Kipling's use of language, imagery, and metaphor all serve to convey a sense of loss and desolation, as if the soldiers have been irreparably damaged by their experiences in war.

At its core, "The Broken Men" is a poem about the human cost of war. Kipling shows us the soldiers who have been broken and battered by war, and who are struggling to come to terms with the loss of their identity, their culture, and their loved ones. The poem is a reminder that wars are not fought by faceless armies, but by real people with real lives and real families.

However, the poem is not entirely bleak. Kipling suggests that even in the face of such hardship, the soldiers have maintained their faith and their sense of purpose. The final lines of the poem suggest that even in death, there can be a sense of redemption and renewal.

Conclusion

"The Broken Men" is a powerful and poignant poem that explores the human cost of war. Kipling's use of language, imagery, and metaphor all come together to create a sense of loss and desolation, as if the soldiers have been irreparably damaged by their experiences in war. However, the poem is not entirely bleak, as Kipling suggests that even in the face of such hardship, the soldiers have maintained their faith and their sense of purpose. "The Broken Men" is a reminder that wars are not fought by faceless armies, but by real people with real lives and real families, and that the human cost of war is something that should never be forgotten or taken lightly.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

The Broken Men: An Analysis of Rudyard Kipling's Classic Poetry

Rudyard Kipling, the renowned British author and poet, is known for his exceptional works that have stood the test of time. One of his most famous poems, The Broken Men, is a powerful piece that delves into the theme of war and its devastating effects on soldiers. The poem, written in 1919, after the end of World War I, is a poignant reminder of the horrors of war and the sacrifices made by those who fought in it.

The Broken Men is a poem that is both haunting and beautiful. It is a tribute to the soldiers who fought in the war and a lament for the lives lost and the broken men who returned home. The poem is written in Kipling's signature style, with a strong rhythm and rhyme scheme that adds to its impact. The poem is divided into four stanzas, each with a distinct message and tone.

The first stanza sets the tone for the poem, with Kipling describing the soldiers as "broken men" who have returned home from the war. The stanza is a powerful reminder of the physical and emotional toll that war takes on soldiers. Kipling describes the soldiers as "shattered and sundered" and "scarred and riven." The use of alliteration and repetition adds to the impact of the stanza, emphasizing the brokenness of the soldiers.

The second stanza is a tribute to the soldiers who fought in the war. Kipling describes them as "men who went out to battle, grim and glad." The stanza is a reminder of the bravery and courage of the soldiers who fought in the war. Kipling acknowledges the sacrifices made by the soldiers, describing them as "men who gave their all and did not count the cost."

The third stanza is a lament for the lives lost in the war. Kipling describes the soldiers who did not return home as "the dead who did not die." The stanza is a powerful reminder of the human cost of war. Kipling acknowledges the sacrifice made by those who lost their lives in the war, describing them as "the men who fought and fell beneath the sky."

The final stanza is a call to action. Kipling urges the reader to remember the sacrifices made by the soldiers and to honor their memory. He reminds us that the soldiers who fought in the war were not just "broken men," but also heroes who deserve to be remembered. The stanza is a powerful reminder of the importance of honoring the sacrifices made by those who fought in the war.

The Broken Men is a powerful poem that captures the devastation of war and the sacrifices made by those who fought in it. Kipling's use of language and imagery adds to the impact of the poem, making it a timeless tribute to the soldiers who fought in World War I. The poem is a reminder of the human cost of war and the importance of honoring the memory of those who fought and died for their country.

In conclusion, The Broken Men is a classic poem that continues to resonate with readers today. Its message of sacrifice and remembrance is as relevant today as it was when it was written over a century ago. Kipling's powerful words and imagery make the poem a timeless tribute to the soldiers who fought in World War I and a reminder of the importance of honoring their memory. The Broken Men is a must-read for anyone interested in poetry, history, or the human experience.

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