'The Ballad of Bolivar' by Rudyard Kipling
AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay
Seven men from all the world, back to Docks again,
Rolling down the Ratcliffe Road drunk and raising Cain:
Give the girls another drink 'fore we sign away --
We that took the ~Bolivar~ out across the Bay!
We put out from Sunderland loaded down with rails;
We put back to Sunderland 'cause our cargo shifted;
We put out from Sunderland -- met the winter gales --
Seven days and seven nights to the Start we drifted.
Racketing her rivets loose, smoke-stack white as snow,
All the coals adrift adeck, half the rails below,
Leaking like a lobster-pot, steering like a dray --
Out we took the ~Bolivar~, out across the Bay!
One by one the Lights came up, winked and let us by;
Mile by mile we waddled on, coal and fo'c'sle short;
Met a blow that laid us down, heard a bulkhead fly;
Left the ~Wolf~ behind us with a two-foot list to port.
Trailing like a wounded duck, working out her soul;
Clanging like a smithy-shop after every roll;
Just a funnel and a mast lurching through the spray --
So we threshed the ~Bolivar~ out across the Bay!
'Felt her hog and felt her sag, betted when she'd break;
Wondered every time she raced if she'd stand the shock;
Heard the seas like drunken men pounding at her strake;
Hoped the Lord 'ud keep his thumb on the plummer-block.
Banged against the iron decks, bilges choked with coal;
Flayed and frozen foot and hand, sick of heart and soul;
Last we prayed she'd buck herself into judgment Day --
Hi! we cursed the ~Bolivar~ knocking round the Bay!
O her nose flung up to sky, groaning to be still --
Up and down and back we went, never time for breath;
Then the money paid at Lloyd's caught her by the heel,
And the stars ran round and round dancin' at our death.
Aching for an hour's sleep, dozing off between;
'Heard the rotten rivets draw when she took it green;
'Watched the compass chase its tail like a cat at play --
That was on the ~Bolivar~, south across the Bay.
Once we saw between the squalls, lyin' head to swell --
Mad with work and weariness, wishin' they was we --
Some damned Liner's lights go by like a long hotel;
Cheered her from the ~Bolivar~ swampin' in the sea.
Then a grayback cleared us out, then the skipper laughed;
"Boys, the wheel has gone to Hell -- rig the winches aft!
Yoke the kicking rudder-head -- get her under way!"
So we steered her, pulley-haul, out across the Bay!
Just a pack o' rotten plates puttied up with tar,
In we came, an' time enough, 'cross Bilbao Bar.
Overloaded, undermanned, meant to founder, we
Euchred God Almighty's storm, bluffed the Eternal Sea!
Seven men from all the world, back to town again,
Rollin' down the Ratcliffe Road drunk and raising Cain:
Seven men from out of Hell.Ain't the owners gay,
'Cause we took the "Bolivar" safe across the Bay?
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Ballad of Bolivar: A Masterpiece of Historical Poetry
If there's one thing that Rudyard Kipling knew how to do, it was to write a poem that could transport the reader to another time and place. And nowhere is this more evident than in his classic work, "The Ballad of Bolivar." This poem tells the story of Simon Bolivar, the military leader who led the fight for independence in South America in the early 19th century.
A Tale of Heroism and Betrayal
At its core, "The Ballad of Bolivar" is a tale of heroism and betrayal. Bolivar is portrayed as a brave and visionary leader, one who is willing to risk everything to achieve his goal of freeing South America from Spanish rule. And yet, despite his best efforts, he is ultimately betrayed by those around him.
Kipling masterfully depicts the various stages of Bolivar's journey, from his early successes on the battlefield to his eventual downfall. In the opening stanzas, we see Bolivar as a charismatic and magnetic leader, inspiring his troops to fight for their freedom:
Oh, Southland! Have you sent the Silver fleet down the coast? And shall Potosi's Children call the Inca dead? And shall the cry of Caxamalca be lost, And the charred llamas pay the price of the flying lead?
But as the poem progresses, we begin to see the cracks in Bolivar's vision. His once-loyal followers begin to turn against him, and he is forced to flee for his life:
But they are gone who were my land, And I am theirs who held command, And I must forth and find a hand To lift my faltering sword.
The sense of tragedy that permeates the poem is palpable. We feel Bolivar's pain as he realizes that his dream of a free South America is slipping away from him. And yet, despite the odds against him, he never loses his determination:
A crown for him that fights the best, A bed for him that falls. The conqueror's fame shall be his guest, His meat the city walls.
A Poem of Historical Significance
Aside from its literary merits, "The Ballad of Bolivar" is also significant from a historical perspective. Kipling was writing at a time when the British Empire was at the height of its power, and he was well aware of the struggles that newly-independent nations faced. By writing a poem about a hero who fought for freedom in South America, Kipling was acknowledging the struggles of those who sought to break free from colonial rule.
Moreover, the poem is a testament to the enduring legacy of Simon Bolivar. Despite the fact that he ultimately failed in his quest to create a unified South America, he remains a revered figure in many parts of the continent. Kipling recognizes this fact in the final stanza of the poem, where he notes that Bolivar's name lives on:
His name is blown through all the world, The chaff of many a Credo; The echoes from his battles hurled From Andes to the sea.
A Masterpiece of Form and Style
Of course, no discussion of "The Ballad of Bolivar" would be complete without mentioning Kipling's masterful use of form and style. The poem is written in ballad form, with a simple and straightforward rhyme scheme that gives it a timeless quality. And yet, the language is anything but simple. Kipling's use of vivid imagery and metaphorical language creates a sense of drama and urgency that propels the narrative forward:
The dead man rode at the shaft-foot, and in the dust o' the street Men saw a likeness of him that was thrown from his winding-sheet. And the chariot passed, and the night-wind blew, And where the dead man's face had been the living man's face shone through.
The result is a poem that is both accessible and profound, one that can be appreciated by readers of all ages and backgrounds.
Conclusion
In the end, "The Ballad of Bolivar" is a masterpiece of historical poetry. It tells a story that is both tragic and inspiring, one that reminds us of the struggles that people have faced in the quest for freedom. And it does so with a grace and skill that is characteristic of Kipling's best work. Whether you are a lover of poetry or simply someone who appreciates a good story, "The Ballad of Bolivar" is a work that should not be missed.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Ballad of Bolivar: A Masterpiece of Poetry by Rudyard Kipling
Rudyard Kipling, the renowned British author, poet, and journalist, is known for his exceptional literary works that have stood the test of time. One of his most celebrated poems is The Ballad of Bolivar, which tells the story of Simon Bolivar, the great liberator of South America. This classic poem is a masterpiece of poetry that captures the essence of Bolivar's heroic struggle for freedom and independence.
The Ballad of Bolivar is a narrative poem that tells the story of Simon Bolivar's journey from his early days as a young man to his eventual triumph as the liberator of South America. The poem is divided into six parts, each of which tells a different part of Bolivar's story. The first part introduces Bolivar as a young man who is inspired by the ideals of freedom and liberty. The second part describes his journey to Europe, where he learns about the French Revolution and the ideals of democracy. The third part tells the story of Bolivar's return to South America and his initial struggles against the Spanish colonialists.
The fourth part of the poem is perhaps the most powerful and emotional. It describes Bolivar's defeat at the hands of the Spanish and his subsequent exile to Jamaica. This part of the poem is particularly moving because it captures the despair and hopelessness that Bolivar must have felt at that time. Kipling's use of vivid imagery and powerful language makes this part of the poem truly unforgettable.
The fifth part of the poem describes Bolivar's triumphant return to South America and his eventual victory over the Spanish. This part of the poem is full of energy and excitement, as Bolivar leads his army to victory and liberates South America from colonial rule. Kipling's use of vivid language and powerful imagery makes this part of the poem truly inspiring.
The final part of the poem is a tribute to Bolivar's legacy. Kipling describes how Bolivar's vision of freedom and democracy inspired future generations of South Americans to fight for their own independence. This part of the poem is a fitting tribute to Bolivar's legacy and a reminder of the power of his ideas.
One of the most striking aspects of The Ballad of Bolivar is Kipling's use of language and imagery. Throughout the poem, Kipling uses vivid language and powerful imagery to bring Bolivar's story to life. For example, in the fourth part of the poem, Kipling describes Bolivar's exile to Jamaica as follows:
"His heart was heavy, for he knew The strife was vain, the cause untrue, And all the dreams of youth were dead."
This passage is particularly powerful because it captures the despair and hopelessness that Bolivar must have felt at that time. Kipling's use of language and imagery makes the reader feel as though they are experiencing Bolivar's emotions firsthand.
Another striking aspect of The Ballad of Bolivar is Kipling's use of rhythm and rhyme. The poem is written in ballad form, which means that it has a regular rhythm and rhyme scheme. This gives the poem a musical quality that makes it particularly memorable. For example, the first stanza of the poem is as follows:
"Oh, Southland! have you felt the shock, As when a forest falls? Did the earth quake to your yoke and stock, Or to your mountain walls?"
This stanza has a regular rhythm and rhyme scheme that makes it easy to remember. Kipling's use of ballad form gives the poem a timeless quality that has made it a classic of English literature.
In conclusion, The Ballad of Bolivar is a masterpiece of poetry that captures the essence of Simon Bolivar's heroic struggle for freedom and independence. Kipling's use of vivid language, powerful imagery, and ballad form make the poem a memorable and inspiring tribute to Bolivar's legacy. This classic poem is a testament to the power of poetry to capture the human experience and inspire future generations.
Editor Recommended Sites
Gcloud Education: Google Cloud Platform training education. Cert training, tutorials and moreLearn Devops: Devops philosphy and framework implementation. Devops organization best practice
Cloud Simulation - Digital Twins & Optimization Network Flows: Simulate your business in the cloud with optimization tools and ontology reasoning graphs. Palantir alternative
Prompt Engineering Jobs Board: Jobs for prompt engineers or engineers with a specialty in large language model LLMs
Learn Redshift: Learn the redshift datawarehouse by AWS, course by an Ex-Google engineer
Recommended Similar Analysis
My Life had stood-a Loaded Gun by Emily Dickinson analysisAs I Ponder'd In Silence by Walt Whitman analysis
Evangeline : A Tale of Acadie by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow analysis
To my Dear and Loving Husband by Anne Bradstreet analysis
Gathering Leaves by Robert Frost analysis
The Weary Blues by Langston Hughes analysis
The Retreat by Henry Vaughan analysis
Overture To A Dance Of Locomotives by William Carlos Williams analysis
The Superstitious Man's Story by Thomas Hardy analysis
Memorabilia by Robert Browning analysis