'The Ballad of Fisher's Boarding-House' by Rudyard Kipling
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That night, when through the mooring-chains
The wide-eyed corpse rolled free,
To blunder down by Garden Reach
And rot at Kedgeree,
The tale the Hughli told the shoal
The lean shoal told to me.
'T was Fultah Fisher's boarding-house,
Where sailor-men reside,
And there were men of all the ports
From Mississip to Clyde,
And regally they spat and smoked,
And fearsomely they lied.
They lied about the purple Sea
That gave them scanty bread,
They lied about the Earth beneath,
The Heavens overhead,
For they had looked too often on
Black rum when that was red.
They told their tales of wreck and wrong,
Of shame and lust and fraud,
They backed their toughest statements with
The Brimstone of the Lord,
And crackling oaths went to and fro
Across the fist-banged board.
And there was Hans the blue-eyed Dane,
Bull-throated, bare of arm,
Who carried on his hairy chest
The maid Ultruda's charm --
The little silver crucifix
That keeps a man from harm.
And there was Jake Withouth-the-Ears,
And Pamba the Malay,
And Carboy Gin the Guinea cook,
And Luz from Vigo Bay,
And Honest Jack who sold them slops
And harvested their pay.
And there was Salem Hardieker,
A lean Bostonian he --
Russ, German, English, Halfbreed, Finn,
Yank, Dane, and Portuguee,
At Fultah Fisher's boarding-house
The rested from the sea.
Now Anne of Austria shared their drinks,
Collinga knew her fame,
From Tarnau in Galicia
To Juan Bazaar she came,
To eat the bread of infamy
And take the wage of shame.
She held a dozen men to heel --
Rich spoil of war was hers,
In hose and gown and ring and chain,
From twenty mariners,
And, by Port Law, that week, men called
her Salem Hardieker's.
But seamen learnt -- what landsmen know --
That neither gifts nor gain
Can hold a winking Light o' Love
Or Fancy's flight restrain,
When Anne of Austria rolled her eyes
On Hans the blue-eyed Dane.
Since Life is strife, and strife means knife,
From Howrah to the Bay,
And he may die before the dawn
Who liquored out the day,
In Fultah Fisher's boarding-house
We woo while yet we may.
But cold was Hans the blue-eyed Dane,
Bull-throated, bare of arm,
And laughter shook the chest beneath
The maid Ultruda's charm --
The little silver crucifix
That keeps a man from harm.
"You speak to Salem Hardieker;
"You was his girl, I know.
"I ship mineselfs to-morrow, see,
"Und round the Skaw we go,
"South, down the Cattegat, by Hjelm,
"To Besser in Saro."
When love rejected turns to hate,
All ill betide the man.
"You speak to Salem Hardieker" --
She spoke as woman can.
A scream -- a sob -- "He called me -- names!"
And then the fray began.
An oath from Salem Hardieker,
A shriek upon the stairs,
A dance of shadows on the wall,
A knife-thrust unawares --
And Hans came down, as cattle drop,
Across the broken chairs.
......
In Anne of Austria's trembling hands
The weary head fell low: --
"I ship mineselfs to-morrow, straight
"For Besser in Saro;
"Und there Ultruda comes to me
"At Easter, und I go
"South, down the Cattegat -- What's here?
"There -- are -- no -- lights -- to guide!"
The mutter ceased, the spirit passed,
And Anne of Austria cried
In Fultah Fisher's boarding-house
When Hans the mighty died.
Thus slew they Hans the blue-eyed Dane,
Bull-throated, bare of arm,
But Anne of Austria looted first
The maid Ultruda's charm --
The little silver crucifix
That keeps a man from harm.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Ballad of Fisher's Boarding-House: A Literary Critique
Rudyard Kipling's "The Ballad of Fisher's Boarding-House" is a timeless piece of poetry that has captivated readers for over a century. Written in 1890, this poem tells the story of the residents of Fisher's Boarding-House, each with their own unique quirks and personalities. The poem is a testament to Kipling's skill as a writer, as he weaves together different narratives to create a cohesive whole. In this literary critique, we will explore the themes and motifs in "The Ballad of Fisher's Boarding-House," as well as the literary devices that Kipling employs to create a vivid and memorable poem.
The Themes and Motifs
At its core, "The Ballad of Fisher's Boarding-House" is a poem about the lives of ordinary people. Kipling takes us into the world of Fisher's Boarding-House, a place where people from all walks of life come to stay. There's the sailor who sings a mournful tune, the young couple who are just starting out in life, and the old soldier who is haunted by memories of war. Each of these characters represents a different aspect of the human experience, and Kipling uses them to explore themes such as love, loss, and the passage of time.
One of the most prominent motifs in the poem is the idea of transience. Fisher's Boarding-House is a place where people come and go, and Kipling emphasizes the impermanence of life through his use of language. In the first stanza, he writes, "The doors were wide to all who came, / The windows wider still;" this suggests that Fisher's Boarding-House is a place that is always open to new people, but also that it is a place where nothing is permanent. The sailor, who sings about the sea, is a reminder of the impermanence of life, as he is always moving from place to place.
Another theme that runs throughout the poem is the idea of community. Despite the fact that the residents of Fisher's Boarding-House are all strangers to each other, they form a tight-knit community. They come together to share stories, to sing songs, and to comfort each other in times of need. Kipling uses this theme to show that even in the midst of impermanence, there can be a sense of belonging and connection.
The Literary Devices
Kipling's use of language is one of the most striking features of "The Ballad of Fisher's Boarding-House." He employs a number of literary devices to create a vivid and memorable poem.
One of the most prominent devices is repetition. Kipling repeats phrases and lines throughout the poem, creating a sense of rhythm and unity. For example, the phrase "But Fisher's…" is repeated several times in the poem, emphasizing the importance of Fisher's Boarding-House as a central location for the characters. Additionally, Kipling repeats the phrase "And so it went, and so it goes" throughout the poem, emphasizing the idea of transience and the passage of time.
Kipling also uses imagery to create a vivid picture of Fisher's Boarding-House. He describes the windows as "wide," the doors as "weathered," and the walls as "thick." These descriptions create a sense of place and allow the reader to imagine the physical space of the boarding house. Additionally, Kipling uses imagery to create a sense of atmosphere. The sailor's mournful song and the soldier's haunted memories create a sense of melancholy that permeates the entire poem.
Finally, Kipling uses rhyme and meter to create a musical quality to the poem. The poem is written in ballad form, with a regular rhyme scheme and meter. This creates a sense of rhythm that makes the poem easy to read aloud and memorable.
Conclusion
"The Ballad of Fisher's Boarding-House" is a timeless poem that explores themes of transience and community. Kipling's use of repetition, imagery, and rhyme creates a vivid and memorable poem that has resonated with readers for over a century. It is a testament to Kipling's skill as a writer that he is able to create such a rich and complex world in just a few stanzas. Overall, "The Ballad of Fisher's Boarding-House" is a masterpiece of poetry that is sure to captivate readers for generations to come.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Ballad of Fisher's Boarding-House: A Masterpiece of Rudyard Kipling
Rudyard Kipling is one of the most celebrated poets of all time, and his works have been studied and analyzed by scholars and enthusiasts alike. One of his most famous poems is The Ballad of Fisher's Boarding-House, which tells the story of a group of sailors who find themselves in a boarding house run by a strict and unforgiving landlady. This poem is a masterpiece of storytelling, and it is a testament to Kipling's skill as a poet.
The poem is written in ballad form, which is a narrative poem that tells a story in a simple and direct way. The ballad form is perfect for this poem because it allows Kipling to tell a story that is both entertaining and easy to understand. The poem is divided into four stanzas, each of which tells a different part of the story.
The first stanza sets the scene and introduces the characters. The sailors are described as rough and rowdy men who are looking for a place to stay. They come across Fisher's Boarding-House, which is run by a strict and unforgiving landlady. The landlady is described as a woman who is "hard as nails" and who "ruled her house with an iron hand." This description sets the tone for the rest of the poem and lets the reader know that the sailors are in for a tough time.
The second stanza tells the story of the sailors' first night in the boarding house. They are given a meager meal and are forced to sleep in uncomfortable beds. The landlady is described as watching over them like a hawk, making sure that they do not cause any trouble. This stanza is important because it sets up the conflict between the sailors and the landlady. The sailors are unhappy with their treatment, and the landlady is determined to keep them in line.
The third stanza is the climax of the poem. The sailors decide to rebel against the landlady and plan to escape from the boarding house. They sneak out in the middle of the night, but the landlady catches them and brings them back to the house. She then punishes them by making them work in her garden. This stanza is important because it shows the consequences of the sailors' actions. They thought they could escape from the landlady, but she was too smart for them.
The fourth and final stanza is the resolution of the poem. The sailors realize that they cannot escape from the boarding house and that they must accept their fate. They decide to make the best of their situation and work hard in the garden. The landlady is pleased with their work and rewards them with a good meal. This stanza is important because it shows the growth and development of the sailors. They start out as rebellious and unhappy, but they learn to accept their situation and work hard.
The Ballad of Fisher's Boarding-House is a masterpiece of storytelling because it tells a simple story in a way that is both entertaining and meaningful. The poem is about the conflict between authority and rebellion, and it shows the consequences of both. The sailors rebel against the landlady, but they are punished for their actions. They learn that they cannot escape from their situation and that they must accept their fate.
The poem is also a commentary on the human condition. The sailors are representative of all people who rebel against authority. They want to be free and independent, but they soon realize that they cannot escape from the rules and regulations of society. The landlady is representative of all authority figures who try to control and manipulate people. She wants to maintain order and discipline, but she goes too far and becomes a tyrant.
In conclusion, The Ballad of Fisher's Boarding-House is a masterpiece of Rudyard Kipling's poetry. It tells a simple story in a way that is both entertaining and meaningful. The poem is a commentary on the conflict between authority and rebellion, and it shows the consequences of both. The sailors rebel against the landlady, but they are punished for their actions. They learn that they cannot escape from their situation and that they must accept their fate. The poem is also a commentary on the human condition, and it shows the struggle between freedom and control. Overall, The Ballad of Fisher's Boarding-House is a must-read for anyone who loves poetry and storytelling.
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