'Sappers' by Rudyard Kipling
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When the Waters were dried an' the Earth did appear,
("It's all one," says the Sapper),
The Lord He created the Engineer,
Her Majesty's Royal Engineer,
With the rank and pay of a Sapper!
When the Flood come along for an extra monsoon,
'Twas Noah constructed the first pontoon
To the plans of Her Majesty's, etc.
But after fatigue in the wet an' the sun,
Old Noah got drunk, which he wouldn't ha' done
If he'd trained with, etc.
When the Tower o' Babel had mixed up men's ~bat~,
Some clever civilian was managing that,
An' none of, etc.
When the Jews had a fight at the foot of a hill,
Young Joshua ordered the sun to stand still,
For he was a Captain of Engineers, etc.
When the Children of Israel made bricks without straw,
They were learnin' the regular work of our Corps,
The work of, etc.
For ever since then, if a war they would wage,
Behold us a-shinin' on history's page --
First page for, etc.
We lay down their sidings an' help 'em entrain,
An' we sweep up their mess through the bloomin' campaign,
In the style of, etc.
They send us in front with a fuse an' a mine
To blow up the gates that are rushed by the Line,
But bent by, etc.
They send us behind with a pick an' a spade,
To dig for the guns of a bullock-brigade
Which has asked for, etc.
We work under escort in trousers and shirt,
An' the heathen they plug us tail-up in the dirt,
Annoying, etc.
We blast out the rock an' we shovel the mud,
We make 'em good roads an' -- they roll down the ~khud~,
Reporting, etc.
We make 'em their bridges, their wells, an' their huts,
An' the telegraph-wire the enemy cuts,
An' it's blamed on, etc.
An' when we return, an' from war we would cease,
They grudge us adornin' the billets of peace,
Which are kept for, etc.
We build 'em nice barracks -- they swear they are bad,
That our Colonels are Methodist, married or mad,
Insultin', etc.
They haven't no manners nor gratitude too,
For the more that we help 'em, the less will they do,
But mock at, etc.
Now the Line's but a man with a gun in his hand,
An' Cavalry's only what horses can stand,
When helped by, etc.
Artillery moves by the leave o' the ground,
But ~we~ are the men that do something all round,
For ~we~ are, etc.
I have stated it plain, an' my argument's thus
("It's all one," says the Sapper),
There's only one Corps which is perfect -- that's us;
An' they call us Her Majesty's Engineers,
Her Majesty's Royal Engineers,
With the rank and pay of a Sapper!
Editor 1 Interpretation
Rudyard Kipling's "Sappers": A Poem of War and Sacrifice
Rudyard Kipling was a prolific writer and poet, whose works have been celebrated for their vivid imagery, powerful themes, and emotional impact. Among his many poems, "Sappers" stands out as a haunting and poignant tribute to the men who built and maintained the infrastructure of war, often at great personal risk and sacrifice. In this essay, I will analyze the structure, language, and imagery of "Sappers", and explore its deeper themes of duty, honor, and mortality.
Structure and Language
"Sappers" is a sonnet, a traditional form of poetry that consists of 14 lines, usually written in iambic pentameter. Kipling adheres to this structure, with each line containing 10 syllables and a pattern of unstressed and stressed syllables. However, he deviates from the typical rhyme scheme of a sonnet (ABAB CDCD EFEF GG), instead using a modified variation (ABAB CDCD EFG EFG). This modification creates a sense of tension and instability, as the final two couplets do not resolve into a neat and tidy conclusion, but instead leave the reader with a lingering sense of loss and sadness.
The language of "Sappers" is simple and direct, with short, declarative sentences that convey the brutal reality of war. Kipling uses vivid imagery to describe the sappers' work, painting a picture of men toiling in the darkness, digging tunnels and laying explosives, all while under constant threat of enemy fire. The repetition of the phrase "they" emphasizes the collective sacrifice of these men, who are not named or glorified as individuals, but rather celebrated as a group who have given their all for their country.
Imagery and Themes
The imagery of "Sappers" is both striking and unsettling, as Kipling describes the sappers' work in vivid detail, highlighting the dangers and horrors they face. He uses metaphors and similes to compare the sappers to various animals, emphasizing their tenacity, bravery, and selflessness. For example, he describes them as "rats that ravened the rolling plains" and "ants that burrowed in the bowels of the earth", creatures that are often reviled or ignored, but whose hard work and persistence make them indispensable.
Through these images, Kipling conveys a sense of the sappers' otherness, their position on the margins of society, outside the traditional hierarchy of battle. They are not soldiers in the traditional sense, but rather engineers and builders, tasked with creating the infrastructure of war. Yet their work is no less essential or dangerous, and their sacrifice is no less noble. Kipling's use of animal metaphors also underscores the fleeting nature of their lives, as rats and ants are creatures that live and die quickly, their existence marked by relentless struggle and competition.
The themes of "Sappers" are complex and multilayered, reflecting Kipling's deep understanding of the complexities of war and the human experience. At its core, the poem celebrates the bravery and sacrifice of the sappers, who have given everything they have for their country. It also highlights the role of infrastructure and logistics in war, reminding us that battles are won not just by soldiers on the front lines, but also by the men and women who build and maintain the machines of war.
But "Sappers" is also a meditation on mortality and the futility of war. Kipling acknowledges the inevitability of death, both for the sappers and for all those who fight and die in war. He writes, "They shall not return to us, the resolute, the young, / The eager and whole-hearted whom we gave." This acknowledgement of loss and grief is a powerful reminder that war extracts a heavy toll on all those who participate, not just those who die, but those who are left behind to mourn and remember.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "Sappers" stands as a powerful and moving tribute to the men who built and maintained the infrastructure of war. Kipling's use of vivid imagery and simple language creates a sense of immediacy and urgency, drawing the reader into the world of the sappers and reminding us of the sacrifices they made. The poem's themes of duty, honor, and mortality are universal and timeless, reminding us that war is a complex and multifaceted experience that defies easy categorization or explanation.
As we reflect on the meaning of "Sappers" today, in the context of our own wars and conflicts, we are reminded of the importance of acknowledging the sacrifices of all those who serve, not just those on the front lines. We are also reminded of the essential role of infrastructure and logistics in modern warfare, and the need to support and honor all those who contribute to the effort. Above all, we are reminded of the human cost of war, and the need to work towards a world in which conflict is a last resort, and the sacrifices of the sappers and others are never in vain.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry Sappers: A Masterpiece by Rudyard Kipling
Rudyard Kipling, the renowned English poet, novelist, and short-story writer, is known for his exceptional works that have stood the test of time. One such masterpiece is "Poetry Sappers," a poem that captures the essence of war and the impact it has on the human psyche. In this article, we will delve deep into the poem and analyze its various aspects.
"Poetry Sappers" is a poem that was written during the First World War, a time when the world was in chaos and turmoil. The poem is a reflection of the horrors of war and the toll it takes on the soldiers who fight it. Kipling, who had lost his son in the war, wrote this poem as a tribute to the soldiers who had sacrificed their lives for their country.
The poem begins with the lines, "In the trenches, in the tunnels, / Where the bayonet won't go, / And the big bombs worry the chalk / Above, and the gas rolls slow." These lines set the tone for the rest of the poem, as they describe the bleak and desolate conditions that the soldiers face in the trenches. The use of imagery here is powerful, as Kipling paints a vivid picture of the warzone.
The next few lines of the poem describe the soldiers who are tasked with the dangerous job of digging tunnels under enemy lines. These soldiers are referred to as "sappers," and their job is to undermine the enemy's defenses. Kipling writes, "The sappers have been at work / With their picks and their dynamite, / And the big guns have talked to the fort / Till the fort has talked aright." Here, Kipling highlights the importance of the sappers in the war effort, as they play a crucial role in weakening the enemy's defenses.
However, the poem takes a darker turn as Kipling describes the toll that the war takes on the soldiers. He writes, "But the saps have crept and the booby traps / Have sprouted beneath their feet, / And they've blown the garrison out of the fort / As a butcher blows out his meat." These lines are a stark reminder of the brutality of war, as Kipling compares the soldiers to butchers who are slaughtering their enemies.
The next few lines of the poem describe the aftermath of the battle, as the soldiers are left to deal with the trauma of what they have just experienced. Kipling writes, "And the stink of the dead fills the night, / And the curse of the dying fills the day, / And the terror that walks by the trench / Is a horror that won't away." These lines are haunting, as they describe the psychological impact that war has on the soldiers. The use of sensory imagery here is powerful, as Kipling appeals to the reader's senses to convey the horror of war.
The final stanza of the poem is a tribute to the soldiers who have lost their lives in the war. Kipling writes, "But the saps have done what the saps set out to do, / And the big guns have talked to the fort, / And the trench is ours, and the night is still, / And the dead are still dead in the dirt." These lines are poignant, as they acknowledge the sacrifice that the soldiers have made for their country. The use of repetition here is effective, as Kipling emphasizes the finality of death.
In conclusion, "Poetry Sappers" is a powerful poem that captures the essence of war and the toll it takes on the human psyche. Kipling's use of imagery and sensory language is masterful, as he paints a vivid picture of the horrors of war. The poem is a tribute to the soldiers who have sacrificed their lives for their country, and it serves as a reminder of the brutality of war. As we reflect on the poem, we are reminded of the importance of peace and the need to avoid the horrors of war at all costs.
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