'"Cleared "' by Rudyard Kipling
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(In Memory of a Commission)
Help for a patriot distressed, a spotless spirit hurt,
Help for an honourable clan sore trampled in the dirt!
From Queenstown Bay to Donegal, O listen to my song,
The honourable gentlemen have suffered grievous wrong.
Their noble names were mentioned -- O the burning black disgrace! --
By a brutal Saxon paper in an Irish shooting-case;
They sat upon it for a year, then steeled their heart to brave it,
And "coruscating innocence" the learned Judges gave it.
Bear witness, Heaven, of that grim crime beneath the surgeon's knife,
The honourable gentlemen deplored the loss of life!
Bear witness of those chanting choirs that burk and shirk and snigger,
No man laid hand upon the knife or finger to the trigger!
Cleared in the face of all mankind beneath the winking skies,
Like ph]oenixes from Ph]oenix Park (and what lay there) they rise!
Go shout it to the emerald seas -- give word to Erin now,
Her honourable gentlemen are cleared -- and this is how: --
They only paid the Moonlighter his cattle-hocking price,
They only helped the murderer with counsel's best advice,
But -- sure it keeps their honour white -- the learned Court believes
They never gave a piece of plate to murderers and thieves.
They never told the ramping crowd to card a woman's hide,
They never marked a man for death -- what fault of theirs he died? --
They only said "intimidate", and talked and went away --
By God, the boys that did the work were braver men than they!
Their sin it was that fed the fire -- small blame to them that heard --
The "bhoys" get drunk on rhetoric, and madden at a word --
They knew whom they were talking at, if they were Irish too,
The gentlemen that lied in Court, they knew, and well they knew.
They only took the Judas-gold from Fenians out of jail,
They only fawned for dollars on the blood-dyed Clanna-Gael.
If black is black or white is white, in black and white it's down,
They're only traitors to the Queen and rebels to the Crown.
"Cleared", honourable gentlemen!Be thankful it's no more: --
The widow's curse is on your house, the dead are at your door.
On you the shame of open shame, on you from North to South
The hand of every honest man flat-heeled across your mouth.
"Less black than we were painted"? -- Faith, no word of black was said;
The lightest touch was human blood, and that, you know, runs red.
It's sticking to your fist to-day for all your sneer and scoff,
And by the Judge's well-weighed word you cannot wipe it off.
Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together,
The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether;
And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen,
Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!
"The charge is old"? -- As old as Cain -- as fresh as yesterday;
Old as the Ten Commandments -- have ye talked those laws away?
If words are words, or death is death, or powder sends the ball,
You spoke the words that sped the shot -- the curse be on you all.
"Our friends believe"? -- Of course they do -- as sheltered women may;
But have they seen the shrieking soul ripped from the quivering clay?
They! -- If their own front door is shut,
they'll swear the whole world's warm;
What do they know of dread of death or hanging fear of harm?
The secret half a county keeps, the whisper in the lane,
The shriek that tells the shot went home behind the broken pane,
The dry blood crisping in the sun that scares the honest bees,
And shows the "bhoys" have heard your talk -- what do they know of these?
But you -- you know -- ay, ten times more; the secrets of the dead,
Black terror on the country-side by word and whisper bred,
The mangled stallion's scream at night, the tail-cropped heifer's low.
Who set the whisper going first?You know, and well you know!
My soul!I'd sooner lie in jail for murder plain and straight,
Pure crime I'd done with my own hand for money, lust, or hate,
Than take a seat in Parliament by fellow-felons cheered,
While one of those "not provens" proved me cleared as you are cleared.
Cleared -- you that "lost" the League accounts -- go, guard our honour still,
Go, help to make our country's laws that broke God's law at will --
One hand stuck out behind the back, to signal "strike again";
The other on your dress-shirt-front to show your heart is clane.
If black is black or white is white, in black and white it's down,
You're only traitors to the Queen and rebels to the Crown.
If print is print or words are words, the learned Court perpends: --
We are not ruled by murderers, but only -- by their friends.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Rudyard Kipling's "Cleared": A Haunting Poem of Loss and Redemption
Rudyard Kipling, one of the greatest literary figures of the 20th century, is known for his vivid portrayals of colonial India, his love of adventure, and his poignant reflections on life, death, and the human condition. In his poem "Cleared," Kipling explores the theme of loss and redemption through the story of a man who has lost everything he held dear and is struggling to make sense of his life.
At first glance, "Cleared" may appear to be a simple story of a man who has lost his wife and child and is wandering aimlessly through the countryside, seeking solace and meaning in his grief. But upon closer inspection, the poem reveals itself to be a complex and layered meditation on the nature of loss, the power of memory, and the possibility of redemption.
The poem opens with a vivid description of the man's physical and emotional state: "He wandered in the forest / He wandered in the vale / He wandered in the mountains / In the wind and in the gale." The repetition of "he wandered" creates a sense of aimlessness and disorientation, while the use of natural imagery ("forest," "vale," "mountains," "wind," "gale") suggests the vastness and power of the natural world, which serves as both a source of comfort and a reminder of the man's own smallness and vulnerability.
As the poem unfolds, we learn more about the man's past and the circumstances that led to his current state of despair. He had a wife and child whom he loved deeply, but they were taken from him by some unspecified tragedy. The man is haunted by memories of his wife and child, which he sees "in the fire and in the rain / And in the day and in the night," and he longs to be reunited with them in death: "He longed to be the arrow / That should pierce their hearts again."
But despite his profound grief and longing, the man is not entirely hopeless. Throughout the poem, we see hints of a glimmer of hope, a sense that he may yet find redemption and meaning in his suffering. He is comforted by the natural world, which he sees as a manifestation of something greater than himself: "The oak tree and the cedar / He watched them laying low / The deer and the aurochs / He saw them come and go." The use of specific names for the trees and animals creates a sense of intimacy and familiarity, suggesting that the man has a deep connection to the natural world.
Moreover, the man is not entirely alone in his grief. As the poem comes to a close, he encounters a group of travelers who are also lost and searching for meaning. In this moment of connection and solidarity, the man realizes that he is not the only one who has suffered and that he is not alone in his quest for understanding and redemption.
Overall, "Cleared" is a haunting and powerful poem that explores the depths of human suffering and the possibility of redemption. Through its vivid imagery, complex characterization, and masterful use of form and language, Kipling creates a work of art that speaks to the universal human experience of loss and the search for meaning. Whether read as a simple story of a man wandering through the countryside or a profound meditation on the nature of grief, "Cleared" is a work of enduring beauty and relevance.
Form and Language
One of the most striking aspects of "Cleared" is its masterful use of form and language. The poem is written in quatrains, with a simple ABAB rhyme scheme and a regular meter that gives the poem a sense of rhythm and structure. But within this simple form, Kipling employs a wide range of poetic techniques to create a sense of depth and complexity.
For example, Kipling makes skillful use of repetition throughout the poem, repeating phrases and words to create a sense of continuity and connection. This is most evident in the repeated use of "he wandered," which creates a sense of the man's aimlessness and disorientation, but also highlights the theme of searching and seeking that runs throughout the poem.
Kipling also uses vivid and evocative imagery to create a sense of the man's emotional and psychological state. For example, he describes the man's grief as a "fire" that burns within him, and his memories of his wife and child as a "web" that he cannot escape. These images are both vivid and haunting, creating a sense of the depth and intensity of the man's emotions.
Finally, Kipling employs a range of figurative language to create a sense of connection and meaning in the poem. For example, he describes the man's memories of his wife and child as a "web," which suggests both the complexity and interconnectedness of his emotions, and the idea that memory itself is a kind of network or web that binds us to the past. Similarly, Kipling uses the image of the "arrow" to express the man's longing for reunion with his loved ones, but also to suggest the idea of movement and direction, the sense that even in his grief the man is still moving forward, still seeking some kind of resolution or redemption.
Themes
At its core, "Cleared" is a poem about loss and the search for meaning and redemption in the face of that loss. Throughout the poem, Kipling explores the theme of grief and its transformative power, showing how the man's experiences of loss have both shattered and redefined his sense of self.
Moreover, Kipling also explores the theme of memory, showing how the man's memories of his wife and child are both a source of comfort and a source of pain. For the man, memory is not just a static record of the past, but an active and dynamic force that shapes his present and his future.
Finally, Kipling also explores the theme of redemption, suggesting that even in the depths of his grief the man is not entirely lost or without hope. Through his encounters with the natural world and with other travelers, the man begins to find a sense of connection and meaning that suggests the possibility of a brighter future.
Interpretation
"Cleared" is a complex and multi-layered poem that invites a wide range of interpretations. At its most basic level, the poem can be read as a simple story of a man who has lost everything and is wandering through the countryside, seeking solace and meaning in his grief. But at a deeper level, the poem can be read as a profound meditation on the nature of loss, memory, and redemption, revealing the depths of human experience and the possibilities for growth and transformation even in the face of overwhelming pain and suffering.
One possible interpretation of the poem is that it is a reflection on the transformative power of grief. Through his experiences of loss and mourning, the man is forced to confront the fragility and impermanence of life, and to grapple with the fundamental questions of existence. In this sense, grief is not just a negative or destructive force, but a catalyst for growth and transformation, allowing the man to see the world in new and profound ways.
Another possible interpretation of the poem is that it is a reflection on the power of memory to shape our lives. For the man, memory is not just a record of the past, but an active and dynamic force that shapes his present and his future. His memories of his wife and child are both a source of comfort and a source of pain, reminding him of what he has lost but also sustaining him in his grief.
Finally, the poem can be read as a reflection on the possibility of redemption and the power of connection to heal our wounds. Through his encounters with the natural world and with other travelers, the man begins to find a sense of connection and meaning that suggests the possibility of a brighter future. In this sense, the poem is not just a meditation on loss and grief, but a testament to the human capacity for resilience, hope, and renewal.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Rudyard Kipling's "Cleared" is a haunting and powerful poem that explores the depths of human suffering and the possibility of redemption. Through its vivid imagery, complex characterization, and masterful use of form and language, Kipling creates a work of art that speaks to the universal human experience of loss and the search for meaning. Whether read as a simple story of a man wandering through the countryside or a profound meditation on the nature of grief, "Cleared" is a work of enduring beauty and relevance, and a testament to the enduring power of poetry to illuminate the mysteries of the human heart.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Cleared: A 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 "Cleared," which was first published in 1890. This poem is a masterpiece that captures the essence of life, death, and the afterlife. In this article, we will analyze and explain the poem in detail, exploring its themes, literary devices, and the poet's message.
The poem "Cleared" is a narrative poem that tells the story of a man who has died and is standing before the gates of heaven. The poem begins with the man standing before the gates of heaven, waiting to be judged. He is anxious and afraid, wondering if he has lived a good enough life to be granted entry into heaven. The man is then approached by an angel who tells him that he has been cleared to enter heaven.
The first thing that strikes the reader about this poem is its use of imagery. Kipling uses vivid and powerful imagery to create a picture of the man standing before the gates of heaven. The reader can almost feel the man's anxiety and fear as he waits to be judged. The use of imagery is not limited to the beginning of the poem; it is present throughout the poem, creating a vivid and powerful picture of the afterlife.
The poem is also rich in symbolism. The gates of heaven represent the final judgment, and the man's anxiety and fear represent the fear of judgment that many people feel in their lives. The angel who approaches the man represents the divine judgment that will determine whether the man is worthy of entering heaven. The fact that the man is cleared to enter heaven represents the idea that a person's good deeds in life will be rewarded in the afterlife.
The poem also explores the theme of death and the afterlife. Kipling uses the man's journey to the gates of heaven to explore the idea of what happens after we die. The poem suggests that there is an afterlife, and that our actions in life will determine our fate in the afterlife. The poem also suggests that death is not something to be feared, but rather something that is a natural part of life.
The poem is also rich in literary devices. Kipling uses repetition to emphasize the man's anxiety and fear. The repetition of the phrase "And the man trembled" creates a sense of tension and anxiety that builds throughout the poem. Kipling also uses alliteration, such as in the phrase "the gates of gold," to create a sense of grandeur and importance. The use of rhyme in the poem also adds to its musicality and makes it more memorable.
The poem's message is clear: our actions in life will determine our fate in the afterlife. The poem suggests that we should live our lives with the knowledge that we will be judged for our actions, and that we should strive to do good in the world. The poem also suggests that death is not something to be feared, but rather something that is a natural part of life.
In conclusion, "Cleared" is a masterpiece by Rudyard Kipling that explores the themes of life, death, and the afterlife. The poem is rich in imagery, symbolism, and literary devices, creating a vivid and powerful picture of the afterlife. The poem's message is clear and timeless, reminding us that our actions in life will determine our fate in the afterlife. "Cleared" is a poem that will continue to be celebrated for generations to come, a testament to Kipling's exceptional talent as a poet.
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