Subscribe: by Email | in Reader

Pagett, M.P. -- Rudyard Kipling

This week's theme: the summer heat
(Poem #1894) Pagett, M.P.
   The toad beneath the harrow knows
   Exactly where each tooth-point goes.
   The butterfly upon the road
   Preaches contentment to that toad.

 Pagett, M.P., was a liar, and a fluent liar therewith --
 He spoke of the heat of India as the "Asian Solar Myth";
 Came on a four months' visit, to "study the East," in November,
 And I got him to sign an agreement vowing to stay till September.

 March came in with the koil. Pagett was cool and gay,
 Called me a "bloated Brahmin," talked of my "princely pay."
 March went out with the roses. "Where is your heat?" said he.
 "Coming," said I to Pagett, "Skittles!" said Pagett, M.P.

 April began with the punkah, coolies, and prickly-heat, --
 Pagett was dear to mosquitoes, sandflies found him a treat.
 He grew speckled and mumpy -- hammered, I grieve to say,
 Aryan brothers who fanned him, in an illiberal way.

 May set in with a dust-storm, -- Pagett went down with the sun.
 All the delights of the season tickled him one by one.
 Imprimis -- ten day's "liver" -- due to his drinking beer;
 Later, a dose of fever -- slight, but he called it severe.

 Dysent'ry touched him in June, after the Chota Bursat --
 Lowered his portly person -- made him yearn to depart.
 He didn't call me a "Brahmin," or "bloated," or "overpaid,"
 But seemed to think it a wonder that any one stayed.

 July was a trifle unhealthy, -- Pagett was ill with fear.
 'Called it the "Cholera Morbus," hinted that life was dear.
 He babbled of "Eastern Exile," and mentioned his home with tears;
 But I haven't seen my children for close upon seven years.

 We reached a hundred and twenty once in the Court at noon,
 (I've mentioned Pagett was portly) Pagett, went off in a swoon.
 That was an end to the business; Pagett, the perjured, fled
 With a practical, working knowledge of "Solar Myths" in his head.

 And I laughed as I drove from the station, but the mirth died out on my lips
 As I thought of the fools like Pagett who write of their "Eastern trips,"
 And the sneers of the traveled idiots who duly misgovern the land,
 And I prayed to the Lord to deliver another one into my hand.
-- Rudyard Kipling
Notes:
 koil (usu. koel): Indian songbird
 punkah: fan
 Chota Bursat: the early rains

Kipling was never one to suffer fools lightly, and his intolerance has taken
the form of numerous highly satisfying poems and caricatures. Today's poem,
the predictable-as-a-train-wreck account of a pompous politician's visit to
a land notably lacking in the comforts of home, is typical - Kipling had a
deep and informed love for India, and was often openly contemptuous of those
who did not measure up to its rigours. (The theme is not uncommon - Robert
Service was later to write even more extreme poems along the same lines,
about the men who did not measure up to his beloved Yukon.)

This is Frontier poetry in the grand tradition, the division lines drawn
clearly between the Men of the Frontier and the effete pen-pushers back home
who would presume to govern them. And what shines through every line of the
poem is an unimstakable ring of authenticity, the pervasive feeling that
Kipling knows what he is talking about, and perhaps even that he has earned
the right to his mockery.

And yes, it really does get that hot over here :)

martin

[Links]

The short story to which the poem is attached:

[broken link] http://whitewolf.newcastle.edu.au/words/authors/K/KiplingRudyard/prose/UndertheDeodars/enlightenmentpagett.html

[Theme]

Thanks again to Bronson Stocker for suggesting this week's theme.
Contributions happily accepted till the theme winds up.

23 comments: ( or Leave a comment )

Anonymous said...

Louboutin Shoes
are aswell advised college and higher, bigger and finer. A brace of Christian Louboutin Sandals
is an basal affluence in some occasions. The Christian Louboutin Boots
armadillo striped glassy shoes is wide. These Christian Louboutin Pumps
chatter toe pup became actual popular.

dissertation introduction example said...

"study the East" I laughed as I drove from the position,

Anonymous said...

Setiap orang pasti sudah biasa mendengar penyakit kutil. Kutil umumnya berupa benjolan kecil yang kerap tumbuh pada kulit akibat kurangnya menjaga kebersihan tubuh. Ada yang tumbuh di tangan, kaki, muka bahkan di alat kelamin. Kutil yang tumbuh pada alat kelamin disebut dengan kutil kelamin (condilloma/genital warts).
Jual Obat Kutil Kelamin Wanita
Obat Kutil Kelamin
Obat Kutil Kelamin Ampuh
Obat Kutil Kelamin Tanpa Operasi
Gejala Penyakit Kelamin
Obat Kutil Kelamin
Obat Kutil Kelamin Ampuh
Obat Kutil Kelamin Tanpa Operasi

Anonymous said...

Penyakit ini umumnya muncul karena penderita mengejan terlalu keras pada saat buang air besar. Dengan mengejan terlalu keras, maka pembuluh darah di sekitar anus dapat melebar dan pecah menimbulkan infeksi dan pembengkakan yang berakhir pada masalah wasir atau ambeien tersebut.

Indra said...

Thank you for another wonferdul article. Where else could anyone get that kind of information in such an ideal way of writing? I have a presentation next week, and I am on the look for such information.
KesehatanMan
Seputar Kesehatan
Jalan Kesehatan

obar herbal manjur alami said...

Cegah Wasir ambeien anda bertambah parah dan segera untuk melakukan pengobatan yang cepat dan tepat dengan obat terbaik apabila sobat sedang mencari obat Ambeien yang ampuh dan cepat sobat sedang berada di web yang tepat karena kami ini menjual obat Ambeien yang aman cepat dan ampuh segera kontak kami di 0823 2528 0340

write my essay said...

Good day! You can buy the best study help online at this https://expert-writers.net/write-my-essay webpage with the aid of professional writers and attain pinnacle ratings. Instant task help gives cool undertaking writing offerings at twenty percents off at all learner's subjects.

Post a Comment