Classic and Contemporary Poetry
COLD IRON, by RUDYARD KIPLING Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Gold is for the mistress - silver for the maid Last Line: Iron, out of calvary, is master of men all!' Subject(s): Religion; Theology | ||||||||
'Gold is for the mistress - silver for the maid! Copper for the craftsman cunning at his trade.' 'Good!' said the Baron, sitting in his hall, 'But Iron - Cold Iron - is master of them all!' So he made rebellion 'gainst the King his liege, Camped before his citadel and summoned it to siege - 'Nay!' said the cannoneer on the castle wall, 'But Iron - Cold Iron - shall be master of you all!' Woe for the Baron and his knights so strong, When the cruel cannon-balls laid 'em all along! He was taken prisoner, he was cast in thrall, And Iron - Cold Iron - was master of it all! Yet his King spake kindly (Oh, how kind a Lord!) 'What if I release thee now and give thee back thy sword?' 'Nay!' said the Baron, 'mock not at my fall, For Iron - Cold Iron - is master of men all.' 'Tears are for the craven, prayers are for the clown - Halters for the silly neck that cannot keep a crown.' 'As my loss is grievous, so my hope is small, For Iron - Cold Iron - must be master of men all!' Yet his King made answer (few such Kings there be!) 'Here is Bread and here is Wine - sit and sup with me. Eat and drink in Mary's Name, the whiles I do recall How Iron - Cold Iron - can be master of men all!' He took the Wine and blessed It; He blessed and brake the Bread. With His own Hands He served Them, and presently He said: 'Look! These Hands they pierced with nails outside my city wall Show Iron - Cold Iron - to be master of men all! 'Wounds are for the desperate, blows are for the strong, Balm and oil for weary hearts all cut and bruised with wrong. I forgive thy treason - I redeem thy fall - For Iron - Cold Iron - must be master of men all!' 'Crowns are for the valiant - scepters for the bold! Thrones and powers for mighty men who dare to take and hold.' 'Nay!' said the Baron, kneeling in his hall, 'But Iron - Cold Iron - is master of men all! Iron, out of Calvary, is master of men all!' | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...MYSTIC BOUNCE by TERRANCE HAYES MATHEMATICS CONSIDERED AS A VICE by ANTHONY HECHT UNHOLY SONNET 11 by MARK JARMAN SHINE, PERISHING REPUBLIC by ROBINSON JEFFERS THE COMING OF THE PLAGUE by WELDON KEES A LITHUANIAN ELEGY by ROBERT KELLY FUZZY-WUZZY' (SOUDAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCE) by RUDYARD KIPLING |
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