Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

MY BOY JACK by RUDYARD KIPLING

Poet Analysis

First Line: HAVE YOU HEARD THE NEWS OF MY BOY JACK?
Last Line: AND GAVE TO THAT WIND BLOWING AND THAT TIDE!
Subject(s): DEATH - CHILDREN; DROWNING; DEATH - BABIES;
'Have you heard the news of my boy Jack?'
@3Not this tide@1.
'When d' you think that he'll come back?
@3Not with this wind blowing, and this tide@1.

'Has anyone else had word of him?
@3Not this tide.
For what is sunk will hardly swim,
Not with this wind blowing and this tide@1.

'Oh, dear, what comfort can I find?
@3None this tide,
Nor any tide,
Except he did not shame his kind --
Not even with that wind blowing, and that tide@1.

@3Then hold your head up all the more,
This tide,
And every tide;
Bceause he was thy son you bore,
And gave to that wind blowing and that tide!


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