Departmental Ditties and Ballads and Barrack-Room Ballads
1890
Departmental Ditties and Ballads and Barrack-Room Ballads
1890
Departmental Ditties and Ballads and Barrack-Room Ballads, first published in 1890 by Rudyard Kipling, is a collection of humorous poetry that satirizes military and colonial life during the British Empire, particularly in India. The poems explore the experiences of soldiers and bureaucrats, highlighting themes of camaraderie, folly, and the complexities of imperialism. Kipling's distinctive style, characterized by a mix of humor and keen observation, presents both personal anecdotes and broader societal critiques, making this work notable for its unique voice and perspective on military life.
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“And the first rude sketch that the world has seenwas joy to his mighty heart,Till the Devil whispered behind the leaves, "It's pretty, but is it art?””
— Rudyard Kipling
“O it's Tommy this, and Tommy that, and Tommy 'ow's your soul/But it's thin red line of heroes when the drums begin to roll.””
— Rudyard Kipling
“Gentlemen-rankers out on the spreeDamned from here to Eternity,God ha' mercy on such as we, Baa! Yah! Bah!””
— Rudyard Kipling
“and if somehow my conduct ain't all your fancy paints, why single men in barracks don't grow into plaster saints””
— Rudyard Kipling
“When the flush of a newborn sun fell first on Eden's green and gold,Our father Adam sat under the Tree and scratched with a stick in the mold;And the first rude sketch that the world had seen was joy to his mighty heart,Till the Devil whispered behind the leaves: 'It's pretty, but is it Art?””
— Rudyard Kipling
