Arterial

Rudyard Kipling 1865 (Mumbai) – 1936 (London)



I

Frost upon small rain--the ebony-lacquered avenue
   Reflecting lamps as a pool shows goldfish.
The sight suddenly emptied out of the young man's eyes
   Entering upon it sideways.

                           II

In youth, by hazard, I killed an old man.
         In age I maimed a little child.
Dead leaves under Foot reproach not:
But the lop-sided cherry-branch--whenever the sun rises,
         How black a shadow!

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 24, 2023

19 sec read
409

Quick analysis:

Scheme XXXX XXXXX
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 416
Words 64
Stanzas 2
Stanza Lengths 4, 5

Rudyard Kipling

Joseph Rudyard Kipling was an English short-story writer, poet, and novelist chiefly remembered for his tales and poems of British soldiers in India and his tales for children. more…

All Rudyard Kipling poems | Rudyard Kipling Books

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