The Wishing-Caps

Rudyard Kipling 1865 (Mumbai) – 1936 (London)



Life's all getting and giving,
               I've only myself to give.
               What shall I do for a living?
               I've only one life to live.
               End it?  I'll not find another.
               Spend it? But how shall I best?
               Sure the wise plan is to live like a man
               And Luck may look after the rest!
               Largesse! Largesse, Fortune!
               Give or hold at your will.
               If I've no care for Fortune,
               Fortune must follow me still.

               Bad Luck, she is never a lady
               But the commonest wench on the street,
               Shuffling, shabby and shady,
               Shameless to pass or meet.
               Walk with her once--it's a weakness!
               Talk to her twice. It's a crime!
               Thrust her away when she gives you "good day"
               And the besom won't board you next time.
               Largesse! Largesse, Fortune!
               What is Your Ladyship's mood?
               If I have no care for Fortune,
               My Fortune is bound to be good!

               Good Luck she is never a lady
               But the cursedest quean alive!
               Tricksy,  wincing  and  jady,
               Kittle to lead or drive.
               Greet her--she's hailing a stranger!
               Meet her--she's busking to leave.
               Let her alone for a shrew  to the bone,
               And the hussy comes plucking your sleeve!
               Largesse!  Largesse, Fortune!
               I'll neither follow nor flee.
               If I don't run after Fortune,
               Fortune must run after me!

Font size:
Collection  PDF     
 

Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 23, 2023

1:08 min read
115

Quick analysis:

Scheme axabcdxdEfef ghghxixiExex gbdbcjxjegeg
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 1,657
Words 216
Stanzas 3
Stanza Lengths 12, 12, 12

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

32 fans

Discuss the poem The Wishing-Caps with the community...

0 Comments

    Translation

    Find a translation for this poem in other languages:

    Select another language:

    • - Select -
    • 简体中文 (Chinese - Simplified)
    • 繁體中文 (Chinese - Traditional)
    • Español (Spanish)
    • Esperanto (Esperanto)
    • 日本語 (Japanese)
    • Português (Portuguese)
    • Deutsch (German)
    • العربية (Arabic)
    • Français (French)
    • Русский (Russian)
    • ಕನ್ನಡ (Kannada)
    • 한국어 (Korean)
    • עברית (Hebrew)
    • Gaeilge (Irish)
    • Українська (Ukrainian)
    • اردو (Urdu)
    • Magyar (Hungarian)
    • मानक हिन्दी (Hindi)
    • Indonesia (Indonesian)
    • Italiano (Italian)
    • தமிழ் (Tamil)
    • Türkçe (Turkish)
    • తెలుగు (Telugu)
    • ภาษาไทย (Thai)
    • Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)
    • Čeština (Czech)
    • Polski (Polish)
    • Bahasa Indonesia (Indonesian)
    • Românește (Romanian)
    • Nederlands (Dutch)
    • Ελληνικά (Greek)
    • Latinum (Latin)
    • Svenska (Swedish)
    • Dansk (Danish)
    • Suomi (Finnish)
    • فارسی (Persian)
    • ייִדיש (Yiddish)
    • հայերեն (Armenian)
    • Norsk (Norwegian)
    • English (English)

    Citation

    Use the citation below to add this poem to your bibliography:

    Style:MLAChicagoAPA

    "The Wishing-Caps" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 28 Mar. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/33612/the-wishing-caps>.

    Become a member!

    Join our community of poets and poetry lovers to share your work and offer feedback and encouragement to writers all over the world!

    March 2024

    Poetry Contest

    Join our monthly contest for an opportunity to win cash prizes and attain global acclaim for your talent.
    3
    days
    14
    hours
    24
    minutes

    Special Program

    Earn Rewards!

    Unlock exciting rewards such as a free mug and free contest pass by commenting on fellow members' poems today!

    Browse Poetry.com

    Quiz

    Are you a poetry master?

    »
    Who was “admirably schooled in every grace”?
    A Miniver Cheevy
    B Richard Cory
    C J. Alfred Prufrock
    D Odysseus