Cholera Camp by Rudyard Kipling

Name: Cholera Camp
Author: Rudyard Kipling

The narrative unfolds in a military camp plagued by cholera, presenting a grim atmosphere where soldiers face the relentless threat of disease rather than combat. The poem captures the despair and resignation of the troops as they grapple with the loss of comrades, with the disease spreading rapidly despite attempts to escape it. The soldiers express their frustration and helplessness, highlighting the futility of their situation. The camp's environment is depicted as harsh and unforgiving, with the soldiers enduring both physical and psychological strain. The presence of death is constant, as they receive daily reports of casualties, leading to a sense of dark humor as they cope with their grim reality. The leadership, including the Colonel and the Chaplain, is portrayed as struggling to maintain morale amidst the chaos, with the Chaplain attempting to uplift spirits through music and camaraderie. The poem emphasizes the absurdity of military life in the face of such a dire situation, where promotions occur due to the high mortality rate rather than merit. The soldiers' camaraderie is a crucial theme, as they find solace in shared experiences and humor, even as they confront the inevitability of death. Ultimately, the work conveys a powerful message about the human spirit's resilience in the face of overwhelming adversity, illustrating how individuals can find ways to cope with suffering through solidarity and humor, even when confronted with the specter of death. The call to "strike camp and go" serves as a metaphor for both the physical and existential journey the soldiers must undertake, reflecting their desire to escape the relentless grip of cholera while acknowledging the futility of their plight.

By Rudyard Kipling · First published 1889 · Genre: Poetry, War Literature, Satire · 806 words

First lines

We've got the cholerer in camp -- it's worse than forty fights; We're dyin' in the wilderness the same as Isrulites; It's before us, an' be'ind us, an' we cannot get away, An' the doctor's just reported we've ten more to-day!

Oh, strike your camp an' go, the Bugle's callin', The Rains are fallin' -- The dead are bushed an' stoned to keep 'em safe below; The Band's a-doin' all she knows to cheer us; The Chaplain's gone and prayed to Gawd to 'ear us -- To 'ear us -- O Lord, for it's a-killin' of us so!

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Cholera Camp is listed on Textopian as a poem by Rudyard Kipling, dated 1889 CE.

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Work type: Poem
Author: Rudyard Kipling
Date: 1889 CE
Language: English
Genres: Poetry, War Literature, Satire, Historical Fiction, Dark Comedy
Length: 806 words
Structure: 1 section, 10 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

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Genres

Poetry — The work is written in verse, employing rhyme and meter typical of poetry.
War Literature — The poem reflects the experiences of soldiers in a camp during a cholera outbreak, highlighting themes of mortality and camaraderie.
Satire — The poem uses humor and irony to critique military life and the absurdity of the situation faced by the soldiers.
Historical Fiction — The setting and context relate to historical events, providing a narrative that reflects real-life experiences.