Old Mother Laidinwool
The narrative follows the spirit of an elderly woman who has recently passed away. She is drawn back to the living world by the thriving hop harvest, eager to reconnect with the people she once knew. As she rises from her grave, she expresses a longing to return to the familiar work of her youth, highlighting her attachment to the past and the community she left behind. As she wanders through the village, she observes the locals engaged in hop-picking, recognizing them as familiar faces from her life. She feels a sense of pride and joy seeing her daughters and their children thriving, appreciating their well-being and the cleanliness of their clothes. Her spirit is uplifted by the sight of her family and the community, reflecting her nurturing nature. However, as day turns to night, she realizes that she has no place to go. Despite her desire to remain among the living, she must return to her grave as darkness falls. She returns to the churchyard, where she lays down her spirit, accepting her fate. The poem concludes with a plea for mercy, emphasizing the themes of longing, connection, and the inevitability of death. The work encapsulates the cycle of life and death, the enduring bonds of family, and the comfort found in familiar places and memories.
By Rudyard Kipling · First published 1902 · Genre: Poetry, Fantasy, Folklore · 502 words
First lines
'Old Mother Laidinwool had nigh twelve months been dead. She heard the hops was doing well, an' so popped up her head,' For said she: 'The lads I've picked with when I was young and fair, They're bound to be at hopping and I'm bound to meet 'em there!'
_Let me up and go Back to the work I know, Lord! Back to the work I know, Lord! For it's dark where I lie down, My Lord! An' it's dark where I lie down! _
What this Textopian page supports
Old Mother Laidinwool is listed on Textopian as a poem by Rudyard Kipling, dated 1902 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Rudyard Kipling
- Date: 1902 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Fantasy, Folklore, Literary Fiction, Supernatural
- Length: 502 words
- Structure: 1 section, 8 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
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- Work identity for Old Mother Laidinwool by Rudyard Kipling
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Discussion starters
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse form, utilizing rhyme and meter, characteristic of poetry.
- Fantasy — The narrative involves a ghostly character, Old Mother Laidinwool, who interacts with the living, indicating elements of fantasy.
- Folklore — The story reflects traditional themes and motifs found in folklore, such as the connection between the living and the dead.
- Literary Fiction — The work explores themes of memory, family, and the passage of time, typical of literary fiction.
Tags
ghost · afterlife · memory · family · tradition · rural · nostalgia · death · harvest · community · spirituality · love