The Answer by Rudyard Kipling (1910)
A rose, damaged and alone, laments its fate after a sudden wind breaks its stem. It questions divine justice, expressing sorrow over its misfortune. God, who listens to all, responds with a gentle inquiry about the voices the rose heard at the moment of its fall. The rose recounts a conversation between a father and son, where the son questions the reason for the flower's demise, and the father attributes it to divine will. In response, God reveals that the rose's fall was predetermined before the creation of time, space, and existence itself. This revelation brings the rose peace, allowing it to accept its fate and die contentedly, akin to those who live innocent lives. Meanwhile, the one who questioned the rose's fall gains understanding and, through this divine interaction, finds salvation for his soul. The work explores themes of fate, divine will, and the interconnectedness of existence, illustrating how acceptance of one's circumstances can lead to spiritual enlightenment.
By Rudyard Kipling · First published 1910 · Genre: Poetry, Philosophical, Religious · 285 words
First lines
A Rose, in tatters on the garden path, Cried out to God and murmured 'gainst His Wrath, Because a sudden wind at twilight's hush Had snapped her stem alone of all the bush. And God, Who hears both sun-dried dust and sun, Had pity, whispering to that luckless one, "Sister, in that thou sayest We did not well -- What voices heardst thou when thy petals fell? " And the Rose answered, "In that evil hour A voice said, `Father, wherefore falls the flower? For lo, the very gossamers are still. ' And a voice answered, `Son, by Allah's will!"
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The Answer is listed on Textopian as a poem by Rudyard Kipling, dated 1910 CE.
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- Work type: Poem
- Author: Rudyard Kipling
- Date: 1910 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Philosophical, Religious, Allegorical, Nature
- Length: 285 words
- Structure: 1 section, 2 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse, employing rhyme and meter, characteristic of poetry.
- Philosophical — The themes explore existential questions about life, death, and divine will, prompting deep reflection.
- Religious — The poem engages with concepts of God, divine intervention, and spiritual understanding.
- Allegorical — The narrative uses symbolic elements, such as the rose and the voices, to convey deeper meanings about existence.
Tags
Rudyard Kipling · poetry · nature · philosophy · existentialism · faith · divine will · suffering · redemption · life and death · spirituality · metaphor