The City of Sleep by Rudyard Kipling
The narrative explores the theme of longing for rest and escape from the burdens of reality. It presents a metaphorical town, a sanctuary where the weary and troubled can find solace and forget their woes. The protagonist expresses a deep yearning to enter this place, referred to as the Merciful Town, which symbolizes a realm of dreams and peace. The poem contrasts the experiences of those who can access this refuge with the plight of the wakeful, who are forced to return to the harshness of daily life. The imagery of the "purple down" and "Sea of Dreams" evokes a sense of beauty and tranquility, highlighting the stark difference between the dreamers and the wakeful. The repeated pleas for pity emphasize the emotional weight carried by those who remain outside the gates of this dreamlike city. As the narrative unfolds, it becomes clear that the wakeful individuals are outcasts, unable to partake in the restorative power of sleep. The mention of "Policeman Day" serves as a personification of reality, enforcing the return to consciousness and the responsibilities that come with it. The poem captures the universal struggle between the desire for escape and the inevitability of waking life, ultimately portraying a poignant sense of loss and yearning for peace.
By Rudyard Kipling · First published 1891 · Genre: Poetry, Fantasy, Lyrical · 323 words
First lines
Over the edge of the purple down, / Where the single lamplight gleams. / Know ye the road to the Merciful Town / That is hard by the Sea of Dreams -- / Where the poor may lay their wrongs away, / And the sick may forget to-weep? / But we -- pity us! Oh, pity us! / We wakeful; ah, pity us! -- / We must go back with Policeman Day -- / Back from the City of Sleep!
What this Textopian page supports
The City of Sleep is listed on Textopian as a poem by Rudyard Kipling, dated 1891 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: 1891 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Fantasy, Lyrical, Symbolism, Philosophical
- Length: 323 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The City of Sleep by Rudyard Kipling
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Similar titles
- At Night by Sara Teasdale
- Something Childish But Very Natural by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
- Loves Apparition And Evanishment by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
- I Whom Apollo Sometime Visited by Robert Louis Stevenson
- At Last She Comes by Robert Louis Stevenson
- I Am Like One That For Long Days Had Sate by Robert Louis Stevenson
Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse, employing rhyme and meter, characteristic of poetry.
- Fantasy — The themes of dreams and a mystical 'City of Sleep' suggest elements of fantasy.
- Lyrical — The emotional expression and reflective tone align with lyrical poetry.
- Symbolism — The imagery and metaphors convey deeper meanings about sleep and wakefulness.
Tags
dreams · sleep · night · city · longing · sorrow · escape · merciful · outcasts · wakefulness · policeman · suffering