The Explanation by Rudyard Kipling
The narrative explores the eternal conflict between love and death, personified as two powerful forces that engage in a metaphorical struggle at a tavern representing human existence. In this setting, they momentarily set aside their differences to indulge in wine, leading to a chaotic mingling of their respective symbols—arrows representing love and death. As the story unfolds, the mingling of arrows serves as a metaphor for the intertwined nature of love and mortality in human life. The characters reflect on the consequences of their actions, revealing that both love and death have a profound impact on humanity. The imagery of love's arrows being tainted with the venom of death suggests that love is often accompanied by pain and loss, highlighting the duality of human experience. The poem raises existential questions about the awareness of higher powers regarding the human condition. It suggests that while love can bring joy, it is inevitably shadowed by the reality of death, leading to a poignant reflection on the nature of existence. The closing lines emphasize the irony of old men still capable of love while young men face the finality of death, underscoring the tragic and cyclical nature of life. Overall, the work encapsulates the complex relationship between love and death, illustrating how they coexist and influence the human experience, ultimately questioning the understanding of these forces by those in power.
By Rudyard Kipling · First published 1926 · Genre: Poetry, Philosophical, Lyric · 180 words
First lines
Love and Death once ceased their strife At the Tavern of Man's Life. Called for wine, and threw -- alas! -- Each his quiver on the grass. When the bout was o'er they found Mingled arrows strewed the ground. Hastily they gathered then Each the loves and lives of men. Ah, the fateful dawn deceived! Mingled arrows each one sheaved; Death's dread armoury was stored With the shafts he most abhorred; Love's light quiver groaned beneath Venom-headed darts of Death.
Thus it was they wrought our woe At the Tavern long ago. Tell me, do our masters know, Loosing blindly as they fly, Old men love while young men die?
What this Textopian page supports
The Explanation is listed on Textopian as a poem by Rudyard Kipling, dated 1926 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: 1926 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Philosophical, Lyric, Allegorical, Narrative
- Length: 180 words
- Structure: 1 section, 2 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
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Similar titles
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse, employing rhyme and meter, characteristic of poetry.
- Philosophical — The themes explore deep questions about love, death, and the human condition, typical of philosophical literature.
- Lyric — The poem expresses personal emotions and reflections, aligning with the lyric genre.
- Allegorical — The characters of Love and Death symbolize broader concepts, fitting the allegorical genre.
Tags
Rudyard Kipling · poetry · love · death · human experience · mortality · fate · arrows · tavern · strife · life · philosophy