Rudyard Kipling's poem, "Cities and Thrones and Powers": Critical Analysis

In "Cities and Thrones and Powers," Kipling highlights the paradoxical nature of human existence. While our individual lives are transient and fleeting, our collective creations—such as cities—are capable of enduring and leaving a lasting impact. The poem urges readers to embrace the boldness and resilience of nature, and to recognize the legacy that can be forged through our endeavors, even as we remain blind to their full scope.

The poem begins by drawing a parallel between cities and flowers, stating that both exist within the scope of Time's gaze. While flowers perish on a daily basis, cities, like new buds, continually emerge from the exhausted and disregarded Earth:

"Cities and Thrones and Powers

  Stand  in Time's eye,

Almost as long as flowers,

  Which daily die:

But, as new buds put forth

  To glad new men,

Out of the spent and unconsidered Earth

  The Cities rise again."

The poet then introduces the metaphor of a daffodil, representing nature's obliviousness to the changes and challenges of the past. The daffodil does not perceive the fate of the previous year's flowers that were cut down, instead valuing its own brief existence as seemingly eternal:

"This season's Daffodil,

  She never hears

What change, what chance, what chill,

  Cut down last year's;

But with bold countenance,

  And knowledge small,

Esteems her seven days' continuance,

  To be perpetual."

Kipling goes on to suggest that Time, which treats all things kindly, has ordained humanity to be as blind and bold as the daffodil. In our lives and even in death, we are often unaware of the full extent of our actions and their consequences. We are encouraged to be as courageous and resolute as the daffodil, as if convinced that our works will endure:

"So Time that is o'er-kind

  To all that be,

Ordains us e'en as blind,

  As bold as she:

That in our very death,

  And  burial sure,

Shadow to shadow, well persuaded, saith,

  "See how our works endure!""

The closing lines emphasize the interplay of shadows, symbolizing the fleeting nature of life and the tangible remnants left behind. Even in death and burial, the shadows of our existence bear witness to our accomplishments, silently proclaiming their endurance.

The central theme of Kipling's poem explores the conventional notion that all things in the world are subject to the destructive force of Time, and nothing, be it human or natural, endures indefinitely. This contemplation of transience prompts the poet to reflect on several aspects:

Firstly, Kipling ponders the perpetual renewal of life itself. Despite the mortality of individuals and the ephemeral nature of flowers, new generations of men and new blossoms continue to emerge, illustrating the cyclical nature of existence.

Secondly, the poet reflects on the innocence and unawareness of youth regarding the brevity of life. The young, like the daffodil in the poem, remain oblivious to the transitory nature of their own existence, treating their short-lived presence as eternal.

Lastly, Kipling critiques the vanity of the living who delude themselves into believing that their deeds and accomplishments will endure forever. In the face of Time's relentless march, the poet implies that human achievements are ultimately fleeting, underscoring the futility of clinging to the illusion of permanence.

In summary, Rudyard Kipling's life and literary contributions are characterized by his early experiences in India, his success as a writer in London, and his extensive body of work spanning various genres. His poem explores the theme of transience, prompting reflections on the cycle of life, the innocence of youth, and the transient nature of human accomplishments. Kipling's recognition of the fleetingness of existence serves as a reminder to embrace the present and appreciate the enduring legacy of collective endeavors amidst the passage of Time.

Portrait of Rudyard Kipling
 from the biography Rudyard Kipling 
by John Palmer

Note: Rudyard Kipling, born in Bombay in 1865, experienced a childhood cut short when he was sent to school in England at the age of six. The harsh treatment he endured at school left a lasting impact on him. However, from 1882 to 1889, he returned to India and immersed himself in journalism and writing, producing works such as Departmental Ditties and Plain Tales from the Hills. In 1889, Kipling relocated to London, where his collection of poems known as Barrack-Room Ballads gained him recognition. Despite his extensive travels, he continued to produce a vast body of work, encompassing tales for children like The Jungle Book and Puck of Pook's Hill. Among his literary accomplishments, the novel Kim is often hailed as his masterpiece. Notably, Kipling became the first English writer to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1907.

Ardhendu De