Brookland Road (Poem by Rudyard Kipling)

Brookland Road

By Rudyard Kipling

I was very well pleased with what I knowed,

I reckoned myself no fool — 

Till I met with a maid on the Brookland Road,

That turned me back to school.

    Low down — low down!

    Where the liddle green lanterns shine — 

    O maids, I've done with 'ee all but one,

    And she can never be mine!

'Twas right in the middest of a hot June night,

With thunder duntin' round,

And I see'd her face by the fairy light

That beats from off the ground.

She only smiled and she never spoke,

She smiled and went away;

But when she'd gone my heart was broke,

And my wits was clean astray.

O stop your ringing and let me be — 

Let be, O Brookland bells!

You'll ring Old Goodman out of the sea,

Before I wed one else!

Old Goodman's Farm is rank sea-sand,

And was this thousand year:

But it shall turn to rich plough land

Before I change my dear.

O, Fairfield Church is water-bound

From autumn to the spring;

But it shall turn to high hill ground

Before my bells do ring.

O, leave me walk on the Brookland Road,

In the thunder and warm rain — 

O, leave me look where my love goed,

And p'raps I'll see her again!

    Low down — low down!

    Where the liddle green lanterns shine — 

    O maids, I've done with 'ee all but one,

    And she can never be mine!

Footnote:

Earl Godwin of the Goodwin Sands?

Poem Analysis:

Rudyard Kipling's poem "Brookland Road" is a poignant exploration of unrequited love and the profound impact it can have on an individual. The poem delves into themes of yearning, heartbreak, and the inability to move on from a love that remains unattainable. Through evocative language and vivid imagery, Kipling captures the emotional turmoil experienced by the speaker as they grapple with their unfulfilled desires.

Themes:

1. Unrequited Love: The central theme of the poem is unrequited love. The speaker's profound affection for a mysterious maid on Brookland Road remains unreciprocated, leading to heartache and longing.
2. Yearning and Longing: The poem portrays the intense yearning and longing felt by the speaker for the unattainable maid. This longing becomes a driving force that consumes the speaker's thoughts and emotions.
3. Desire for Permanence: The speaker expresses a desire for permanence and stability in contrast to the transience of the surroundings. The changing landscape of Old Goodman's Farm and Fairfield Church serves as a metaphor for the speaker's unchanging love.

Structure and Language:

1. Stanza Structure: "Brookland Road" is composed of 9 quatrains, each with a consistent ABAB rhyme scheme. This structured format helps convey the speaker's thoughts and emotions in a rhythmic manner.
2. Imagery: Kipling uses vivid imagery to depict the setting and emotions. The mention of the "liddle green lanterns" and "thunder duntin'" creates a vivid and atmospheric backdrop for the speaker's lament.
3. Repetition: The repetition of the phrase "Low down — low down!" reinforces the speaker's emotional turmoil and emphasizes the depth of their despair.

Analysis:

1. Unreciprocated Love: The poem poignantly portrays the speaker's unreciprocated love for the maid on Brookland Road. Despite the speaker's intense emotions, the maid "never spoke" and simply "smiled and went away," leaving the speaker heartbroken and unable to move on.
2. Longing for the Past: The speaker expresses a longing for the past and a desire to return to the moment when they first encountered the maid. The experience was so profound that it shattered their sense of self ("turned me back to school") and left them with a sense of emptiness.
3. Attachment to the Familiar: The speaker clings to the familiarity of the landscape, such as Old Goodman's Farm and Fairfield Church. These landmarks serve as symbols of constancy and permanence in the face of changing emotions and unfulfilled love.

"Brookland Road" by Rudyard Kipling is a poignant exploration of unrequited love and the lasting impact it can have on an individual's emotional landscape. Through its structured quatrains, vivid imagery, and repetition, the poem captures the depth of the speaker's longing and their inability to move on from a love that can never be realized. It serves as a reflection on the enduring nature of unfulfilled desires and the profound sense of loss that accompanies them.