Morning Song in the Jungle (Poem by Rudyard Kipling)

Morning Song in the Jungle

By Rudyard Kipling

One moment past our bodies cast

    No shadow on the plain;

Now clear and black they stride our track,

    And we run home again.

In morning hush, each rock and bush

    Stands hard, and high, and raw:

Then give the Call: 'Good rest to all

    That keep the Jungle Law!'

Now horn and pelt our peoples melt

    In covert to abide;

Now, crouched and still, to cave and hill

    Our Jungle Barons glide.

Now, stark and plain, Man's oxen strain,

    That draw the new-yoked plough;

Now, stripped and dread, the dawn is red

    Above the lit talao.

Ho! Get to lair! The sun's aflare

    Behind the breathing grass:

And creaking through the young bamboo

    The warning whispers pass.

By day made strange, the woods we range

    With blinking eyes we scan;

While down the skies the wild duck cries:

    'The Day — the Day to Man!'

The dew is dried that drenched our hide,

    Or washed about our way;

And where we drank, the puddled bank

    Is crisping into clay.

The traitor Dark gives up each mark

    Of stretched or hooded claw;

Then hear the Call: 'Good rest to all

    That keep the Jungle Law!'

Poem Analysis:

Rudyard Kipling's "Morning Song in the Jungle" is a vibrant and evocative portrayal of the jungle at dawn. Through vivid imagery and rhythmic language, Kipling captures the essence of the jungle and its inhabitants, conveying both its beauty and its inherent dangers.

Contrast of Light and Shadow: The poem begins by highlighting the stark contrast between darkness and light in the jungle. The line "One moment past our bodies cast / No shadow on the plain" suggests the sudden shift from darkness to light as the sun rises. This contrast symbolizes the transition from night to day, and the sudden visibility of the jungle's inhabitants.

Movement and Activity: Kipling vividly depicts the bustling activity of the jungle at dawn. The creatures of the jungle, represented by "horn and pelt," "covert," and "cave and hill," are depicted as they begin their daily routines. The imagery of animals melting into covert and Jungle Barons gliding emphasizes their stealth and agility as they navigate their environment.

Human Presence in the Jungle: Amidst the natural elements, Kipling introduces the presence of humans in the jungle. The mention of Man's oxen straining to plow and the lit talao (a small lake or pond) suggests human intervention in the wilderness. This juxtaposition of human and natural worlds highlights the dynamic relationship between civilization and the wild.

Sensory Descriptions: Kipling appeals to the senses to create a vivid portrait of the jungle at dawn. He describes the sounds of the wild duck crying, the whispers passing through the bamboo, and the creaking of the young bamboo. These sensory details immerse the reader in the atmospheric richness of the jungle environment.

Adherence to the Jungle Law: The poem concludes with a recurring refrain: "Good rest to all / That keep the Jungle Law!" This phrase underscores the importance of order and hierarchy in the jungle. It suggests a code of conduct that governs the behavior of all creatures, emphasizing the survival instincts and instincts of cooperation necessary for life in the wild.

In conclusion, "Morning Song in the Jungle" by Rudyard Kipling is a vivid and dynamic portrayal of the jungle at dawn. Through its imagery, movement, and sensory descriptions, the poem captures the essence of the natural world and the intricate web of life that thrives within it. It celebrates the beauty, complexity, and inherent harmony of the jungle ecosystem while acknowledging its dangers and challenges.