The Prairie (Poem by Rudyard Kipling)

The Prairie

By Rudyard Kipling

'I see the grass shake in the sun for leagues on either hand,

I see a river loop and run about a treeless land — 

An empty plain, a steely pond, a distance diamond-clear,

And low blue naked hills beyond. And what is that to fear?'

'Go softly by that river-side or, when you would depart,

You'll find its every winding tied and knotted round your heart.

Be wary as the seasons pass, or you may ne'er outrun

The wind that sets that yellowed grass a-shiver 'neath the Sun.'

'I hear the summer storm outblown — the drip of the grateful wheat.

I hear the hard trail telephone a far-off horse's feet.

I hear the horns of Autumn blow to the wild-fowl overhead;

And I hear the hush before the snow. And what is that to dread?'

'Take heed what spell the lightning weaves — what charm the echoes shape — 

Or, bound among a million sheaves, your soul may not escape.

Bar home the door of summer nights lest those high planets drown

The memory of near delights in all the longed-for town.'

'What need have I to long or fear? Now, friendly, I behold

My faithful seasons robe the year in silver and in gold.

Now I possess and am possessed of the land where I would be,

And the curve of half Earth's generous breast shall soothe and ravish me!'

Poem Analysis:

Rudyard Kipling’s The Prairie is a contemplative poem that explores the vastness, beauty, and allure of the American prairie while also warning of its powerful, almost mystical hold on those who encounter it. Through vivid imagery and rhythmic verse, Kipling captures both the external grandeur of the landscape and the internal struggle it evokes in those who dwell within it.

The Beauty and Vastness of the Prairie

The first stanza paints a sweeping picture of the prairie’s openness:

I see the grass shake in the sun for leagues on either hand,

I see a river loop and run about a treeless land —

An empty plain, a steely pond, a distance diamond-clear,

And low blue naked hills beyond. And what is that to fear?'

Kipling presents the prairie as an expansive, almost infinite space. The imagery of grass shaking in the sun and a river looping suggests a sense of movement and life in an otherwise desolate land. The phrase a distance diamond-clear evokes purity and clarity, making the prairie seem inviting rather than intimidating. The speaker’s rhetorical question—And what is that to fear?—sets up a contrast that will unfold in the poem, hinting at an unseen power within the landscape.

The Prairie’s Deep Emotional Pull

The second stanza introduces a warning:

Go softly by that river-side or, when you would depart,

You'll find its every winding tied and knotted round your heart.

Here, the river is not just a feature of the land; it symbolizes an emotional force that can entangle and captivate the soul. Kipling suggests that those who venture into the prairie must be cautious because they may fall under its spell.

Be wary as the seasons pass, or you may ne'er outrun

The wind that sets that yellowed grass a-shiver 'neath the Sun.'

The yellowed grass swaying in the wind becomes a metaphor for the passage of time and the way nature subtly ensnares those who live within it. The speaker implies that the prairie is not just a landscape—it is an entity that grips the heart and mind, making departure difficult.

The Sounds of the Prairie and Its Enchantment

The third stanza shifts from visual imagery to auditory sensations:

I hear the summer storm outblown — the drip of the grateful wheat.

I hear the hard trail telephone a far-off horse's feet.

Kipling’s use of sound creates an immersive experience of life on the prairie. The phrase the drip of the grateful wheat personifies the land, as if it finds relief from the rain. The hard trail telephone suggests that even distant movements resonate deeply in this quiet, vast space.

I hear the horns of Autumn blow to the wild-fowl overhead;

And I hear the hush before the snow. And what is that to dread?'

The seasonal transition is portrayed musically—autumn’s horns signal migration, while winter’s hush suggests a solemn stillness before snowfall. Again, the speaker dismisses fear, but the underlying suggestion is that the land’s cycle is deeply affecting, drawing people into its rhythms.

The Prairie’s Spell and Its Danger

In the fourth stanza, the speaker is warned of the land’s power:

Take heed what spell the lightning weaves — what charm the echoes shape —

Or, bound among a million sheaves, your soul may not escape.

Here, nature is portrayed as having a magical or supernatural quality. The lightning and echoes are not just natural occurrences; they weave spells and charms, binding individuals to the land. The million sheaves—bundles of harvested wheat—represent both abundance and entrapment, suggesting that those who embrace the prairie may never leave it, even in spirit.

Bar home the door of summer nights lest those high planets drown

The memory of near delights in all the longed-for town.

This warning continues, urging settlers to resist the prairie’s lure. The phrase lest those high planets drown implies that the vast, open night sky can overwhelm a person’s connection to civilization. The town, which once seemed desirable, may fade into insignificance under the prairie’s spell.

Acceptance and Surrender to the Prairie

The final stanza presents a shift in tone:

What need have I to long or fear? Now, friendly, I behold

My faithful seasons robe the year in silver and in gold.

The speaker has moved from questioning and warning to acceptance. The faithful seasons dress the land in silver and gold, emphasizing its beauty and reliability. The land, once seen as something that might entrap the soul, is now viewed as a source of comfort and belonging.

Now I possess and am possessed of the land where I would be,

And the curve of half Earth's generous breast shall soothe and ravish me!

The concluding lines reflect a deep connection between the speaker and the prairie. The phrase I possess and am possessed suggests mutual ownership—the speaker belongs to the land as much as the land belongs to them. The final image, the curve of half Earth's generous breast, transforms the prairie into something nurturing, as though the land itself embraces and sustains its inhabitants.

Poetic Structure and Style

Kipling employs a structured, rhythmic form with alternating perspectives: one voice marvels at the prairie’s beauty, while another warns of its power. This call-and-response style builds tension, reinforcing the theme of the land’s seductive yet overwhelming nature.

The poem’s language is rich with sensory details—visual (golden grass, blue hills), auditory (thunder, footsteps on a trail), and even emotional (the pull of nostalgia, the fear of being trapped). Kipling’s use of personification and metaphor makes the prairie feel alive, almost like a character itself.

The rhyme scheme remains consistent, reinforcing the sense of inevitability, as if the fate of those who encounter the prairie is already written.

Rudyard Kipling’s The Prairie is a profound meditation on the dual nature of the American landscape—its breathtaking beauty and its powerful hold over those who dwell within it. The poem explores the tension between admiration and fear, freedom and entrapment, civilization and nature.

Ultimately, the speaker surrenders to the prairie’s enchantment, finding solace in its vastness. Through masterful imagery, personification, and a structured poetic form, Kipling captures the timeless allure of the open plains—a place where one can be both lost and found.