The Ballad of Minepit Shaw (Poem by Rudyard Kipling)

The Ballad of Minepit Shaw

By Rudyard Kipling

About the time that taverns shut

    And men can buy no beer,

Two lads went up to the keepers' hut

    To steal Lord Pelham's deer.

Night and the liquor was in their heads — 

    They laughed and talked no bounds,

Till they waked the keepers on their beds,

    And the keepers loosed the hounds.

They had killed a hart, they had killed a hind,

    Ready to carry away,

When they heard a whimper down the wind

    And they heard a bloodhound bay.

They took and ran across the fern,

    Their crossbows in their hand,

Till they met a man with a green lantern

    That called and bade 'em stand.

'What are ye doing, O Flesh and Blood,

    And what's your foolish will,

That you must break into Minepit Wood

    And wake the Folk of the Hill?'

'Oh, we've broke into Lord Pelham's park,

    And killed Lord Pelham's deer,

And if ever you heard a little dog bark

    You'll know why we come here.

'We ask you let us go our way,

    As fast as we can flee,

For if ever you heard a bloodhound bay

    You'll know how pressed we be.'

'Oh, lay your crossbows on the bank

    And drop the knife from your hand,

And though the hounds are at your flank

    I'll save you where you stand!'

They laid their crossbows on the bank,

    They threw their knives in the wood,

And the ground before them opened and sank

    And saved 'em where they stood.

'Oh, what's the roaring in our ears

    That strikes us well-nigh dumb?'

'Oh, that is just how things appears

    According as they come.'

'What are the stars before our eyes

    That strike us well-nigh blind?'

'Oh, that is just how things arise

    According as you find.'

'And why's our bed so hard to the bones

    Excepting where it's cold?'

'Oh, that's because it is precious stones

    Excepting where 'tis gold.

'Think it over as you stand.

    For I tell you without fail,

If you haven't got into Fairyland

    You're not in Lewes Gaol.'

All night long they thought of it,

    And, come the dawn, they saw

They'd tumbled into a great old pit,

    At the bottom of Minepit Shaw.

And the keepers' hound had followed 'em close,

    And broke her neck in the fall;

So they picked up their knives and their crossbows

    And buried the dog. That's all.

But whether the man was a poacher too

    Or a Pharisee so bold — 

I reckon there's more things told than are true,

    And more things true than are told!

Footnote:

Pharisee: A fairy.

Poem Analysis:

"The Ballad of Minepit Shaw" by Rudyard Kipling is a mysterious and fantastical narrative poem that explores themes of recklessness, consequences, and the blurred lines between reality and the supernatural.

Setting the Scene: The poem opens with two young men, inebriated and heedless, deciding to poach deer from Lord Pelham's park. The atmosphere is charged with the excitement of rebellion and adventure, heightened by the night and the effects of alcohol.

Encounter with the Supernatural: As the two men attempt to escape the pursuit of the keepers and their bloodhounds, they encounter a mysterious figure with a green lantern. This figure, possibly representing a guardian spirit or a denizen of the supernatural realm, confronts them with questions about their actions and intentions.

Surreal Transformation: In a surreal turn of events, the ground before the men opens up, swallowing them whole and saving them from capture by the pursuing hounds. This sudden transformation plunges them into a strange and otherworldly realm, suggestive of Fairyland or a mystical underworld.

Reflection and Revelation: As the men contemplate their situation, they grapple with the bewildering sights and sensations of their surroundings. The enigmatic responses of the mysterious figure further blur the lines between reality and illusion, leaving the men perplexed and disoriented.

Ambiguity and Moral Inquiry: The poem ends with ambiguity regarding the nature of the encounter and the identity of the mysterious figure. The narrator reflects on the uncertainty of truth and perception, suggesting that reality may be more complex and elusive than it appears. The final lines leave the reader to ponder whether the encounter was merely a cautionary tale or a glimpse into a realm beyond human understanding.

In conclusion, "The Ballad of Minepit Shaw" is a haunting and thought-provoking exploration of the interplay between the mundane and the supernatural, the consequences of human folly, and the limits of perception and knowledge. Through its vivid imagery and mysterious narrative, the poem invites readers to contemplate the mysteries of existence and the enigmatic forces that shape our lives.