I have a grandson who is finishing his first year of a high quality Chemical Engineering program. I'm considering getting him framed parchments of this poem, the Calling of an Engineer, and a couple of other relevant Kiplings for his future office.
It's perhaps my favorite of Kipling's poems, not least for the line about being ashamed of breaking no matter how overpowering the thing that breaks us.
Another poem that belongs in this list, even more than "The Mary Gloster," has to be its companion dramatic monologue, "McAndrew's Hymn." The perfect archetype of the Scots engineer.
The old prayer book version of the confession: "the weight of them is unbearable": literally.
Though "But we, poor Sons of Adam / Have no such literature / To warn us or make sure!" is a bit of poetic license. We have the Law: mirror, guide, and kerb, but we, ah, don't read the instructions. Or don't like them, or, well, hooman beans gonna hooman.
Thanks be to God for the merciful hand that strengthens our sinews, and even, all unbeknownst, holds back gravity itself to spare us.
Yes - just what I was going to say, only you said it better! We do have a Guide for Humans, only too many people disregard it, whether wilfully or not. (Also, humans were never 'Gods,' capital g. The Bible does call us 'gods,' small g. There's a huge difference.)
Someone said "In the end, the world breaks everyone ..." I think I like Kiplings approach better. Might wish I could find a way for grandsons to take this in.
I still feel shame that I broke while my husband was ill. I held the threads together--barely--but gluing the pieces back is a slow process. One baby step at a time.
I have a grandson who is finishing his first year of a high quality Chemical Engineering program. I'm considering getting him framed parchments of this poem, the Calling of an Engineer, and a couple of other relevant Kiplings for his future office.
When I read this, I hear it in the voice of Leslie Fish, who sings it wonderfully. A great poem.
So does Julia Ecklar, using Leslie's words and tune.
It's perhaps my favorite of Kipling's poems, not least for the line about being ashamed of breaking no matter how overpowering the thing that breaks us.
Another poem that belongs in this list, even more than "The Mary Gloster," has to be its companion dramatic monologue, "McAndrew's Hymn." The perfect archetype of the Scots engineer.
A poem for SpaceX?
Thank you for that. I was previously innocent of this Kipling. Very apropo.
The old prayer book version of the confession: "the weight of them is unbearable": literally.
Though "But we, poor Sons of Adam / Have no such literature / To warn us or make sure!" is a bit of poetic license. We have the Law: mirror, guide, and kerb, but we, ah, don't read the instructions. Or don't like them, or, well, hooman beans gonna hooman.
Thanks be to God for the merciful hand that strengthens our sinews, and even, all unbeknownst, holds back gravity itself to spare us.
Great poem, great art.
Surely what the scriptures provide is a guide to practice, but not a calculation of the limits of the human spirit?
Yes - just what I was going to say, only you said it better! We do have a Guide for Humans, only too many people disregard it, whether wilfully or not. (Also, humans were never 'Gods,' capital g. The Bible does call us 'gods,' small g. There's a huge difference.)
Someone said "In the end, the world breaks everyone ..." I think I like Kiplings approach better. Might wish I could find a way for grandsons to take this in.
Thanks Cedar, this is a Kipling poem I didn't know.
I still feel shame that I broke while my husband was ill. I held the threads together--barely--but gluing the pieces back is a slow process. One baby step at a time.