My Boy Jack (poem)

My Boy Jack is a 1915 poem by Rudyard Kipling. Kipling wrote it after his beloved son, John (called Jack) went missing in the Battle of Loos, during World War I. It was years before Kipling and his family had Jack's death confirmed.

In 1992, Jack Kipling's grave was found. [1]

Words

   “Have you news of my boy Jack?”
   Not this tide.
   “When d’you think that he’ll come back?”
   Not with this wind blowing, and this tide. 
   “Has any one else had word of him?”
   Not this tide.
   For what is sunk will hardly swim,
   Not with this wind blowing, and this tide. 
   
   “Oh, dear, what comfort can I find?”
   None this tide,
   Nor any tide,
   Except he did not shame his kind—
   Not even with that wind blowing, and that tide. 
   
   Then hold your head up all the more,
   This tide,
   And every tide;
   Because he was the son you bore,
   And gave to that wind blowing and that tide!

External Links

• My Boy Jack