Cold Iron (poem)
Encyclopedia
Cold Iron is a poem written by Rudyard Kipling
. Like many of Kipling's works, it is has a strong moral
and religious message. The poem tells of a rebellion by a baron
who fails, but is ultimately forgiven by his king
, who turns out to be an allegory
of Jesus Christ.
The baron then goes on to rebel against the king. He is defeated, but the king (who turns out to be Christ himself), forgives him, and the poem ends with the baron's repentance.
The poem was published in Rewards and Fairies
in 1910 as the introduction to a story of the same name.
"Cold Iron", from the Poetry Lover's page.
Rudyard Kipling
Joseph Rudyard Kipling was an English poet, short-story writer, and novelist chiefly remembered for his celebration of British imperialism, tales and poems of British soldiers in India, and his tales for children. Kipling received the 1907 Nobel Prize for Literature...
. Like many of Kipling's works, it is has a strong moral
Moral
A moral is a message conveyed or a lesson to be learned from a story or event. The moral may be left to the hearer, reader or viewer to determine for themselves, or may be explicitly encapsulated in a maxim...
and religious message. The poem tells of a rebellion by a baron
Baron
Baron is a title of nobility. The word baron comes from Old French baron, itself from Old High German and Latin baro meaning " man, warrior"; it merged with cognate Old English beorn meaning "nobleman"...
who fails, but is ultimately forgiven by his king
Monarch
A monarch is the person who heads a monarchy. This is a form of government in which a state or polity is ruled or controlled by an individual who typically inherits the throne by birth and occasionally rules for life or until abdication...
, who turns out to be an allegory
Allegory
Allegory is a demonstrative form of representation explaining meaning other than the words that are spoken. Allegory communicates its message by means of symbolic figures, actions or symbolic representation...
of Jesus Christ.
Gold is for the mistress -- silver for the maid -- / Copper for the craftsman cunning at his trade." / "Good!" said the Baron, sitting in his hall, / "But Iron -- Cold Iron -- is master of them all."
The baron then goes on to rebel against the king. He is defeated, but the king (who turns out to be Christ himself), forgives him, and the poem ends with the baron's repentance.
"Crowns are for the valiant -- sceptres for the bold! / Thrones and powers for mighty men who dare to take and hold!" / "Nay!" said the Baron, kneeling in his hall, / "But Iron -- Cold Iron -- is master of men all! / Iron out of Calvary is master of men all!"
The poem was published in Rewards and Fairies
Rewards and Fairies
Rewards and Fairies is a historical fantasy book by Rudyard Kipling published in 1910. The title comes from the poem Farewell, Rewards and Fairies by Richard Corbet. The poem is referred to by the children in the first story of the preceding book Puck of Pook's Hill...
in 1910 as the introduction to a story of the same name.
"Cold Iron", from the Poetry Lover's page.