Summary of the poem “The Children’s Song” by Rudyard Kipling
The poem “The Children’s Song“ is a heartfelt prayer and pledge from children to their homeland. It expresses a desire for divine guidance to help them grow with virtues like truth, self-control, and steadfastness. The children ask for strength not for dominance, but to support others and live with integrity. They seek joy in simple things and aim to love all people equally. The poem honors the sacrifices of ancestors who gave their lives for the country, and it ends with a promise to uphold those values and continue serving the nation with love and dedication.
Line-by-line explanation of “The Children’s Song” by Rudyard Kipling
Stanza 1
Land of our Birth, we pledge to thee
→ The children are making a solemn promise to their homeland.
Our love and toil in the years to be;
→ They vow to offer love and hard work throughout their lives.
When we are grown and take our place
→ Refers to the time when they become adults.
As men and women of our race.
→ They will contribute to society as responsible citizens.
Stanza 2
Father in Heaven, Who lovest all,
→ A prayer to God, who loves everyone.
Oh help Thy children when they call;
→ Asking for divine help when they seek guidance.
That they may build from age to age,
→ Hoping each generation contributes positively.
An undefiled heritage.
→ A pure and honorable legacy for the future.
Stanza 3
Teach us to bear the yoke in youth,
→ Teach them to handle responsibilities early in life.
With steadfastness and careful truth;
→ With determination and honesty.
That, in our time, Thy Grace may give
→ So that God’s grace may bless them.
The Truth whereby the Nations live.
→ The truth that sustains and guides nations.
Stanza 4
Teach us to rule ourselves always,
→ Teach self-control and discipline.
Controlled and cleanly night and day;
→ To live a pure and disciplined life at all times.
That we may bring, if need arise,
→ So that if sacrifice is needed…
No maimed and worthless sacrifice.
→ It will be a worthy and whole offering, not flawed.
Stanza 5
Teach us to look, in all our ends,
→ Teach them to seek guidance in all goals.
On Thee for judge, and not our friends
→ To seek divine judgment, not peer approval.
That we, with Thee, may walk uncowed
→ So they can walk confidently with God.
By fear or favour of the crowd.
→ Without being swayed by public opinion.
Stanza 6
Teach us the strength that cannot seek,
→ Teach a kind of strength that avoids harming others.
By deed or thought, to hurt the weak;
→ Never to harm the vulnerable, in action or thought.
That, under Thee, we may possess
→ With God’s guidance, they may have…
Man’s strength to comfort man’s distress.
→ Strength used to help others in need.
Stanza 7
Teach us Delight in simple things,
→ Teach joy in life’s simple pleasures.
And Mirth that had no bitter springs;
→ Happiness that is pure and not rooted in pain.
Forgiveness free of evil done,
→ Teach true forgiveness, even for wrongs committed.
And Love to all men,’neath the sun!
→ And universal love for all humanity.
Final Lines
Land of our Birth, our faith, our pride.
→ Reaffirming love and pride for their homeland.
For whose dear sake our fathers died;
→ Honoring ancestors who sacrificed for the country.
Head heart hand through the years be!
→ A pledge to serve with intellect, emotion, and action.
Key themes in “The Children’s Song” by Rudyard Kipling:
1. Patriotism and Devotion to Homeland
- The poem begins and ends with a pledge to the land of birth, showing deep love and commitment to one’s country.
- It emphasizes the importance of serving the nation with pride, honoring the sacrifices of ancestors.
2. Moral and Spiritual Guidance
- The children seek divine help to grow with virtues like truth, self-control, and integrity.
- There’s a strong spiritual tone, asking God to guide them in building a pure and lasting heritage.
3. Responsibility and Self-Discipline
- The poem teaches the value of bearing responsibilities from a young age.
- It stresses the importance of ruling oneself with discipline and cleanliness in thought and action.
4. Strength Used for Good
- Strength is portrayed not as a tool for dominance, but for comforting and helping others.
- The children ask for the kind of strength that avoids harming the weak and instead uplifts them.
5. Justice and Independence of Thought
- The poem encourages looking to God for judgment rather than being influenced by peers or public opinion.
- It promotes walking confidently with moral courage, unaffected by fear or favor.
6. Joy, Forgiveness, and Universal Love
- It values simple joys and pure happiness.
- Forgiveness and love for all humanity are seen as essential virtues.
From English for Today
1. What do the children promise to their motherland?
→ The children promise their love and hard work to their motherland, especially when they grow up and become responsible adults.
2. What do the children ask God to teach them?
→ They ask God to teach them truth, self-control, strength to help others, joy in simple things, forgiveness, and love for all people.
3. Do you like the poem? Why?
→ Yes, the poem is inspiring because it teaches important values like patriotism, kindness, discipline, and moral strength which help build a better society.
Questions for More Practice
(a) What do the children pledge to their land of birth in the poem?
→ They pledge their love and toil to their land of birth.
(b) How do the children express their love for their country in the poem?
→ By promising to serve their country with their head, heart, and hands throughout their lives.
(c) What is the main prayer in the second stanza of the poem?
→ The children pray for divine help to build a pure and honorable heritage.
(d) How do the children want to build a better future according to the poem?
→ By living truthfully, responsibly, and with moral strength from a young age.
(e) What lesson does the poem teach us about facing challenges in youth?
→ It teaches us to bear responsibilities with truth and steadfastness during youth.
(f) How does the poet describe the strength that children should develop?
→ Strength that avoids harming the weak and is used to comfort and help others.
(g) Why is it important for us to be honest and truthful, according to the poem?
→ Because truth is the foundation on which nations live and thrive.
(h) What does the poet mean by “an undefiled heritage” in the second stanza?
→ A legacy that is pure, honorable, and free from corruption.
(i) How should we behave when we are in a difficult situation, according to the poem?
→ We should seek God’s judgment and not be influenced by fear or peer pressure.
(j) How can the lessons in the poem help us live better lives in our community?
→ By promoting kindness, discipline, forgiveness, and service to others.
(k) What does the poem teach us about treating the weak and helping others?
→ It teaches us to use our strength to help and comfort the weak, not harm them.
(l) What is the message of the last stanza about love and forgiveness?
→ It emphasizes the importance of loving all people and forgiving freely.
(m) Why is it important to show love and forgiveness, according to the poem?
→ Because it creates harmony, peace, and a better society.
(n) What do the children feel towards their land and sacrifices made by their fathers?
→ They feel pride and gratitude for their homeland and honor the sacrifices made.
(o) What do children pledge to their country?
→ They pledge love, pride, and lifelong service to their country.
(p) What do children pray to God?
→ They pray for guidance, strength, and moral virtues to live a good life.
(q) How do children like to behave in their youth?
→ With discipline, truthfulness, and responsibility.
(r) How do children like to rule themselves?
→ With self-control and cleanliness in thought and action.
(s) What sacrifice do they not like to do for the country?
→ They do not want to offer a maimed or worthless sacrifice; they wish to give their best in service to the country.
(t) How do the children want to judge?
→ They want to judge by looking to God, not by seeking approval from friends or the crowd.
(u) How do the children want to walk their path?
→ They want to walk confidently and fearlessly, guided by divine judgment rather than public opinion.
(v) What strength do the children want from God?
→ They want strength that does not harm the weak but helps and comforts others.
(w) What do they want to do with their strength?
→ They want to use their strength to comfort people in distress and support those in need.
(x) What delight do the children want from God?
→ They want delight in simple things and joy that is pure and free from bitterness.
(y) What does the poet mean by ‘careful truth’?
→ ‘Careful truth’ refers to truthfulness practiced with thoughtfulness, responsibility, and integrity.
(z) What does the phrase ‘in our time’ in stanza 3 refer to?
→ It refers to the period when the children grow up and take responsibility as adults.
(z1) Why do the children call their motherland “Land of our Birth, our faith, our pride”?
→ Because they feel a deep connection, loyalty, and pride in their homeland, which they are committed to serving.
(z2) What do the words ‘head’, ‘heart’ and ‘hand’ in stanza 8 refer to?
→ They symbolize intellect (head), emotion (heart), and action (hand)—the complete dedication to serving the country.
(z3) How does the poet wish to serve his motherland?
→ By offering love, hard work, and moral strength through every stage of life.
(z4) Why do the children pray to God?
→ They pray for guidance, strength, and virtues to live a life of integrity and service.
(z5) What literary devices are used in the poem “The Children’s Song”?
→ The poem uses repetition, prayer-like tone, symbolism (e.g., head, heart, hand), and personification (e.g., addressing the land as a living entity).
(z6) Why is the poem titled “The Children’s Song”?
→ Because it is written as a pledge and prayer from children, expressing their hopes, values, and love for their country.
(z7) What purpose is served by repetition of the word ‘our’ in the poem “The Children’s Song”?
→ It emphasizes unity, collective responsibility, and a shared sense of belonging and pride in the homeland.
