Mandalay (poem)

"Mandalay" is a poem by Rudyard Kipling, written and published in 1890. It was first collected in Barrack-Room Ballads, and Other Verses in 1892. The poem is set in colonial Burma, which was part of British India at the time.

The story is told by a Cockney soldier who is back in London. He remembers feeling free and having a special friend in Burma, but now feels restricted and far from that happy time.

The poem became very well known, especially after Oley Speaks set it to music in 1907. It was admired by many of Kipling's friends, although some pointed out mistakes in the poem's descriptions of places. Over time, people have talked about many different ideas in the poem, including love, feelings about rules, and thoughts about different social classes.

The poem was later turned into a song by Frank Sinatra, with some changes that Kipling's family did not like. Another famous version, called the "Mandalay Song", was created by Bertolt Brecht with music by Kurt Weill, and it refers to Kipling's original poem.

Development

Background

The city of Mandalay in this poem was once the capital of Burma, a place that was part of British India from 1886 to 1937. The poem talks about an old pagoda in Moulmein, a town in southeastern Burma near the Gulf of Martaban. British soldiers in Burma often traveled up and down the Irrawaddy River on special steam boats run by a company called the Irrawaddy Flotilla Company. During a war in 1885, many soldiers were taken to Mandalay from Rangoon on these boats.

The poem also talks about the last king of Burma, Thibaw Min, and his wife Supayalat. Thibaw tried to take back control of part of Burma from the British, but they invaded and sent him and his wife away to live in India.

Writing

Rudyard Kipling wrote the poem "Mandalay" in 1890 when he was 24 years old. He had just returned to England after living in India for seven years. On his journey home, he stopped in Rangoon and then Moulmein, where he was struck by the beauty of Burmese girls.

Publication

"Mandalay" was first published in a magazine called the Scots Observer on June 21, 1890. It was later included in a book of Kipling's poems called Barrack-Room Ballads, and Other Verses in 1892. The poem has since been included in many collections of Kipling's work.

Structure

The poem "Mandalay" follows a special pattern of rhyming words, like AABB, which is common in old songs. But Kipling starts in a unique way, making the beginning very memorable. The poem also uses repeating lines and stanzas, which helps people remember and enjoy it.

The way the words are arranged in the poem is called trochaic octameters. This means each line has eight parts, with the stressed word coming first, followed by an unstressed one. The last part of each line is a bit shorter, missing one unstressed word. This rhythm made the poem very popular and easy to say or sing.

Themes

Colonialism

The poem "Mandalay" by Rudyard Kipling explores ideas about the British Empire. Some believe the poem supports imperial views, showing a British soldier as powerful and a Burmese girl as passive. Others think Kipling was not truly praising colonialism, noting that the poem has mistakes, like getting directions wrong.

Romanticism

The poem also has a romantic feel, comparing the exotic and beautiful Burma to the ordinary life in London. It uses music hall styles, with catchy rhythms and contrasts between the lively Burma and the dull everyday life back home.

A common touch

People appreciate how Kipling wrote the poem in a simple, easy-to-read way. It speaks from the view of an ordinary soldier missing his life and love far away, touching on many deep topics in just 51 lines.

Impact

The poem Mandalay had a big effect on how people in the West saw Burma and other faraway places. It was very popular in Britain, America, and the British Empire. Many people made their own versions of the poem in songs and music. The poem's name was even used for books, a special sauce by H. J. Heinz, and a drink called "A Night in Old Mandalay".

The poem was turned into a famous song called "On the Road to Mandalay" by Oley Speaks. Many different kinds of music, like jazz, folk, and country, used this song. Famous singer Frank Sinatra also sang this version, even though the poet's family did not like some of the changes made. Other artists, like Bertolt Brecht, also used the poem in their work.