Poem by Rudyard Kipling

Chapter Headings. «I Keep Six Honest Serving-Men...»

I keep six honest serving-men
	(They taught me all I knew); 
Their names are What and Why and When
	And How and Where and Who. 
I send them over land and sea,
	I send them east and west; 
But after they have worked for me,
	I give them all a rest.

I let them rest from nine till five,
	For I am busy then, 
As well as breakfast, lunch and tea,
	For they are hungry men. 
But different folk have different views.
	I know a person small –
She keeps ten million serving-men,
	Who get no rest at all!

She sends ’em abroad on her own affairs,
	From the second she opens her eyes –
One million Hows, two million Wheres, 
	And seven million Whys!

                    The Elephant’s  Child.

1. A Nativity
2. The First Chantey
3. The Wishing Caps
4. «Debits and Credits». (1919-1926). 1. The Changelings
5. The Declaration of London

Print

10572 Views

Last Poems

To Russian version