The Rupaiyat Of Omar Kalvin

By Rudyard Kipling

Lyric Poem
Now the New Year, reviving last Year's Debt, The Thoughtful Fisher casteth wide his Net; So I with begging Dish and ready Tongue Assail all Men for all that I can get. Imports indeed are gone with all their Dues, Lo! Salt a Lever that I dare not use, Nor may I ask the Tillers in Bengal, Surely my Kith and Kin will not refuse! Pay, and I promise by the Dust of Spring, Retrenchment. If my promises can bring Comfort, Ye have Them now a thousandfold, By Allah! I will promise Anything! Indeed, indeed, Retrenchment oft before I sore, but did I mean it when I swore? And then, and then, We wandered to the Hills, And so the Little Less became Much More. Whether a Boileaugunge or Babylon, I know not how the wretched Thing is done, The Items of Receipt grow surely small; The Items of Expense mount one by one. I cannot help it. What have I to do With One and Five, or Four, or Three, or Two? Let Scribes spit Blood and Sulphur as they please, Or Statesmen call me foolish, Heed not you. Behold, I promise, Anything You will. Behold, I greet you with an empty Till, Ah! Fellow-Sinners, of your Charity Seek not the Reason of the Dearth, but fill. For if I sinned and fell, where lies the Gain Of Knowledge? Would it ease you of your Pain To know the tangled Threads of Revenue, I ravel deeper in a hopeless Skein? "Who hath not Prudence", what was it I said, Of Her who paints her Eyes and tires Her Head, And gibes and mocks and People in the Street, And fawns upon them for Her thriftless Bread? Accursed is She of Eve's daughters, She Hath cast off Prudence, and Her End shall be Destruction . . . Brethren, of your Bounty Some portion of your daily Bread to Me.

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Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Analysis & Notes:
Rudyard Kipling’s "The Rupaiyat of Omar Kal'vin" is a Satirical Lyric Poem, parodying the form and mood of The Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám while offering a biting critique of colonial financial mismanagement. The central theme is the cheerful incompetence and bottomless improvidence of government officials—here personified by "Omar Kal'vin," a colonial administrator who promises reforms, austerity, and prudence while habitually worsening the fiscal situation. The poem reflects Kipling’s deep familiarity with the workings (and frequent failings) of the British Raj, showing how inefficiency, corruption, and irresponsibility could flourish under a cloak of solemn bureaucratic promises.

The tone is wry, mocking, and playful, laced with irony at nearly every turn. Kipling mimics the fatalistic, philosophical musings of Fitzgerald’s Rubáiyát translation but twists them into comic laments over budgets, taxes, empty coffers, and promises of retrenchment that are never kept. The structure echoes the quatrains of the original Persian verse, with compact stanzas and rolling, resigned cadences, heightening the humor by juxtaposing grand literary form with mundane, sordid colonial mismanagement. Throughout, Omar Kal'vin’s voice blends apology, fatalism, and blatant self-justification, turning financial incompetence into a kind of tragicomic art.

Kipling’s imagery—such as the "hopeless Skein" of tangled revenue, the "empty Till," and the sly appeals to "Fellow-Sinners"—serves to universalize the character’s failings, suggesting that such fiscal foolishness is not merely administrative error but a common human frailty, made worse by power without accountability. Historically, this poem points to real anxieties over imperial governance in late-19th century India: taxation crises, wasteful expenditure, and the disconnect between colonial rulers and the realities faced by local populations.

Ultimately, "The Rupaiyat of Omar Kal'vin" is a brilliant and light-handed satire of bureaucratic absurdity. Kipling both mocks and humanizes his fictional administrator, capturing how grand promises of reform so easily collapse into excuses and demands for charity. It stands as a witty but sharp warning about the dangers of self-deception and moral drift among those who manage other people's lives and money.

Exploring Lyric Poetry

Lyric poetry is a powerful and intimate form of expression, characterized by its focus on the personal emotions and thoughts of the poet. Often musical in nature, lyric poems resonate with readers through their vivid language and rhythmic flow, capturing moments of intense feeling.

Here are some key characteristics that define lyric poetry:

  • Expressive Language: Lyric poems use rich and evocative language to convey deep emotions, often painting a vivid picture of the poet's inner world.
  • Personal Perspective: Typically written in the first person, these poems offer a window into the poet's personal experiences, thoughts, and reflections.
  • Musicality: Lyric poems often feature a rhythmic structure, with meter and rhyme that give them a song-like quality, enhancing the emotional impact.

From ancient odes to contemporary free verse, lyric poetry remains a beloved and enduring form, celebrated for its ability to articulate the nuances of human emotion in a way that resonates deeply with readers.