Author: Rudyard Kipling
The first time that Peter denied his Lord
He shrank from the cudgel, the scourge and the cord,
But followed far off to see what they would do,
Till the cock crew, till the cock crew,
After Gethsemane, till the cock crew!
The first time that Peter denied his Lord
'Twas only a maid in the palace who heard,
As he sat by the fire and warmed himself through.
Then the cock crew! Then the cock crew!
("Though also art one of them.") Then the cock crew!
The first time that Peter denied his Lord
He had neither the Throne, nor the Keys nor the Sword,
A poor silly fisherman, what could he do,
When the cock crew, when the cock crew,
But weep for his wickedness when the cock crew?
The next time that Peter denied his Lord
He was Fisher of Men, as foretold by the Word,
With the Crown on his brow and the Cross on his shoe,
When the cock crew, when the cock crew,
In Flanders and Picardy when the cock crew!
The next time that Peter denied his Lord
'Twas Mary the Mother in Heaven Who heard,
She grieved for the maidens and wives that they slew
When the cock crew, when the cock crew,
At Tirmonde and Aerschott when the cock crew!
The next time that Peter denied his Lord
The Babe in the Manger awakened and stirred,
And He stretched out His arms for the playmates
He knew,
When the cock crew, when the cock crew,
But the waters had covered them when the cock crew!
The next time that Peter denied his Lord
'Twas Earth in her agony waited his word,
But he sat by the fire and naught would he do,
Though the cock crew, though the cock crew,
Over all Christendom, though the cock crew!
The last time that Peter denied his Lord,
The Father took from him the Keys and the Sword,
And the Mother and Babe brake his Kingdom in two,
When the cock crew, when the cock crew,
(Because of his wickedness) when the cock crew!
Type of Poem: Narrative Poem
Date Written:
Date Published:
Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Publisher:
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Comments/Notes: Rudyard Kipling’s "The Song at Cock-Crow" is a Narrative Religious Allegory with elements of Historical Reflection and Spiritual Lamentation. Using the biblical figure of Saint Peter’s threefold denial of Christ as his central metaphor, Kipling draws a parallel between the original moment of weakness at Gethsemane and the failures of Christian Europe during World War I. The central theme is the repeated betrayal of moral and spiritual duties by those entrusted with leadership and faith—an ongoing, tragic cycle of denial that results in suffering, devastation, and divine judgment.
The tone of the poem is mournful, solemn, and ultimately condemning. In the first stanzas, Kipling recounts Peter’s original denial with understanding—Peter was still just a "poor silly fisherman," powerless and afraid. But as the poem progresses, each "next time" Peter denies his Lord, he does so with ever greater responsibility and power—as Fisher of Men, as holder of the Throne, Keys, and Sword—culminating in the betrayal during the horrors of modern warfare. The imagery is poignant and brutal: the Virgin Mary grieving over slain maidens, the Christ Child awakening only to find His playmates drowned, and the entire Earth waiting in vain for a word of righteousness. Structurally, the poem uses the refrain "when the cock crew" as a dirge-like toll marking each escalation of guilt and the profound cost of inaction and betrayal.
Kipling uses the cock-crow, the ancient symbol of Peter’s failure, as a recurring warning that echoes over centuries—from the fireside in Jerusalem to the blood-soaked fields of Flanders and Picardy. Historically, this poem is deeply informed by the trauma of World War I, in which Kipling lost his own son. The poem reflects his disillusionment with Christian Europe’s moral collapse: the supposed heirs of Peter—the churches, monarchies, and nations of Christendom—failed catastrophically when called to uphold the ideals they professed. The final devastating judgment—God taking away the "Keys and the Sword" and breaking Peter’s Kingdom—seals the poem in an atmosphere of profound, apocalyptic sorrow.
Ultimately, "The Song at Cock-Crow" is a powerful lament for the betrayal of sacred trust, a mournful cry against hypocrisy and cowardice in times that demanded moral courage. Kipling’s use of biblical symbolism elevates his grief and anger to a timeless, universal indictment, making this one of his most somber and morally intense poems.
Narrative poetry is a form of poetry that tells a story, often making use of the voices of a narrator and characters as well. Unlike lyric poetry, which focuses on emotions and thoughts, narrative poetry is dedicated to storytelling, weaving tales that captivate readers through plot and character development.
Narrative poems are unique in their ability to combine the depth of storytelling with the expressive qualities of poetry. Here are some defining characteristics:
From ancient epics like "The Iliad" and "The Odyssey" to more modern narrative poems, this form continues to engage readers by blending the art of storytelling with the beauty and rhythm of poetry.