The Spies' March

By Rudyard Kipling

Narrative Poem
There are not leaders to lead us to honour, and yet without leaders we sally, Each man reporting for duty alone, out of sight, out of reach, of his fellow. There are no bugles to call the battalions, and yet without bugle we rally From the ends of the earth to the ends of the earth, to follow the Standard of Yellow! Fall in! O fall in! O fall in! Not where the squadrons mass, Not where the bayonets shine, Not where the big shell shout as they pass Over the firing-line; Not where the wounded are, Not where the nations die, Killed in the cleanly game of war, That is no place for a spy! O Princes, Thrones and Powers, your work is less than ours, Here is no place for a spy! Trained to another use, We march with colours furled, Only concerned when Death breaks loose On a front of half a world. Only for General Death The Yellow Flag may fly, While we take post beneath, That is the place for a spy. Where Plague has spread his pinions Over Nations and Dominions, Then will be work for a spy! The dropping shots begin, The single funerals pass, Our skirmishers run in, The corpses dot the grass! The howling towns stampede, The tainted hamlets die. Now it is war indeed, Now there is room for a spy! O Peoples, Kings and Lands, We are waiting your commands, What is the work for a spy? (Drums), Fear is upon us, spy! "Go where his pickets hide, Unmask the shape they take, Whether a gnat from the waterside, Or a stinging fly in the brake, Or filth of the crowded street, Or a sick rat limping by, Or a smear of spittle dried in the heat, That is the work of a spy! (Drums), Death is upon us, spy! "What does he next prepare? Whence will he move to attack?, By water, earth or air?, How can we head him back? Shall we starve him out if we burn Or bury his food-supply? Slip through his lines and learn, That is work for a spy! (Drums), Get to your business, spy! "Does he feint or strike in force? Will he charge or ambuscade? What is it checks his course? Is he beaten or only delayed? How long will the lull endure? Is he retreating? Why? Crawl to his camp and make sure, That is the work for a spy! (Drums), Fetch us our answer, spy! "Ride with him girth to girth Wherever the Pale Horse wheels Wait on his councils, ear to earth, And say what the dust reveals. For the smoke of our torment rolls Where the burning thousands lie; What do we care for men's bodies or souls? Bring us deliverance, spy!"

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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 Spies’ March" is a Narrative March Poem with elements of Dramatic Monologue and Apocalyptic Allegory. The poem vividly dramatizes the grim, invisible work of spies—those who must move unseen and unsupported into the heart of death and chaos, far from the formal glories of conventional war. The central theme is the dark, lonely heroism of those who labor unseen in crises far more terrible than battle: not in armies, but against the plague, disaster, and unseen threats. Kipling elevates the spy from a figure of suspicion into a symbol of desperate, sacrificial service in the face of overwhelming, impersonal forces like death, disease, and societal collapse.

The tone is martial, grimly exhilarating, and tinged with fatalism. The repeated urgent commands—“Fall in! O fall in!” and the insistent beat of "(Drums)"—give the poem a relentless, almost hypnotic cadence, mimicking both a forced march and the hammering pressure of fear. Kipling’s imagery is harsh and unforgettable: spies must identify the enemy when it hides in "a sick rat limping by" or "a smear of spittle dried in the heat," showing the gruesome, intimate reality of confronting invisible threats like plague. Structurally, the poem is framed like a military address or chant, with alternating sections of exposition and direct, shouted orders that build an overwhelming sense of urgent dread.

Throughout the poem, Kipling portrays spies as existing on the absolute edge of civilization’s collapse, doing work too dirty, dangerous, and secret for generals, politicians, or kings. They battle not for flags and glory but for survival itself. Historically, "The Spies’ March" likely reflects Kipling’s growing preoccupation in his later years with the unseen forces—disease, moral decay, imperial decline—that could destroy nations more surely than armies. There is an undercurrent of pandemic imagery here that feels startlingly modern, with references to plague and mass death eerily resonant beyond its immediate historical moment.

Ultimately, "The Spies’ March" is a fierce, rhythmic tribute to the uncelebrated agents of survival: those who labor in filth, fear, and silence to protect a society that neither sees nor easily thanks them. Kipling shows that true heroism often lies not on the shining battlefield but in the dirty, hidden margins of human struggle, where only vigilance and sacrifice can hold chaos at bay.

Exploring Narrative Poetry

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:

  • Structured Plot: Narrative poems typically have a clear beginning, middle, and end, following a plot that might involve conflict, climax, and resolution, much like a short story or novel.
  • Character Development: Characters in narrative poems are often well-developed, with distinct voices and personalities that drive the story forward.
  • Descriptive Language: The language used in narrative poetry is vivid and descriptive, painting a clear picture of the scenes and events, while also conveying the emotions and atmosphere of the story.

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.