Author: Rudyard Kipling

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    I pray! My little body and whole span
    Of years is Thine, my Owner and my Man.
    For Thou hast made me, unto Thee I owe
    This dim, distressed half-soul that hurts me so,
    Compact of every crime, but, none the less,
    Broken by knowledge of its naughtiness.
    Put me not from Thy Life, tis all I know.
    If Thou forsake me, whither shall I go?

    Thine is the Voice with which my Day begins:
    Thy Foot my refuge, even in my sins.
    Thine Honour hurls me forth to testify
    Against the Unclean and Wicked passing by.
    (But when Thou callest they are of Thy Friends,
    Who readier than I to make amends?)
    I was Thy Deputy with high and low,
    If Thou dismiss me, whither shall I go?

    I have been driven forth on gross offence
    That took no reckoning of my penitence,
    And, in my desolation, faithless me!,
    Have crept for comfort to a womans knee!
    Now I return, self-drawn, to meet the just
    Reward of Riot, Theft and Breach of Trust.
    Put me not from Thy Life, though this is so.
    If Thou forsake me, whither shall I go?

    Into The Presence, flattening while I crawl,
    From head to tail, I do confess it all.
    Mine was the fault, deal me the stripes, but spare
    The Pointed Finger which I cannot bear!
    The Dreadful Tone in which my Name is named,
    That sends me neath the sofa-frill ashamed!
    (Yet, to be near Thee, I would face that woe.)
    If Thou reject me, whither shall I go?

    Can a gift turn Thee? I will bring mine all,
    My Secret Bone, my Throwing-Stick, my Ball.
    Or wouldst Thou sport? Then watch me hunt awhile,
    Chasing, not after conies, but Thy Smile,
    Content, as breathless on the turf I sit,
    Thou shouldst deride my little legs and wit,
    Ah! Keep me in Thy Life for a fools show!
    If Thou deny me, whither shall I go! . . .

    Is the Dark gone? The Light of Eyes restored?
    The Countenance turned meward, O my Lord?
    The Paw accepted, and, for all to see,
    The Abject Sinner throned upon the Knee?
    The Ears bewrung, and Muzzle scratched because
    He is forgiven, and All is as It was?
    Now am I in Thy Life, and since tis so,
    That Cat awaits the Judgment. May I go?

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Type of Poem: Lyric 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 Supplication of the Black Aberdeen" is a Lyric Poem with strong elements of Dramatic Monologue and Religious Allegory, presented humorously yet tenderly through the imagined prayer of a small, penitent dog. The central theme is the profound, almost spiritual bond between master and pet, framed through the language of divine supplication and confession. The dog, cast as a devout sinner, pleads not to be cast away despite his failures, paralleling the human soul's fear of abandonment by God. Through this humble voice, Kipling explores ideas of guilt, forgiveness, unconditional love, loyalty, and the desperate need for acceptance.

The tone is a brilliant blend of reverence, vulnerability, and gentle humor. The Black Aberdeen’s exaggerated self-condemnation—confessing riot, theft, breach of trust—mirrors the structure of a formal prayer or psalm of repentance, yet the stakes, from a human perspective, are minor (stealing food, disobedience). This clever juxtaposition deepens the emotional resonance: the dog’s world is small, but his emotional turmoil is vast and sincere. The poem’s imagery is rich with tender domestic details: the trembling dog hiding under the sofa-frill, offering up his "Secret Bone" or clumsy "Throwing-Stick" as gifts of reconciliation, and finally, the triumphant restoration to favor, "throned upon the Knee."

Structurally, the poem uses repeated appeals—“If Thou forsake me, whither shall I go?”—to mimic the cadences of Biblical lamentation and confession, strengthening the spiritual tone despite the humorous context. Kipling masterfully evokes the cycle of guilt, repentance, punishment, and forgiveness that characterizes the emotional lives of both pets and humans, showing how easily the small dramas of the household mirror larger theological and existential truths. The final note, where the forgiven dog, newly restored to grace, confidently asks for permission to chase the household cat, completes the affectionate, mischievous portrait with a perfect blend of comedy and sincerity.

Ultimately, "The Supplication of the Black Aberdeen" is a profoundly empathetic meditation on loyalty, guilt, and forgiveness, hidden behind the charming and innocent voice of a faithful dog. Kipling’s genius lies in his ability to elevate a simple domestic moment into a reflection on divine mercy, illustrating with humor and tenderness that the need for love and forgiveness binds all creatures, great and small.