The Way Through The Woods

Author: Rudyard Kipling

They shut the road through the woods
Seventy years ago.
Weather and rain have undone it again,
And now you would never know
There was once a road through the woods
Before they planted the trees.
It is underneath the coppice and heath,
And the thin anemones.
Only the keeper sees
That, where the ring-dove broods,
And the badgers roll at ease,
There was once a road through the woods.

Yet, if you enter the woods
Of a summer evening late,
When the night-air cools on the trout-ringed pools
Where the otter whistles his mate.
(They fear not men in the woods,
Because they see so few)
You will hear the beat of a horse's feet,
And the swish of a skirt in the dew,
Steadily cantering through
The misty solitudes,
As though they perfectly knew
The old lost road through the woods....
But there is no road through the woods.
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Type of Poem: Narrative Poem

Date Written:

Date Published:

Language: English

Keywords: Public Domain

Source: Public Domain Collection

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Rights/Permissions: Public Domain

Comments/Notes: The poem under scrutiny possesses a nostalgic longing for the past, juxtaposing it against an impermanent human influence on the natural world. The recurring phrase, "There was once a road through the woods," underscores this theme, evoking a sense of loss and change over time. The road, a human-made structure, has disappeared over the span of seventy years, reclaimed by nature. This dynamic emphasizes the transient nature of human constructs in the face of nature's resilience and endurance.

The poem's tone is melancholic yet also possesses a sense of peaceful acceptance. The imagery of the night-air cooling on the trout-ringed pools, the otter whistling to its mate, and the badgers rolling at ease paints a serene and harmonious scene, presenting nature as undisturbed by human absence. The use of auditory imagery, such as the beat of a horse's feet and the swish of a skirt, creates a haunting, ghostly atmosphere, suggesting the presence of the past that lingers in memory. The poem's structure, with its cyclical return to the phrase "There was once a road through the woods," reinforces this lingering presence. However, the concluding line, "But there is no road through the woods," asserts the finality of change, the acceptance of nature's reclaiming, and the ultimate insignificance of human constructs against the relentless march of time.

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.