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A Pict Song by Rudyard Kipling
Introduction
Although Kipling (1865-1936) rose into and fell out of favor as the essential voice of late-Victorian British colonialism, his best writings convey a timeless warmth, wisdom, and humour. This selection is from Puck of Pook's Hill, published in 1906.
The Picts were the original inhabitants of Scotland, and though persecuted by the Romans, were never subjugated by them. Eventually the Romans became resigned to simply containing the Picts behind Hadrian's Wall. This largely overlooked gem in Kipling's poetic crown is a grim yet gleeful song of defiance sung by an underdog.
The poem, A Pict Song, is in the public domain.
A Pict Song
Rome never looks where she treads,
Always her heavy hooves fall
On our stomachs, our hearts or our heads;
And Rome never heeds when we bawl.
Her sentries pass on -- that is all,
And we gather behind them in hordes,
And plot to reconquer the Wall,
With only our tongues for our swords.We are the Little Folk -- we!
Too little to love or to hate.
Leave us alone and you'll see
How we can drag down the Great!
We are the worm in the wood!
We are the rot in the root!
We are the germ in the blood!
We are the thorn in the foot!Mistletoe killing an oak --
Rats gnawing cables in two --
Moths making holes in a cloak --
How they must love what they do!
Yes -- and we Little Folk too,
We are as busy as they --
Working our works out of view --
Watch, and you'll see it some day!No indeed! We are not strong,
But we know Peoples that are.
Yes, and we'll guide them along,
To smash and destroy you in War!
We shall be slaves just the same --
Yes, we have always been slaves,
But you -- you will die of the shame,
And then we shall dance on your graves!We are the Little Folk -- we!
Too little to love or to hate.
Leave us alone and you'll see
How we can drag down the Great!
We are the worm in the wood!
We are the rot in the root!
We are the germ in the blood!
We are the thorn in the foot!
-- Rudyard Kipling