Poem 19 — 100 Days of Poetry
About the Poem:
The Vampire by Rudyard Kipling is a dramatic poem that was inspired by a painting of the same name by Philip Burne-Jones, exhibited in 1897. The poem tells the story of a man, referred to as “the fool,” who becomes captivated by a woman who manipulates him, indifferent to his devotion. The poem explores themes of obsession, betrayal, and the emotional toll of unrequited love. Kipling’s verses vividly depict the destructive consequences of blind affection.
Rudyard Kipling (1865–1936) was an English writer and poet, well known for his exploration of human nature, as well as his often dark and poignant storytelling. The Vampire is one of his works that powerfully addresses the emotional perils of love and obsession.
The Vampire — Rudyard Kipling
The verses—as suggested by the painting by Philip Burne-Jones, first exhibited at the new gallery in London in 1897.
A fool there was and he made his prayer
(Even as you or I!)
To a rag and a bone and a hank of hair,
(We called her the woman who did not care),
But the fool he called her his lady fair—
(Even as you or I!)
Oh, the years we waste and the tears we waste,
And the work of our head and hand
Belong to the woman who did not know
(And now we know that she never could know)
And did not understand!
A fool there was and his goods he spent,
(Even as you or I!)
Honour and faith and a sure intent
(And it wasn’t the least what the lady meant),
But a fool must follow his natural bent
(Even as you or I!)
Oh, the toil we lost and the spoil we lost
And the excellent things we planned
Belong to the woman who didn’t know why
(And now we know that she never knew why)
And did not understand!
The fool was stripped to his foolish hide,
(Even as you or I!)
Which she might have seen when she threw him aside—
(But it isn’t on record the lady tried)
So some of him lived but the most of him died—
(Even as you or I!)
And it isn’t the shame and it isn’t the blame
That stings like a white-hot brand—
It’s coming to know that she never knew why
(Seeing, at last, she could never know why)
And never could understand!
My Reflections on the Poem:
The Vampire is a gripping exploration of the emotional devastation that can come from being manipulated by someone who cannot reciprocate love. Recording this poem, I was struck by Kipling’s vivid language and the intensity of the fool’s suffering, which feels all too real. The refrain “even as you or I” brings a universal quality to the poem, reminding us that we are all susceptible to this kind of emotional betrayal.
This post is part of my 100 Days of Poetry series, where I embarked on a journey to record and share 100 poems over 100 days in 2017. Although the series was interrupted, I’m delighted to continue sharing these timeless works with you.
