The Gods of the Copybook Headings (1919) by Rudyard Kipling

 

The Gods of the Copybook Headings

by Rudyard Kipling

As I pass through my incarnations in every age and race,

I make my proper prostrations to the Gods of the Market Place.

Peering through reverent fingers I watch them flourish and fall,

And the Gods of the Copybook Headings, I notice, outlast them all.

2

We were living in trees when they met us. They showed us each in turn

That Water would certainly wet us, as Fire would certainly burn:

But we found them lacking in Uplift, Vision and Breadth of Mind,

So we left them to teach the Gorillas while we followed the March of Mankind.

3

We moved as the Spirit listed. They never altered their pace,

Being neither cloud nor wind-borne like the Gods of the Market Place,

But they always caught up with our progress, and presently word would come

That a tribe had been wiped off its icefield, or the lights had gone out in Rome.

4

With the Hopes that our World is built on they were utterly out of touch,

They denied that the Moon was Stilton; they denied she was even Dutch;

They denied that Wishes were Horses; they denied that a Pig had Wings;

So we worshipped the Gods of the Market Who promised these beautiful things.

5

When the Cambrian measures were forming, They promised perpetual peace.

They swore, if we gave them our weapons, that the wars of the tribes would cease.

But when we disarmed They sold us and delivered us bound to our foe,

And the Gods of the Copybook Headings said: "Stick to the Devil you know." 

6

On the first Feminian Sandstones we were promised the Fuller Life

(Which started by loving our neighbour and ended by loving his wife)

Till our women had no more children and the men lost reason and faith,

And the Gods of the Copybook Headings said: "The Wages of Sin is Death."

7

In the Carboniferous Epoch we were promised abundance for all,

By robbing selected Peter to pay for collective Paul;

But, though we had plenty of money, there was nothing our money could buy,

And the Gods of the Copybook Headings said: "If you don't work you die."  

8

Then the Gods of the Market tumbled, and their smooth-tongued wizards withdrew,

And the hearts of the meanest were humbled and began to believe it was true

That All is not Gold that Glitters, and Two and Two make Four–

And the Gods of the Copybook Headings limped up to explain it once more.

9

As it will be in the future, it was at the birth of Man

There are only four things certain since Social Progress began.

That the Dog returns to his Vomit and the Sow returns to her Mire,

And the burnt Fool's bandaged finger goes wabbling back to the Fire;

10

And that after this is accomplished, and the brave new world begins

When all men are paid for existing and no man must pay for his sins,

As surely as Water will wet us, as surely as Fire will burn,

The Gods of the Copybook Headings with terror and slaughter return!

Notes

 

In Rudyard Kipling's poem "The Gods of the Copybook Headings", the "Gods of the Copybook Headings" represent the fundamental truths of human nature and the importance of timeless wisdom. 

Explanation

• The poem's title refers to the proverbs and maxims that were printed at the top of copybooks used by 19th century British schoolchildren. 
• The poem's speaker argues that these moral statements are relevant no matter the time or place, and that disregarding them will lead to failure. 
• The poem critiques political idealism and false promises of peace, abundance, and equality. 
•  

"Stick to the devil you know" means it's better to stay with someone or something familiar, even if you don't like them, because the unknown could be worse; essentially, choosing to deal with a known negative situation rather than risking a potentially more negative one you're unfamiliar with.

Key points about the phrase:

"Devil" represents a negative person or situation: It's not meant literally, but as a metaphor for something unpleasant you're already familiar with.

"Know" signifies familiarity: You may not like the current situation, but you understand its downsides.

Implies caution towards change: This phrase suggests that changing to something new, even if it seems potentially better, could lead to worse outcomes.