This is one of my favourites, a poem which captures the topic in the very rhythm of its words. One can hear the clip-clop of the ponies in its lines.
It was first published in 1906. It presents a rather romanticised view of smuggling, but that did reflect how many British people regarded the trade. Respectable parsons regularly purchased their spirits from the local smuggler (in the Diary of Parson Woodforde, written in the Georgian era, he often notes a delivery from the local smuggler).
Rudyard Kipling lived in Sussex and knew that the county’s coastline had a long history of smuggling – brandy, lace, tea, tobacco, were just some of the goods brought across the channel from France, without any duty being paid on them. The penalties for those caught by the excise officers were severe, so goods brought in illegally had to be quickly loaded onto horses and taken to a safe storage place.
The speaker in the poem is the smuggler, issuing a warning to children who might watch his activities. His grammar is not perfect, and he’s very matter-of-fact and unapologetic about his choice of career.
A Smuggler’s Song by Rudyard Kipling
If you wake at midnight, and hear a horse’s feet,
Don’t go drawing back the blind, or looking in the street,
Them that ask no questions isn’t told a lie.
Watch the wall my darling while the Gentlemen go by.
Five and twenty ponies,
Trotting through the dark –
Brandy for the Parson, ‘Baccy for the Clerk.
Laces for a lady; letters for a spy,
Watch the wall my darling while the Gentlemen go by!
Running round the woodlump if you chance to find
Little barrels, roped and tarred, all full of brandy-wine,
Don’t you shout to come and look, nor use ’em for your play.
Put the brishwood back again – and they’ll be gone next day!
If you see the stable-door setting open wide;
If you see a tired horse lying down inside;
If your mother mends a coat cut about and tore;
If the lining’s wet and warm – don’t you ask no more!
If you meet King George’s men, dressed in blue and red,
You be careful what you say, and mindful what is said.
If they call you “pretty maid,” and chuck you ‘neath the chin,
Don’t you tell where no one is, nor yet where no one’s been !
Knocks and footsteps round the house – whistles after dark –
You’ve no call for running out till the house-dogs bark.
Trusty’s here, and Pincher’s here, and see how dumb they lie
They don’t fret to follow when the Gentlemen go by!
‘If You do as you’ve been told, ‘likely there’s a chance,
You’ll be give a dainty doll, all the way from France,
With a cap of Valenciennes, and a velvet hood –
A present from the Gentlemen, along ‘o being good!
Five and twenty ponies,
Trotting through the dark –
Brandy for the Parson, ‘Baccy for the Clerk.
Them that asks no questions isn’t told a lie –
Watch the wall my darling while the Gentlemen go by!
Listen to a reading of it by TP Burrow, or try a sung version.
Did this poem conjure images of rough men and rugged coastlines for you? Share your thoughts by leaving a comment.
Selected links for relevant websites, books, movies, videos, and more. Some of these links lead to protected content on this website, learn more about that here.
All Poetry – A Smuggler’s Song
Susannah Fullerton: Rudyard Kipling, Novelist and Poet of Empire
Susannah Fullerton: Rudyard Kipling is born
Susannah Fullerton: The Elephant’s Child
Susannah Fullerton: Lest We Forget
Susannah Fullerton: Crowd-funding Kipling
Susannah Fullerton: Brown’s Hotel
Susannah Fullerton: The Kipling Suite
Susannah Fullerton: Rudyard Kipling & The Glory of the Garden
Susannah Fullerton: Brief Encounters: Literary Travellers in Australia 1836-1939
Susannah Fullerton: Around the World in 30 Classics
The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling
Poetry Foundation: Rudyard Kipling
Valerie Pybus-Lewis
So good to read the smugglers poem Have used it in many of my talks on Cornwall but was not sure of it’s origin
Susannah Fullerton
Cornwall was such a good spot for smugglers, so I can well understand you using this poem. It’s a fabulous poem, isn’t it.
gail shore
A great poem, evocative and graphic. BUT, I think it should be read in a smuggler’s voice. The voice of the reader here is too refined.
Susannah Fullerton
Yes, I agree, though I think impoverished younger sons of gentry sometimes got involved in smuggling too. Happy New Year Gail.
Charlie (Charlotte) Cook
I do like the ballad of the Rudyard Kipling’s ‘Smuggler Song’. Happy New Year to you all in Australia.
Susannah Fullerton
Happy New Year to you too, Charlie. I hope you can make one of your regular visits to Australia before too long.
Barbara McKay
It is a great poem Susannah – equally as enjoyable as “The Highwayman” – we loved them far away at Primary school and still enjoy them. We have a wonderful poetic heritage to,explore. Happy New Year
Susannah Fullerton
‘The Highwayman’ remains one of my favourite poems of all time, but I agree that Kipling’s Smuggling Song is also fabulous and a great poem to learn by heart.
Happy reading for 2021.
Deb Tait
Such an evocative poem. I remember hearing this poem for the first time on a tv program shown to us at school back in the 60s in the UK. A child standing by a partially opened curtain looking out onto the street and the sound of the horse’s hooves. It has remained one of my favourites ever since.
Susannah Fullerton
A picture accompanying a poem can remain in our minds so vividly. Glad this month’s poetry choice brought back good memories for you.
Glenda Athea
Love this poem (and “If” my all time favourite). Conjures up all manner of illicit activities. It is also brilliant to hear it sing bt Australuan bass, Peter Dawson, back in theCB1930s
Susannah Fullerton
It is a fabulous poem, isn’t it. And I also adore ‘If’.