FUCK KIPLING (2025) by Kevin “Rashid” Johnson

When I was a child my father demanded
recite Kipling’s poem “If”
he never mentioned Rudyard was a bigot
I found out only because I sniffed

around in his collection of poems
beyond my father’s plans
discovered the ripening he spoke of in “If”
was the maturing of a racist white man

Calling on his own ken
bring forth the best ye breed
to carry the burden of world dominion
through the foul deeds of his seed

but a reply came from a poet far greater
than this exalter of the fairer son
who countered with the “Black Mans Burden”
none lesser than Hubert Harrison

against Kipling’s call to colonize and enslave
the world dark as Kemet
Hubert warned that to darker people
the white man’s burden was a global debt

due to be paid in blood
but nothing near the oceans you’ve shed
until we’ve purged the insane notions
of supremacy from inside your head

you romanticize a creed of lies
exhalting tones of skin
not a word of truth do you tell your youth
your histories but lies and spin

Kipling was a fool his throne a stool
perched upon two legs
those he called the best ye bred
none but society’s dregs

creatures without morals
nor an inkling of humanity
whose only blessings given the world
greed bloodshed insanity

Kipling was a champion of imperial aims
and so justified
the exploitation of every colored nation
and of some their genocide

imperialism and racism during his time
were worn like badges of pride
but after the second great war where the poor
learned to even the score they had to hide

their true faces in public spaces
they donned a crooked smile
claimed enlightened views a change of tune
but their aims went unchanged all the while

so be ye cast beneath all favor
you and your fair complexioned kin
until you end the burdens you’ve laid on
people of swarthy skin

I wondered that my father
knew and elevated this bigot’s verse
but Hubert’s words had never been heard
for such contrasts I did thirst

a precocious child I searched around
and found histories that lent me pride
and although some words of “If” I still know
long ago I threw Kipling aside