"Big Steamers" is a poem by Rudyard Kipling, first published in 1911 as one of his twenty-three poems written specially for C. R. L. Fletcher's "A School History of England". It appears in the last chapter of the book. It is intended for children, with the verses responding with facts and humour to their curiosity about the 'big steamers' - as the merchant ships are called.
Contents
Songs
The poem has been set to music by two English composers: Edward German and Edward Elgar. The poem was also put to music by English folk singer and Kipling Society Fellow Peter Bellamy.
German's setting was for baritone voice with piano accompaniment, and published by Cramer in 1911.
Elgar set the poem to music late in World War I, with the permission of Kipling, and it was published in "The Teacher's World", June 19, 1918. This was in response to a request from the Ministry of Food Control to set the poem to music, with the intention that it would be sung in schools and bring to the attention of children the importance of merchant ships - at a time when many ships had been lost to German U-boats and food rationing had just been introduced. It was a simple song with piano accompaniment, suitable for children, and the first music Elgar had written for about a year. Elgar wrote to Lord Rhondda:
"The occasion seemed to call for something exceptionally simple and direct, and I have endeavoured to bring the little piece within the comprehension of very small people indeed."Verses
There are seven verses. The first six verses begin with the children's questions and suggestions, each of which has a response from the personified Big Steamers:
At the last line the children are reminded of what was, at the time, a serious possibility: