Complete Works of Rudyard Kipling (Illustrated) (1001 page)

Hunting.

Certes it is a noble sport And men have quitted selle and swum for’t, But I am of a meeker sort And I prefer Surtees in comfort.
Reach down my “Handley Cross” again. My run, where never danger lurks, is With Jorrocks and his deathless train Pigg, Binjimin and Arterxerxes!

January.

Coursing.
Most men harry the world for fun — Each man seeks it a different way But “of all daft devils under the sun A grey’ound’s the daftest” said Jorrocks J.

February.

Racing.
The horse is ridden — the jockey rides — The backers back — the owners own But ... there are lots of things besides, And I should leave this play alone.

March.

Boating.
The Pope of Rome he could not win From pleasant meat and pleasant sin These who, in honour’s hope, endure Lean days and lives enforced pure. These who, replying not, submit Unto the curses of the Pit Which he that rides (O greater shame!) Flings forth by number not by name... Could Triple Crown or Jesuit’s oath Do what yon shuffle-stocking doth?

April.

Fishing.
Behold a parable!
A
fished for
B
.
C
took her bait; her heart was set on
D
. Thank Heaven, who cooled your blood and cramped your wishes, Men and not Gods torment you, little fishes.

May.

Cricket.
Thank God who made the British Isles And taught me how to play, I do not worship crocodiles Or bow the knee to clay!
Give me a willow wand and I, With hide and cork and twine, From century to century Will gambol round my Shrine.

June.

Archery.
The child of the Nineties considers with laughter The maid whom his Sire in the sixties ran after, While careering himself in pursuit of a girl whom The Twenties will dub a “last century heir-loom.”

July.

Coaching.
The Pious Horse to church may trot. A maid may work a man’s salvation. Four horses and a girl are not, However, aids to reformation.

August.

Shooting.
“Peace upon Earth, Goodwill to men!” So greet we Christmas Day. Oh Christian load your gun and then, O Christian, out and slay!

September.

Golf.
Why Golf is Art and Art is Golf we have not far to seek — So much depends upon the lie, so much upon the cleek.

October.

Boxing.
Read here the Moral roundly writ For him that into battle goes — Each soul that, hitting hard and hit, Encounters gross or ghostly foes: — Prince, blown by many overthrows Half blind with shame, half choked with dirt
Man cannot tell but Allah knows
How much the other side was hurt!

November.

Skating.
Over the ice she flies Perfect and poised and fair — Stars in my true-love’s eyes Teach me to do and to dare!
Now will I fly as she flies ... Woe for the stars that misled! Stars that I saw in her eyes Now do I see in my head!