My Father's Chair. Rudyard Kipling. 1922. Verse: 1885-1918

Rudyard Kipling (1865–1936). Verse: 1885–1918. 1922.

My Father’s Chair


(PARLIAMENTS OF HENRY III, 1265) THERE are four good legs to my Father’s Chair—
Priest and People and Lords and Crown.
I sits on all of ’em fair and square,
And that is the reason it don’t break down.

I won’t trust one leg, nor two, nor three,	5
To carry my weight when I sets me down,
I wants all four of ’em under me—
Priest and People and Lords and Crown.

I sits on all four and I favours none—
Priest, nor People, nor Lords, nor Crown—	10
And I never tilts in my chair, my son,
And that is the reason it don’t break down!

When your time comes to sit in my Chair,
Remember your Father’s habits and rules.
Sit on all four legs, fair and square,	15
And never be tempted by one-legged stools!