Publication
In late 1915, Kipling wrote a series of articles for the Ministry of Information about the Royal Navy. These were for publication in both Britain and America, with this verse first published in an American copyright pamphlet on 1st December 1915, and later in the Daily Telegraph in December 1915. The articles were later published as The Fringes of the Fleet. Each piece was headed by a poem.
The poem
The fifth article: is preceded by a poem of three verses. In the Definitive Edition, it is entitled “A Song in Storm”, sub-headed ‘1914-18’, and with two additional verses.
The message of the three verses is, ‘No matter what the weather brings, we must continue to do our duty.’
[A.J.W.]
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