Brahm Dreams

[poliphilo]

Something- I forget what now- prompted me to re-read Kipling's story the Bridge-Builders- in which a civil engineer has a vision of the gods; then, because it's in the same collection of short stories (The Day's Work, 1898) I re-read the Brushwood Boy- in which a young soldier dreams in tandem with his soulmate- and both gave me the chills- as I fully expected them to.

Kipling had his political beliefs- which many- myself included- now find insufficient- but they weren't what he was really about- and he knew it and repeatedly said so. Cottar in the Brushwood Boy has a brilliant military career and wins the DSO and it's all very splendid and praiseworthy but his real existence is elswhere- in another dimension- "and perhaps when we die we may find out more." Findlayson has built a bridge and it is- as the gods eventually agree- something that should be allowed to stand for the time being- but...

"Ye know the Riddle of the Gods," says Indra, "When Brahm ceases to dream the Heavens and the Hells and Earth disappear. Be content. Brahm dreams still. The dreams come and go, and the nature of the dreams changes, but still Brahm dreams...."

Comments

[cmcmck]

He is such a fine writer.

[poliphilo]

I keep coming back to him- and finding things I'd overlooked before...

[cmcmck]

Same here- poems I've missed too!

[bleodswean]

Such a magnificent post. Thank you.

[lokbiiviing]

I have not read these. How interesting, when put together. Dreaming Bram could be the sleeping boy and at the end everyone awakens and only the dream disperses.

[poliphilo]

Kipling placed these two stories at the beginning and end of this particular collection. I don't think that was an accident.