Based on the stanza given, identify the poem written by Rudyard Kipling.

"Beneath the palms, the dusty palms,
That shade his office roof,
He takes the telephone's alarms,
And wades through piles of 'proof'."

Correct option is D

Explanation:
The correct answer is A Ballad of Bitterness.

Rudyard Kipling’s poem "A Ballad of Bitterness" captures the emotional and psychological toll of imperial duty and bureaucracy. The poem is filled with disillusionment, frustration, and exhaustion, themes that often appeared in Kipling’s works depicting British colonial life.
The tone of the poem is one of discontent and exhaustion, reflecting Kipling’s frequent theme of the burdens of empire and duty.

Information Booster:

Rudyard Kipling (1865–1936) was a British writer best known for his portrayals of colonial India. His works reflect the ideals, struggles, and contradictions of British imperial rule.

This is a poem of homesickness, contrasting his present life in India with memories of London. It is very similar in theme to “At the End of a Year”, written to his aunt Edith Macdonald at much the same time, though the verse form is very different.

Themes in Kipling’s Poetry: He often wrote about loyalty, service, imperialism, hardship, and personal sacrifice.

"A Ballad of Bitterness" is a poem that highlights the emotional toll of colonial rule, focusing on the life of bureaucrats who administered the empire.

His writing is controversial – While celebrated for his literary brilliance, many of his works, such as "The White Man’s Burden", are criticized for imperialist perspectives.

Kipling was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1907, making him the youngest recipient at that time.

His other famous works include "The Jungle Book," "If—," "Gunga Din," and "Kim."

Additional Knowledge:

Stars Wheel in Purple  – A poem by Hilda Doolittle (H.D.), part of the Imagist movement.

Cassandra  – A poem by Louise Bogan, focused on prophecy and doom.

Leda  – Refers to "Leda and the Swan" by W.B. Yeats, based on Greek mythology.