Expert: Clare Washbrook - 11/7/2006

Question
Could you please help me to interpret a line from Kipling's poem "If".

"Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,"

To you, does this mean if someone is lying about you that to you shouldn't empower them by responding to them about it.

Or, what's your interpretation of this?  

Answer
David,

I am answering this question to clear it from the pit of sacrificial questions.  Experts send questions here to die when they don't want to answer them and I am trying to clear some of them.

There are various connotations to the line - the main meaning being don't lie even if you are lied about.  The subtext is politics - "dealing in lies" is a phrase which has long been linked to politics.

Poetry is not about tight meanings.  There are very specific things woven in but the process is partially subconscious and therefore any other interpretations are valid too.  I am a writer, teacher and academic and openness to interpretation is essential in each of these areas.  Poets do consider that other readings are possible beyond the one they meant the most.  Academia "requires" that one read poems in a variety of ways - drawing out multiple meanings and themes.

Ignore the person that you disagreed with.  All perspectives on poetry should be respected.

smiles
CL Washbrook

Reminder - answering from "Question Pool", please do not rate down for time.  This was another expert's rejected question!