'Bindle Stiff' by Robert Service
AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay
When I was brash and gallant-gay
Just fifty years ago,
I hit the ties and beat my way
From Maine to Mexico;
For though to Glasgow gutter bred
A hobo heart had I,
And followed where adventure led,
Beneath a brazen sky.
And as I tramped the railway track
I owned a single shirt;
Like canny Scot I bought it black
So's not to show the dirt;
A handkerchief held all my gear,
My razor and my comb;
I was a freckless lad, I fear,
With all the world for home.
Yet oh I thought the life was grand
And loved my liberty!
Romance was my bed-fellow and
The stars my company.
And I would think, each diamond dawn,
"How I have forged my fate!
Where are the Gorbals and the Tron,
And where the Gallowgate?"
Oh daft was I to wander wild,
And seek the Trouble Trail,
As weakly as a wayward child,
And darkly doomed to fail . . .
Aye, bindle-stiff I hit the track
Just fifty years ago . . .
Yet now . . . I drive my Cadillac
From Maine to Mexico.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Bindle Stiff by Robert Service: A Masterpiece of Narrative Verse
Have you ever come across a poem that not only tells a story but also immerses you in a world of its own? A poem that captures the essence of a particular time and place and conjures up vivid images in your mind? If you haven't, then you should read "Bindle Stiff" by Robert Service.
For those who are not familiar with Robert Service, he was a Canadian poet who gained fame for his ballads and narrative poems that often depicted life in the Yukon during the Gold Rush. "Bindle Stiff" is one of his most popular and enduring works, and for good reason. It's a masterpiece of narrative verse that combines vivid imagery, rhythmic language, and a compelling story.
Let's dive into the poem and explore its themes, structure, language, and historical context.
The Plot and Themes
"Bindle Stiff" tells the story of a homeless and penniless man who wanders the country with nothing but a bindle (a bag made of cloth) on his back. The poem begins with a vivid description of the man's appearance:
Oh some are snappy dressers, and some are neat and clean,
And some are masters of the arts, and some can rhyme and dream;
But I am just a common tramp who wanders through the land,
And all the honest people give me a cold and hostile hand.
The speaker of the poem, who is the bindle stiff himself, acknowledges his lowly status in society and the contempt that people have for him. He goes on to describe the hardships and dangers of his life on the road, from sleeping in ditches to facing unfriendly dogs:
I've slept in barns and basements, in hobo jungles, too,
Where you hear the rats a-scurrying and the roaches crawl o'er you;
I've lain beneath the railway bridge, and shivered in the damp,
And I've faced the snarling watch-dog that would tear me like a stamp.
Despite these challenges, the bindle stiff finds solace and freedom in his nomadic lifestyle. He cherishes his independence and refuses to be tied down by the expectations and conventions of society:
I'm happy as a lark in spring, and just as free as air;
I wouldn't change with any king, no matter what his fare;
For in my bindle I have all the pleasures of the earth,
And envy no man's mansion and no man's bank-book's worth.
The poem ends on a melancholy note as the bindle stiff acknowledges his inevitable fate - death and anonymity:
But when I reach that other land, where every one is free,
I'll walk the fields of Paradise as sweet as sweet can be;
And though the gates may not be gold, and though the pearls may lack,
I'll be content with what I find, and never wander back.
The themes of "Bindle Stiff" are universal and timeless - the value of freedom, the power of independence, the rejection of materialism, and the acceptance of mortality.
The Structure and Language
"Bindle Stiff" is written in rhyming couplets with a regular rhythm that mimics the tramp's footsteps. The language is simple and direct, with occasional colloquial expressions that add to the authenticity of the speaker's voice:
I've been a lumber-jack, a sailor and a cook;
I've been a circus-rider and a stevedore on the hook;
Once I was a chauffeur guy for a swell society pet,
But now I'm just a bindle stiff, and you bet I'm living yet.
The poem also employs repetition and parallelism to emphasize key phrases and ideas:
I am just a common tramp who wanders through the land,
And all the honest people give me a cold and hostile hand.
I'm happy as a lark in spring, and just as free as air;
I wouldn't change with any king, no matter what his fare;
The use of vivid imagery is another hallmark of Service's style, as seen in these lines:
I've seen the big trees waving, and the mountains capped with snow;
I've breathed the bracing breezes where the fragrant pines a-grow;
I've watched the mighty rivers that roll towards the sea,
And I've heard the wild geese honking, and the songs of chickadee.
The poem's imagery is not only descriptive but also symbolic, as the bindle itself represents the tramp's minimalistic and unencumbered lifestyle.
The Historical Context
"Bindle Stiff" was written in 1916, a time when tramps and hoboes were a common sight on the roads and railways of North America. The Industrial Revolution had created a surplus of laborers and a growing gap between rich and poor, leading to widespread unemployment and homelessness. Many men, like the bindle stiff, chose to roam the country in search of work, adventure, or simply a way of life that offered more freedom and dignity than the drudgery of factory jobs or farm work.
Service himself had firsthand experience of the tramp's life, having worked as a bank clerk and a gold prospector before turning to writing. He was fascinated by the colorful characters and stories he encountered on his travels and saw in them a reflection of the human spirit and its yearning for something beyond material possessions.
Conclusion
"Bindle Stiff" is a gem of a poem that captures the spirit of its time and place while also transcending them. Its message of freedom, independence, and acceptance is as relevant today as it was a century ago. Whether you're a fan of narrative verse, social history, or just good storytelling, you'll find something to appreciate in this work of art. So take a journey with the bindle stiff and discover the joys and sorrows of the open road.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Bindle Stiff: A Classic Poem by Robert Service
Robert Service is a renowned poet who is known for his ability to capture the essence of the human experience in his works. One of his most famous poems is Bindle Stiff, which tells the story of a wandering laborer who travels from place to place with nothing but a bindle on his back. This poem is a classic example of Service's ability to use vivid imagery and powerful language to convey a message that resonates with readers.
The poem begins with the line, "Oh some are bound for happiness, and some are bound for sorrow," which sets the tone for the rest of the piece. The speaker is acknowledging that life is full of ups and downs, and that some people are destined for success while others are destined for hardship. The bindle stiff, who is the subject of the poem, falls into the latter category.
The bindle stiff is described as a "rolling stone" who has "no moss to gather." He is a man who is constantly on the move, never staying in one place for too long. He is a drifter, a wanderer, and a man who is always searching for something more. The bindle stiff is a symbol of the human desire for freedom and adventure, and his nomadic lifestyle is a reflection of this.
The poem goes on to describe the bindle stiff's daily routine. He wakes up early in the morning, eats a simple breakfast, and then sets out on the road. He walks for miles, taking in the sights and sounds of the world around him. He is a man who is in tune with nature, and he finds beauty in the simplest things. He is content with his life, despite the fact that he has very little in the way of material possessions.
The bindle stiff's simplicity and lack of material possessions are contrasted with the wealth and luxury of the people he encounters on his travels. He sees "mansions grand" and "gleaming cars," but he is not envious of these things. He is content with his bindle and the freedom it represents. He is a man who values experiences over possessions, and this is what makes him truly rich.
The poem takes a darker turn when the bindle stiff encounters a group of men who are "drunk with hate and lust and sin." These men are a stark contrast to the bindle stiff, who is pure of heart and free of malice. The bindle stiff is a symbol of goodness and purity, while the men he encounters are a symbol of the darkness that exists in the world. The bindle stiff is able to escape from these men unscathed, but the encounter serves as a reminder that there is evil in the world, and that it can strike at any time.
The poem ends with the bindle stiff continuing on his journey, "with never a thought of what he leaves or what he's lost behind." This final line is a powerful statement about the bindle stiff's character. He is a man who lives in the moment, never dwelling on the past or worrying about the future. He is a man who is content with his life, despite its hardships. He is a man who embodies the human spirit of resilience and perseverance.
In conclusion, Bindle Stiff is a classic poem that captures the essence of the human experience. It is a powerful reminder that life is full of ups and downs, and that it is up to us to make the most of it. The bindle stiff is a symbol of the human desire for freedom and adventure, and his nomadic lifestyle is a reflection of this. He is a man who values experiences over possessions, and this is what makes him truly rich. The poem is a testament to the resilience and perseverance of the human spirit, and it is a reminder that no matter what life throws our way, we can always find a way to keep moving forward.
Editor Recommended Sites
Multi Cloud Business: Multicloud tutorials and learning for deploying terraform, kubernetes across cloud, and orchestratingStreaming Data: Data streaming and data movement best practice for cloud, software engineering, cloud
Tactical Roleplaying Games: Find more tactical roleplaying games like final fantasy tactics, wakfu, ffbe wotv
Rust Crates - Best rust crates by topic & Highest rated rust crates: Find the best rust crates, with example code to get started
Realtime Streaming: Real time streaming customer data and reasoning for identity resolution. Beam and kafak streaming pipeline tutorials
Recommended Similar Analysis
Ariel by Sylvia Plath analysisA Servant To Servants by Robert Frost analysis
Lenore by Edgar Allan Poe analysis
Alphonso Of Castile by Ralph Waldo Emerson analysis
The Truce of the Bear by Rudyard Kipling analysis
France : An Ode by Samuel Taylor Coleridge analysis
your little voice... (I) by e.e. cummings analysis
To Mr. Cyriack Skinner Upon His Blindness by John Milton analysis
Homage To A Government by Philip Larkin analysis
The Charge Of The Light Brigade by Alfred, Lord Tennyson analysis