'Café Comedy' by Robert Service
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She
I'm waiting for the man I hope to wed.
I've never seen him - that's the funny part.
I promised I would wear a rose of red,
Pinned on my coat above my fluttered heart,
So that he'd know me - a precaution wise,
Because I wrote him I was twenty-three,
And Oh such heaps and heaps of silly lies. . .
So when we meet what will he think of me?
It's funny, but it has its sorry side;
I put an advert. in the evening Press:
"A lonely maiden fain would be a bride."
Oh it was shameless of me, I confess.
But I am thirty-nine and in despair,
Wanting a home and children ere too late,
And I forget I'm no more young and fair -
I'll hide my rose and run...No, no, I'll wait.
An hour has passed and I am waiting still.
I ought to feel relieved, but I'm so sad.
I would have liked to see him, just to thrill,
And sigh and say: "There goes my lovely lad!
My one romance!" Ah, Life's malign mishap!
"Garcon, a cafè creme." I'll stay till nine. . .
The cafè's empty, just an oldish chap
Who's sitting at the table next to mine. . .
He
I'm waiting for the girl I mean to wed.
She was to come at eight and now it's nine.
She'd pin upon her coat a rose of red,
And I would wear a marguerite in mine.
No sign of her I see...It's true my eyes
Need stronger glasses than the ones I wear,
But Oh I feel my heart would recognize
Her face without the rose - she is so fair.
Ah! what deceivers are we aging men!
What vanity keeps youthful hope aglow!
Poor girl! I sent a photo taken when
I was a student, twenty years ago.
(Hers is so Springlike, Oh so blossom sweet!)
How she will shudder when she sees me now!
I think I'd better hide that marguerite -
How can I age and ugliness avow?
She does not come. It's after nine o'clock.
What fools we fogeys are! I'll try to laugh;
(Garcon, you might bring me another bock)
Falling in love, just from a photograph.
Well, that's the end. I'll go home and forget,
Then realizing I am over ripe
I'll throw away this silly cigarette
And philosophically light my pipe.
* * * * *
The waiter brought the coffee and the beer,
And there they sat, so woe-begone a pair,
And seemed to think: "Why do we linger here?"
When suddenly they turned, to start and stare.
She spied a marguerite, he glimpsed a rose;
Their eyes were joined and in a flash they knew. . .
The sleepy waiter saw, when time to close,
The sweet romance of those deceiving two,
Whose lips were joined, their hearts, their future too.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Café Comedy: A Masterpiece of Humor and Satire
Robert Service's Café Comedy is a delightful poem that celebrates the laughter and joy that come from watching the antics of cafe patrons. From the snobbish Frenchman to the drunkard who falls off his chair, each character is portrayed with vividness and wit. But beyond its entertainment value, Café Comedy is also a work of satire that exposes the follies and absurdities of human behavior. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I will explore the themes of the poem, the use of poetic devices, and the cultural context that influenced the author's writing.
Themes
One of the main themes of Café Comedy is the human tendency to act foolishly in public. The poem presents a cast of characters who are ridiculous and exaggerated, yet also recognizable and relatable. The snooty Frenchman who orders a cup of tea with a side of disdain, the flirtatious lady who bats her eyelashes at every man in the room, the bumbling waiter who spills coffee on his customers - each one of them is a caricature of a social type. Through their actions and dialogues, Service exposes the pretensions, hypocrisies, and vanities that underlie human interactions.
Another theme that runs through the poem is the power of laughter to unite people. Even as the cafe patrons mock and ridicule each other, they also share a bond of humor and amusement. They all laugh at the same jokes, appreciate the same witticisms, and enjoy the same absurdities. In this way, the poem suggests that humor has a universal appeal that transcends cultural and social differences. By making fun of ourselves and each other, we can find common ground and overcome our divisions.
Poetic Devices
Service's use of poetic devices in Café Comedy is masterful and effective. The poem is written in rhyming couplets, with a consistent rhythm and meter that creates a sense of order and control. The rhyme scheme (ABAB) gives the poem a musical quality that enhances its comic tone. The use of alliteration (e.g. "pale precision", "sneering snob", "flirtatious fops") and assonance (e.g. "lady's shade", "coffee's foam") adds texture and emphasis to the words, making them more memorable and impactful.
Service also employs a range of literary techniques to create vivid images and characterizations. He uses metaphors (e.g. "his nose like a beak"), similes (e.g. "like a spider he weaves"), and personification (e.g. "the chair bellowed with glee") to animate the objects and actions in the poem. By giving them human-like attributes, he adds humor and whimsy to the scene. The use of dialogue and dialect also adds to the realism and authenticity of the characters. Service captures the distinct voices and mannerisms of each person, making them come to life on the page.
Cultural Context
Café Comedy was written in 1916, during the heyday of Cafe Society in Paris. This was a time when cafes were not just places to eat and drink, but also hubs of intellectual and artistic activity. They were frequented by writers, artists, musicians, and thinkers who debated and discussed the burning issues of the day. Service's poem reflects this cultural milieu, by portraying the cafe as a microcosm of society.
The characters in the poem represent different social classes and nationalities, each with their own quirks and foibles. The Frenchman is haughty and disdainful, the Englishman is reserved and polite, the American is loud and brash. By highlighting these differences, Service exposes the cultural stereotypes and prejudices that existed at the time. He also shows how these differences can be a source of humor and entertainment, rather than conflict and tension.
Conclusion
Café Comedy is a timeless classic that continues to delight and entertain readers today. Its humor and satire are as relevant now as they were a century ago. Through its portrayal of human folly and the power of laughter, the poem speaks to our universal experiences and emotions. Robert Service's use of poetic devices and cultural context add depth and richness to the text, making it a masterpiece of literary art. Whether read for pleasure or analysis, Café Comedy is a work that deserves to be celebrated and enjoyed.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Café Comedy: A Masterpiece of Humor and Satire
Robert Service, the renowned poet and writer, is known for his exceptional ability to capture the essence of human emotions and experiences in his works. One of his most celebrated poems, Café Comedy, is a masterpiece of humor and satire that explores the absurdity of human behavior and the futility of our pursuits.
The poem is set in a café, where a group of people have gathered to enjoy a night of entertainment. The scene is set with vivid descriptions of the café's ambiance, the characters, and their interactions. The poem's opening lines set the tone for the rest of the piece, with Service's use of irony and sarcasm:
"Here's a laugh for you All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players."
The poem's central theme is the idea that life is a comedy, and we are all actors playing our parts. Service uses the café as a microcosm of society, where people come to escape their mundane lives and seek entertainment. However, the entertainment they find is often a reflection of their own absurdity and foolishness.
The poem's characters are a diverse group of individuals, each with their own quirks and idiosyncrasies. There is the "fat man" who "laughs like a seal," the "thin man" who "smokes a cigar," and the "lady in red" who "flirts with the waiter." These characters represent the different facets of human nature, from gluttony and vanity to greed and lust.
Service's use of language is masterful, with his clever wordplay and witty observations. He describes the café's décor as "gaudy" and the music as "discordant," highlighting the artificiality of the environment. He also uses metaphors and similes to paint vivid pictures of the characters, such as the "fat man" who is compared to a "seal" and the "thin man" who is likened to a "snake."
The poem's climax comes when the entertainment arrives, in the form of a "ventriloquist and his doll." The ventriloquist's act is a parody of human communication, with the doll saying things that are both absurd and profound. The audience is enthralled, laughing and applauding at the doll's every word.
However, the true irony of the situation is revealed when the ventriloquist removes the doll's head, revealing that it was all a trick. The audience is left stunned, realizing that they had been fooled by an illusion. Service uses this moment to drive home his message that life is a comedy, and we are all playing our parts in a grand illusion.
In conclusion, Café Comedy is a brilliant piece of literature that combines humor and satire to explore the absurdity of human behavior. Service's use of language, imagery, and irony creates a vivid picture of the café and its patrons, highlighting the futility of our pursuits and the artificiality of our environment. The poem's message is timeless, reminding us that life is a comedy, and we are all actors playing our parts.
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