'Frustration' by Robert Service


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Gazing to gold seraph wing,
With wistful wonder in my eyes,
A blue-behinded ape, I swing
Upon the palms of Paradise.

A parakeet of gaudy hue
Upon a flame tree smugly rocks;
Oh, we're a precious pair, we two,
I gibber while the parrot squawks.

"If I had but your wings," I sigh,
"How ardently would I aspire
To soar celestially high
And mingle with yon angel choir."

His beady eye is bitter hard;
Right mockingly he squints at me;
As critic might review a bard
His scorn is withering to see.

And as I beat my brest and howl,
"Poor fool," he shrills, my bliss to wreck.
So . . . so I steal behind that fowl
And grab his claw and screw his neck.

And swift his scarlet wings I tear;
Seeking to soar, with hope divine,
I frantically beat the air,
And crash to earth and - snap my spine.

Yet as I lie with shaken breaths
Of pain I watch my seraph throng. . . .
Oh, I would die a dozen deaths
Could I but sing one deathless song!

Editor 1 Interpretation

Frustration: A Deep Dive into Robert Service's Classic Poem

Have you ever been so close to achieving your dreams and yet so far away at the same time? Have you ever felt the crushing weight of frustration, that feeling of being stuck in a rut and unable to break free? If you have, then you'll understand the power of Robert Service's classic poem, Frustration.

At its core, Frustration is a poem about the struggle to achieve success in the face of overwhelming obstacles. It's a poem about the human condition, about our never-ending quest for fulfillment and happiness. But it's also a poem about the pain and anguish that come with failure, about the crushing weight of disappointment and regret.

Let's dive deeper into this masterpiece of poetry and see what makes it so powerful and enduring.

The Poem in Context

Robert Service was a prolific poet who lived from 1874 to 1958. He was known for his narrative poems, which often focused on the struggles and triumphs of ordinary people. Frustration is one of his most famous poems, and it was first published in 1910 in his collection, The Spell of the Yukon.

The poem is set in the wilds of the Yukon, a harsh and unforgiving landscape that was the site of a gold rush in the late 19th century. In many ways, the Yukon serves as a metaphor for the struggles of life itself, with its rugged terrain and unpredictable weather patterns.

The Structure of the Poem

Frustration is a free verse poem, meaning that it doesn't adhere to a strict rhyme scheme or meter. Instead, it relies on the power of its words and imagery to convey its message.

The poem is divided into three stanzas, each of which consists of four lines. The first two stanzas describe the speaker's frustration and sense of hopelessness, while the third stanza offers a glimmer of hope and redemption.

The Language of the Poem

One of the most striking things about Frustration is the power and beauty of its language. Service was a master of narrative poetry, and his ability to paint vivid pictures with his words is on full display here.

The poem is filled with evocative imagery, from the "groaning ice" of the first stanza to the "blaze of noon" in the third stanza. The language is simple and direct, but it's also deeply affecting, capturing the raw emotions of the speaker and the harsh reality of the Yukon landscape.

The Themes of the Poem

Frustration is a poem that deals with many different themes, all of them related to the human experience. Some of the most prominent themes include:

The Struggle for Success

At its heart, Frustration is a poem about the struggle to achieve success. The speaker is a prospector who has been searching for gold in the Yukon for years, but he's never been able to strike it rich.

He's surrounded by others who have succeeded where he has failed, and he's filled with envy and resentment. He knows that he's capable of achieving greatness, but he's trapped in a cycle of frustration and disappointment.

The Pain of Failure

Another theme that runs throughout the poem is the pain and anguish of failure. The speaker has been trying to find gold for years, but he's never been able to strike it rich. He's filled with regret and disappointment, knowing that he's wasted his life chasing a dream that will never come true.

The pain of failure is something that many of us can relate to. We've all had dreams that we've pursued relentlessly, only to fall short in the end. Frustration captures the raw emotions of that experience, reminding us of the pain and heartache that come with failure.

The Power of Hope

Despite its themes of frustration and failure, Frustration is ultimately a poem about the power of hope. In the third stanza, the speaker sees a "thin blue line" on the horizon, a sign that there may be gold just beyond his reach.

This glimmer of hope is enough to lift the speaker out of his despair and fill him with renewed energy and determination. It's a reminder that even in our darkest moments, there is always a chance for redemption and success.

Conclusion

In the end, Frustration is a poem that speaks to the human experience in a profound and powerful way. It captures the struggles and triumphs of ordinary people, reminding us of the pain and heartache that come with failure, but also of the power of hope and redemption.

Robert Service was a master of narrative poetry, and Frustration is one of his most enduring works. It's a reminder that even in the face of overwhelming obstacles, we can find the strength to carry on and pursue our dreams. And that's a message that will always be relevant and inspiring.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Frustration: A Poem of the Human Condition

Robert Service, the renowned poet, has captured the essence of the human condition in his classic poem, Frustration. This poem is a powerful and evocative exploration of the emotions that we all experience at some point in our lives. It is a poem that speaks to the heart and soul of every person who has ever felt the sting of disappointment, the pain of unfulfilled dreams, and the frustration of unmet expectations.

The poem begins with the speaker expressing his frustration at the world around him. He is tired of the endless cycle of work and routine that seems to define his life. He longs for something more, something that will give his life meaning and purpose. This feeling of frustration is something that we can all relate to. We all have moments when we feel like we are stuck in a rut, and that our lives are going nowhere.

The speaker then goes on to describe the things that he wishes he could do. He wants to travel the world, to see new sights and experience new cultures. He wants to live a life of adventure and excitement, to break free from the monotony of his everyday existence. This desire for adventure is something that is deeply ingrained in the human psyche. We all have a longing for something more, something that will take us out of our comfort zones and challenge us to grow and evolve.

However, the speaker soon realizes that his dreams are just that – dreams. He is trapped by his circumstances, unable to break free and pursue the life that he truly desires. This realization is a painful one, and it is something that we all have to face at some point in our lives. We all have dreams and aspirations, but sometimes the reality of our situation makes it impossible to achieve them.

The poem then takes a darker turn, as the speaker begins to question the very nature of existence. He wonders if life is nothing more than a cruel joke, a meaningless cycle of birth and death. This existential crisis is something that many people experience, particularly during times of great stress or uncertainty. It is a reminder that life is not always easy, and that we must confront our fears and doubts if we are to find meaning and purpose in our lives.

Despite the darkness of the poem, there is a glimmer of hope at the end. The speaker acknowledges that life is not perfect, but he also realizes that there is beauty and wonder in the world around him. He sees the stars shining in the sky, and he is reminded that there is still magic and mystery in the universe. This final stanza is a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is always hope.

In conclusion, Frustration is a powerful and evocative poem that speaks to the heart and soul of every person who has ever felt the sting of disappointment, the pain of unfulfilled dreams, and the frustration of unmet expectations. It is a reminder that life is not always easy, and that we must confront our fears and doubts if we are to find meaning and purpose in our lives. Despite the darkness of the poem, there is a glimmer of hope at the end, reminding us that even in the darkest of times, there is always hope.

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