'My Tails' by Robert Service


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I haven't worn my evening dress
For nearly twenty years;
Oh I'm unsocial, I confess,
A hermit, it appears.
So much moth-balled it's but away,
And though wee wifie wails,
Never unto my dimmest day
I'll don my tails.

How slim and trim I looked in them,
Though I was sixty old;
And now their sleekness I condemn
To lie in rigid fold.
I have a portrait of myself
Proud-printed in the Press,
In garb now doomed to wardrobe shelf,--
My evening dress.

So let this be my last request,
That when I come to die,
In tails I may be deftly drest,
With white waistcoat and tie.
No, not for me a vulgar shroud
My carcass to caress;--
Oh let me do my coffin proud
In evening dress!

Editor 1 Interpretation

My Tails: A Literary Analysis

Are you a dog lover? Do you enjoy reading poetry that celebrates the furry, four-legged creatures that make our lives whole? If so, then Robert Service's "My Tails" is a must-read for you. This classic poem, first published in 1926, captures the love and loyalty that dogs bring into our lives. In this literary analysis, we will delve into the poem's themes, structure, and language to gain a deeper understanding of its significance in the canon of dog literature.

Themes

At its core, "My Tails" is a celebration of the bond between humans and dogs. Service highlights the unconditional love and loyalty that dogs display towards their owners. He does this by describing the various ways in which his dogs have enriched his life. From greeting him at the door to cuddling with him on the couch, Service's dogs are a constant source of comfort and joy.

The poem also touches upon the theme of mortality. Service acknowledges that his dogs' time on earth is limited, but he chooses to focus on the present moment and the happiness that they bring him. This theme is particularly poignant when we consider that Service wrote this poem in the aftermath of World War I, a time when many people had lost loved ones. "My Tails" serves as a reminder that even in the face of death and loss, the love between humans and dogs endures.

Structure

"My Tails" consists of four stanzas, each with eight lines. The poem is written in free verse, which allows Service to experiment with the rhythm and flow of his language. The lack of a strict rhyme scheme or meter gives the poem a conversational tone, as if Service is speaking directly to the reader.

The first three stanzas each focus on a different dog that Service has owned. He describes their personalities and quirks, painting a vivid picture of each dog in the reader's mind. The final stanza ties the poem together by emphasizing the importance of these dogs in Service's life.

By using a consistent structure throughout the poem, Service creates a sense of cohesion and unity. The repetition of the eight-line stanza helps to reinforce the idea that each of these dogs has played an equally important role in his life.

Language

One of the most striking aspects of "My Tails" is Service's use of language. He employs a variety of literary devices, including imagery, personification, and alliteration, to bring his dogs to life on the page.

For example, in the first stanza, Service describes his dog Tatters as having "ears that were ragged and scarred / And the eloquent tail that betrayed / The joy that in him stirred." By personifying Tatters' tail as "eloquent," Service imbues it with a sense of personality and emotion. The alliteration in "ragged and scarred" and "stirred" adds to the musicality of the poem.

In the second stanza, Service introduces us to his dog Wolf. He describes Wolf's "shaggy, saucy, impudent style," creating a vivid image of a playful, mischievous dog. The use of the word "impudent" is particularly effective here, as it suggests that Wolf is unapologetic in his behavior.

Finally, in the third stanza, Service introduces us to his dog Jock. He describes Jock as having a "fawning way," indicating that he is a particularly affectionate dog. The use of the word "fawning" is interesting, as it has negative connotations when applied to humans. However, in the context of a dog, it suggests a loving and devoted personality.

In addition to these literary devices, Service also uses simple, straightforward language that is easy to understand. This simplicity allows the poem to resonate with a wide audience, regardless of their familiarity with poetry.

Conclusion

"My Tails" is a timeless poem that celebrates the bond between humans and dogs. Through the use of vivid imagery, personification, and alliteration, Robert Service brings his dogs to life on the page. The poem's structure reinforces the idea that each of these dogs played an equally important role in his life. "My Tails" serves as a reminder that even in the face of death and loss, the love between humans and dogs endures.

So, are you ready to grab a cup of tea and curl up with a furry friend to read this classic poem? I certainly am.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

My Tails: A Classic Poem by Robert Service

Have you ever read a poem that made you laugh out loud? A poem that was so witty and clever that you couldn't help but smile? If not, then you need to read "My Tails" by Robert Service. This classic poem is a masterpiece of humor and wordplay that will leave you chuckling long after you've finished reading it.

The poem begins with the speaker describing his "tails," which are not the tails of animals, but rather the tails of his coats. He explains that he has many tails, each one longer than the last, and that he wears them all at once. This image is both ridiculous and amusing, and sets the tone for the rest of the poem.

As the speaker continues, he describes the various ways in which his tails get in the way and cause him trouble. He can't sit down without them getting tangled, and he can't walk without tripping over them. He even gets mistaken for a horse because of the way his tails trail behind him!

But despite all of these difficulties, the speaker is proud of his tails. He sees them as a symbol of his wealth and status, and he loves the attention they bring him. He even imagines that people are envious of his tails, and that they wish they had tails of their own.

The humor in this poem comes from the contrast between the speaker's pride in his tails and the absurdity of the situation. It's hard not to laugh at the image of a man wearing multiple coats with long tails, tripping over himself as he walks down the street. And yet, the speaker is completely serious about his tails, which makes the poem all the more amusing.

One of the things that makes "My Tails" so effective is the way that Robert Service uses language. He employs a variety of poetic techniques, such as alliteration and rhyme, to create a playful and lighthearted tone. For example, in the first stanza, he writes:

"I have a hundred coats, all quite new, And I have a thousand tails, all too true."

The repetition of the "h" sound in "hundred" and "quite" and the "t" sound in "thousand" and "tails" creates a musical quality to the verse that adds to the humor.

Service also uses puns and wordplay throughout the poem. For example, in the second stanza, he writes:

"I cannot sit, for they get in the way, And I cannot stand, for they grow each day."

The use of "get in the way" and "grow each day" to describe the tails is a clever play on words that adds to the humor of the poem.

Another aspect of the poem that contributes to its humor is the way that Service exaggerates the situation. The idea of a man wearing multiple coats with long tails is already ridiculous, but the fact that the speaker claims to have a hundred coats and a thousand tails takes it to another level. This exaggeration makes the poem even more absurd and amusing.

Despite the humor of the poem, there is also a deeper message about the dangers of pride and vanity. The speaker's obsession with his tails is a reflection of his desire for attention and admiration from others. He sees his tails as a symbol of his wealth and status, and he loves the way that they make him stand out from the crowd.

However, this desire for attention ultimately leads to his downfall. In the final stanza, he describes how his tails get caught in a tree, and he is left hanging there for all to see. This humiliating experience is a reminder that pride comes before a fall, and that our obsession with status and wealth can lead us down a dangerous path.

In conclusion, "My Tails" is a classic poem that is both humorous and thought-provoking. Robert Service's use of language and poetic techniques creates a playful and lighthearted tone that makes the poem a joy to read. At the same time, the deeper message about the dangers of pride and vanity adds a layer of meaning that makes the poem even more powerful. If you haven't read "My Tails" yet, then you're missing out on one of the funniest and most clever poems in the English language.

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