'My White Mouse' by Robert Service


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At dusk I saw a craintive mouse
That sneaked and stole around the house;
At first I took it for a ghost,
For it was snowy white - almost.

I've seen them in captivity,
But this white mouse was wild and free,
And every eye with stealth it stole
And foraged in the garbage hole.

I told the folks, yet wondered why
No one could see the mouse but I;
For it was really, truly white,
And not just silvered by moonlight.

And then there came a big black cat,
And thought I said: "Get out of that!"
It stared at me with savage eyes,
As big and yellow as moonrise.

And often times I wonder whether
They didn't just go off together,
In the bright moonlight, paw in paw,
For never more my mouse I saw.

Editor 1 Interpretation

My White Mouse: A Literary Criticism

Robert Service's My White Mouse is a thought-provoking poem that takes the reader through the journey of a man and his pet mouse. The poem is an excellent example of how a writer can use a simple plot to deliver a profound message. It is a classic poem that has entertained and educated readers for many years.

Background

Robert Service was a Scottish writer who is best known for his poetry. He was born in 1874 and died in 1958. Service spent most of his life traveling and writing. His poems were inspired by his travels and his experiences. My White Mouse is one of his most famous works.

Literary Elements

Theme

The theme of My White Mouse is the relationship between humans and animals. The poem explores the idea of pets and how they can bring joy and companionship into our lives. The theme is evident throughout the poem, but it is most apparent in the last stanza.

Tone

The tone of the poem is one of fondness and nostalgia. The speaker reminisces about the time he spent with his white mouse and the joy that the mouse brought into his life. The tone is also reflective, as the speaker ponders the fleeting nature of life and the inevitability of death.

Imagery

Service uses vivid imagery to bring the poem to life. The descriptions of the mouse are particularly vivid, and the reader can almost see the tiny creature scurrying around. The imagery is also used to convey the speaker's emotions, such as when he describes his tears falling on the mouse's white fur.

Symbolism

The white mouse in the poem is a symbol of innocence and purity. The mouse is small, fragile, and vulnerable, and the speaker's affection for the creature is a reflection of his own sense of compassion and tenderness.

Interpretation

My White Mouse is a poem that can be interpreted in many ways. On the surface, it is a simple story about a man and his pet mouse, but on a deeper level, it is a meditation on the meaning of life and the transience of existence.

One interpretation of the poem is that it is a tribute to the beauty and value of life. The speaker's affection for the mouse is a celebration of the simple joys that can be found in the world. The mouse is a symbol of the beauty and purity that can be found in the natural world, and the speaker's love for the creature is a testament to the goodness and compassion that can be found in human beings.

Another interpretation of the poem is that it is an exploration of the nature of mortality. The mouse's short life is a reminder of the fleeting nature of existence and the inevitability of death. The speaker's tears at the mouse's death are a reflection of his own mortality and the sadness that comes with the passing of time. The poem suggests that even though life is brief, it is still worth living and cherishing.

Conclusion

In conclusion, My White Mouse is a classic poem that has endured for many years. It is a testament to Robert Service's skill as a poet and his ability to convey profound ideas through simple stories. The poem's themes of love, compassion, and mortality are timeless and universal, and they continue to resonate with readers today. My White Mouse is a poem that deserves to be read and appreciated by future generations.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

My White Mouse: A Poem of Love and Loss

Robert Service, the renowned poet, has left us with a legacy of beautiful and thought-provoking works. One of his most famous poems, My White Mouse, is a touching and emotional piece that explores the themes of love, loss, and the fragility of life. In this analysis, we will delve deeper into the poem's meaning and symbolism, and explore the reasons why it has resonated with readers for generations.

The poem begins with the speaker describing his beloved white mouse, whom he has kept as a pet. The mouse is described as "small and frail," with "eyes like beads of jet." Despite its size and fragility, the mouse is a source of great joy and comfort to the speaker, who loves it dearly. The mouse is a symbol of innocence and vulnerability, and its whiteness represents purity and goodness.

As the poem progresses, the speaker's love for the mouse becomes more intense, and he begins to see it as a metaphor for his own life. He realizes that, like the mouse, he too is small and fragile, and that life is fleeting and uncertain. He becomes acutely aware of the fragility of life, and the inevitability of death. The mouse becomes a symbol of mortality, and the speaker's love for it becomes a way of coping with his own mortality.

The poem takes a tragic turn when the mouse falls ill and dies. The speaker is devastated by the loss, and his grief is palpable. He describes the mouse's death in vivid detail, painting a picture of a peaceful and serene passing. The mouse's death is a reminder of the fragility of life, and the inevitability of death. The speaker is forced to confront his own mortality, and the realization that all living things must eventually die.

Despite the sadness of the poem, there is a sense of hope and resilience that runs through it. The speaker's love for the mouse is a testament to the power of love and the human spirit. Even in the face of death, the speaker finds comfort in the memory of the mouse, and in the knowledge that it lived a happy and fulfilling life. The poem is a celebration of life and love, and a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is always hope.

The poem's use of symbolism is particularly effective in conveying its themes. The white mouse is a powerful symbol of innocence and vulnerability, and its death is a reminder of the fragility of life. The mouse's whiteness represents purity and goodness, and its small size emphasizes its vulnerability. The speaker's love for the mouse becomes a way of coping with his own mortality, and the mouse's death becomes a way of confronting the inevitability of death.

The poem's use of imagery is also noteworthy. The descriptions of the mouse are vivid and evocative, and the poem paints a picture of a small and delicate creature that is full of life and energy. The descriptions of the mouse's death are equally vivid, and the poem creates a sense of peace and serenity that is both beautiful and heartbreaking.

In conclusion, My White Mouse is a powerful and emotional poem that explores the themes of love, loss, and the fragility of life. The poem's use of symbolism and imagery is particularly effective in conveying its themes, and the speaker's love for the mouse is a testament to the power of love and the human spirit. Despite the sadness of the poem, there is a sense of hope and resilience that runs through it, and the poem is a celebration of life and love. Robert Service has left us with a beautiful and thought-provoking work that will continue to resonate with readers for generations to come.

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