'Ripe Fruit' by Robert Service


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Through eyelet holes I watched the crowd
Rain of confetti fling;
Their joy is lush, their laughter loud,
For Carnival is King.
Behind his chariot I pace
To ean my petty pay;
They laugh to see my monster face:
"Ripe Fruit," I hear them say.

I do not laugh: my shoulders sag;
No heart have I for glee,
Because I hold aloft a hag
Who grins enough for me;
A hideous harridan who bears
In crapulous display,
Like two grub-eaten mouldy pears
Her bubbies on a tray.

Ripe Fruit! Oh, God! It's hell to think
How I have drifted down
Through vice and dice and dope and drink
To play the sordid clown;
That I who held the golden key
To operatic fame,
Should gnaw the crust of misery
And drain the dregs of shame.

What matter! I'll get soused to-night,
And happy I will be,
To sit within a tavern bright,
A trollop on my knee. . . .
So let the crazy pipers pipe,
And let the rapture ring:
Ripe fruit am I - yea, rotten ripe,
And Carnival is King.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Ripe Fruit by Robert Service: A Masterpiece of Poetic Imagination

As a lover of poetry, I have always been fascinated by the works of Robert Service - the Canadian bard who brought the rugged beauty of the Yukon to life through his vivid verses. Among his many poems, one that has always stood out for me is "Ripe Fruit" - a hauntingly beautiful lyric that captures the essence of life, death, and everything in between with a rare poetic elegance.

At first glance, "Ripe Fruit" seems like a simple poem - a straightforward meditation on the fleeting nature of human existence, and the inevitability of decay and decline. But on closer inspection, one realizes that there is much more to this poem than meets the eye. Through its rich imagery, evocative language, and subtle symbolism, "Ripe Fruit" offers a profound philosophical insight into the mysteries of life and death, and the eternal cycle of growth and decay that governs our existence.

In this literary criticism and interpretation, I will explore the many layers of meaning in "Ripe Fruit," and examine how Service uses poetic devices such as metaphor, simile, and personification to create a powerful and enduring work of art.

The Poem

Before we dive into the analysis, let's take a moment to appreciate the poem itself. Here is the full text of "Ripe Fruit":

Oh, I am ripe for the reaping,
But won't be plucked till the morn;
Here in the night I am waiting,
For the gathering hands of scorn.

Ripe for the harvest of sorrow,
Ready to be sheaved away;
Grim is the hand that will take me
Into the Land of Decay.

Yet I am warm with the glowing,
That ripened me to the core;
And even as you come to take me,
You shall not pluck any more.

For I have given the blossom,
And I have given the bud;
And though you may strip me and leave me,
You cannot rob me of good.

For I have loved and been happy,
I have mellowed under the sun;
And the harvest of youth and of sweetness
Is over, and now it is done.

And so with a heart that is grateful,
For the bounty that fate did bestow,
I am waiting and ripe for the reaping,
And ready to go."

The Analysis

The Structure

The first thing that strikes me about "Ripe Fruit" is its structure. At just 12 lines long, the poem is deceptively simple. However, on closer inspection, we see that Service has carefully crafted each line to create a perfectly balanced and symmetrical structure.

The poem is divided into four stanzas, each consisting of three lines. The first two lines of each stanza are almost identical in structure and meter, while the third line serves as a kind of refrain that ties the poem together. This simple but effective structure gives the poem a sense of unity and coherence, and allows Service to explore his themes with economy and precision.

The Imagery

As with many of Service's poems, "Ripe Fruit" is rich in imagery. Right from the first line, Service sets the tone with a powerful metaphor - "Oh, I am ripe for the reaping." This metaphorical language is continued throughout the poem, as Service uses vivid images to convey the transience and fragility of life.

For example, in the second stanza, Service describes himself as "Ripe for the harvest of sorrow," a powerful image that conveys the idea of life as a kind of crop that must be harvested by the forces of fate. This image is reinforced in the third stanza, where Service personifies death as a "Grim...hand that will take me into the Land of Decay."

But it's not all doom and gloom. Service also uses imagery to convey the beauty and joy of life. In the fourth stanza, he speaks of "the harvest of youth and sweetness," a rich image that conveys the idea of life as a bountiful harvest that must eventually come to an end. Through these images, Service captures the complex and contradictory nature of human existence, and reminds us that even in the midst of sorrow and decay, there is still beauty and joy to be found.

The Symbolism

In addition to its rich imagery, "Ripe Fruit" is also full of subtle symbolism. One of the most powerful symbols in the poem is the idea of the fruit itself. Throughout the poem, Service uses the image of ripe fruit to convey the idea of a life that has been lived to the fullest. Just as a ripe fruit is ready for the picking, so too is a life that has reached its natural end.

But the fruit also symbolizes something else - the idea of giving. As Service says in the fifth stanza, "For I have given the blossom,/And I have given the bud." Here, the fruit becomes a metaphor for a life that has given all it has to offer - its blossoms, its buds, and ultimately, its fruit. Through this powerful symbol, Service reminds us that a life well-lived is one that has given as much as it has received.

The Themes

At its core, "Ripe Fruit" is a meditation on the themes of life, death, and the human condition. Through its rich imagery, subtle symbolism, and poetic language, the poem explores the complex and contradictory nature of our existence, and asks us to consider the ultimate meaning of our lives.

One of the key themes of the poem is the idea of acceptance. Service reminds us that life is full of sorrow and decay, and that ultimately, we must all face the grim reaper. But in the face of this inevitability, he urges us to accept our fate with grace and gratitude. As he says in the final stanza, "With a heart that is grateful,/For the bounty that fate did bestow,/I am waiting and ripe for the reaping,/And ready to go."

But "Ripe Fruit" is not just a meditation on death - it's also a celebration of life. Through his rich imagery and powerful symbolism, Service reminds us that even in the face of decay and decline, there is still beauty and joy to be found. As he says in the fourth stanza, "And I have loved and been happy,/I have mellowed under the sun." Through these lines, Service reminds us that even in the midst of sorrow and decay, there is still sweetness to be found in life.

Conclusion

In "Ripe Fruit," Robert Service has created a masterpiece of poetic imagination. Through its rich imagery, subtle symbolism, and elegant language, the poem explores the most profound and enduring themes of human existence, reminding us of the transience and fragility of life, and urging us to accept our fate with grace and gratitude.

As I read this poem, I am struck by the beauty of Service's language, the power of his imagery, and the depth of his insight. "Ripe Fruit" is a poem that speaks to the very heart of what it means to be human, and reminds us that even in the face of death, there is still beauty and joy to be found in life.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Ripe Fruit: A Poem of Life's Bounty and Transience

Robert Service's poem "Ripe Fruit" is a celebration of life's bounty and transience. It is a poem that speaks to the heart of what it means to be alive, to experience the joys and sorrows of existence, and to come to terms with the inevitability of death.

The poem begins with a description of a tree heavy with ripe fruit, its branches bending under the weight of the bounty it bears. The imagery is vivid and evocative, painting a picture of abundance and fecundity. The tree is a symbol of life itself, with its roots firmly planted in the earth and its branches reaching towards the sky.

As the poem progresses, Service explores the theme of transience, reminding us that all things must come to an end. The fruit, so ripe and abundant, will soon fall from the tree and rot away. The tree itself will eventually wither and die, returning to the earth from which it came.

But even as he acknowledges the transience of life, Service celebrates its beauty and richness. He reminds us that life is a gift, to be savored and enjoyed while we can. The fruit may not last forever, but while it is here, it is sweet and nourishing. The tree may not live forever, but while it stands, it is a thing of beauty and wonder.

The poem is also a meditation on the passage of time, and the way in which our lives are shaped by the seasons. The fruit ripens in the summer, when the sun is high and the days are long. But as the seasons change, so too does the tree, shedding its leaves and preparing for the long sleep of winter.

Service's language is simple and direct, but it is also rich with meaning and metaphor. He uses the image of the fruit to represent the joys and pleasures of life, and the tree to represent the cycle of birth, growth, and decay that we all must face. He reminds us that life is fleeting, but that it is also beautiful and precious.

In many ways, "Ripe Fruit" is a poem about acceptance. It is a reminder that we cannot control the passage of time, or the inevitability of death. But we can choose how we live our lives, and how we respond to the challenges and joys that come our way. We can choose to savor the sweetness of life, even as we acknowledge its transience.

The poem is also a celebration of the natural world, and the way in which it sustains and nourishes us. The fruit that hangs from the tree is a gift from the earth, a reminder of the abundance and generosity of nature. Service reminds us that we are not separate from the natural world, but are a part of it, and that our lives are intimately connected to the cycles of the seasons and the rhythms of the earth.

In conclusion, "Ripe Fruit" is a poem that speaks to the heart of what it means to be alive. It is a celebration of life's bounty and transience, a meditation on the passage of time, and a reminder to savor the sweetness of life while we can. It is a poem that invites us to embrace the natural world, and to find meaning and purpose in the cycles of birth, growth, and decay that shape our lives.

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