'The God Of Common-Sense' by Robert Service
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My Daddy used to wallop me for every small offense:
"Its takes a hair-brush back," said he, "to teach kids common-sense."
And still to-day I scarce can look a hair-brush in the face.
Without I want in sympathy to pat a tender place.
For Dad declared with unction: "Spare the brush and spoil the brat."
The dear old man! What e'er his faults he never did do that;
And though a score of years have gone since he departed hence,
I still revere his deity, The God of Common-sense.
How often I have played the ass (Man's universal fate),
Yet always I have saved myself before it was too late;
How often tangled with a dame - you know how these things are,
Yet always had the gumption not to carry on too far;
Remembering that fancy skirts, however high they go,
Are not to be stacked up against a bunch of hard-earned dough;
And sentiment has little weight compared with pounds and pence,
According to the gospel of the God of Common-sense.
Oh blessing on that old hair-brush my Daddy used to whack
With such benign precision on the basement of my back.
Oh blessings on his wisdom, saying: "Son, don't play the fool,
Let prudence be your counselor and reason be your rule.
Don't get romantic notions, always act with judgment calm,
Poetical emotions ain't in practice worth a damn/
let solid comfort be your goal, self-interest your guide. . . ."
Then just as if to emphasize, whack! whack! the brush he plied.
And so I often wonder if my luck is Providence,
or just my humble tribute to the God of Common-sense.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The God of Common-Sense: A Masterpiece by Robert Service
When was the last time you read a poem that made you chuckle, ponder, and feel a sense of awe all at once? If you haven't read The God of Common-Sense by Robert Service, then you have been missing out on a literary masterpiece that has stood the test of time.
Robert Service was a Scottish-Canadian poet who lived from 1874-1958. He was known for his narrative poems that often celebrated the rugged individualism of the Canadian frontier. In The God of Common-Sense, Service tackled a subject that is as relevant today as it was when he wrote the poem in 1916: the conflict between faith and reason.
The poem begins with the narrator describing a man who is "wild with divine unrest." This man is searching for God, but he cannot find Him in the "vast cathedral" of nature or in the "fierce evangel" of the preacher. He is looking for a God who is "not too far above, / Who loves this sinful earth we move, / And bows Himself to love."
This man's search for God is a common one. Many people have asked the same questions: Where is God? Does He really exist? If so, why is there so much suffering in the world? These questions are at the heart of the conflict between faith and reason.
The narrator then introduces us to the God of Common-Sense, who is "a plain, rough chap, with a beery laugh, / And a coat that's frayed and thin." This God is not what the narrator or the man searching for God expected. He is not grand or majestic. He is not surrounded by angels or sitting on a throne. He is just an ordinary guy.
The God of Common-Sense represents reason. He is the voice of logic and practicality. He tells the man searching for God that he will not find Him in the "gloom of a cloistered fane," but in the "dusty mart" of everyday life. He tells the man to stop searching for God in the heavens and to start looking for Him in the world around him.
The poem then takes a humorous turn as the God of Common-Sense uses a series of examples to illustrate his point. He tells the man that God is in the "puff of smoke from factory stacks," the "clang of wheels on steel," and the "swish of street's human tide." He tells the man that God is in the "throb of engines," the "blare of horns," and the "clang of bells."
These examples may seem trivial, but they are meant to show the man that God is not some distant deity who is only present in the holy places. God is present in the world around us. He is in the things we do every day, and in the people we meet.
The God of Common-Sense then tells the man that he should not worry about the suffering in the world. He tells him that God is not responsible for the suffering, but that it is caused by man himself. He tells the man that if he wants to find God, he should start by helping those who are suffering. He should start by making the world a better place.
The poem ends with the man realizing that the God of Common-Sense is right. He realizes that he has been searching for God in all the wrong places. He decides to start looking for God in the world around him. He decides to start making a difference in the lives of others.
The God of Common-Sense is a poem that speaks to the heart of the human experience. It reminds us that we are all searching for something, whether it be God, meaning, or purpose. It reminds us that we should not look for these things in grandiose places, but in the world around us. It reminds us that we have the power to make a difference in the lives of others.
Robert Service was a master of narrative poetry, and The God of Common-Sense is one of his greatest works. It is a poem that is both humorous and profound. It is a poem that will make you chuckle, ponder, and feel a sense of awe all at once. If you haven't read it yet, then you need to add it to your reading list. You won't be disappointed.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The God of Common-Sense: A Masterpiece of Robert Service
Robert Service, the renowned poet, has left an indelible mark on the world of literature with his masterpieces. Among his many works, "The God of Common-Sense" stands out as a true gem. This poem is a perfect example of Service's ability to capture the essence of human nature and the world around us in a simple yet profound way. In this article, we will delve into the poem's meaning, structure, and literary devices used by Service to create a masterpiece that has stood the test of time.
The poem begins with the speaker addressing the "God of Common-Sense," asking him to come down and help him make sense of the world. The speaker is lost and confused, unable to understand the complexities of life. He is seeking guidance and clarity, and he believes that the God of Common-Sense can provide him with the answers he seeks.
Service's use of personification is evident in the poem's title, where he personifies common-sense as a god. This literary device is used to emphasize the importance of common-sense in our lives. Common-sense is not just a mere concept; it is a guiding force that helps us navigate through life's challenges.
The poem's structure is simple, with four stanzas of four lines each. The rhyme scheme is AABB, which gives the poem a sing-song quality. The simplicity of the structure and rhyme scheme is intentional, as it allows the poem's message to shine through without any distractions.
In the second stanza, the speaker describes the chaos and confusion of the world. He talks about the "madness" and "folly" that surrounds him. The world is a confusing and chaotic place, and the speaker is unable to make sense of it. He is overwhelmed by the complexities of life and is seeking guidance from the God of Common-Sense.
Service's use of imagery in this stanza is powerful. He paints a vivid picture of the world as a chaotic and confusing place. The use of words like "madness" and "folly" creates a sense of disorder and confusion. The imagery used in this stanza helps to convey the speaker's sense of confusion and disorientation.
In the third stanza, the speaker describes the God of Common-Sense as a "simple chap." This description is ironic, as common-sense is often associated with complexity and intelligence. However, Service is using irony to emphasize the importance of simplicity in our lives. The God of Common-Sense is not a complex deity with elaborate rituals and ceremonies. He is a simple chap who provides us with the guidance we need to navigate through life's challenges.
Service's use of irony in this stanza is effective. By describing the God of Common-Sense as a simple chap, he is emphasizing the importance of simplicity in our lives. We often overcomplicate things, and Service is reminding us that sometimes the simplest solutions are the best.
In the final stanza, the speaker asks the God of Common-Sense to "come down and walk with me." He wants the God of Common-Sense to be his guide and help him make sense of the world. The speaker is seeking a personal relationship with the God of Common-Sense, and he believes that this relationship will provide him with the clarity he seeks.
Service's use of repetition in this stanza is powerful. The repetition of the phrase "walk with me" emphasizes the speaker's desire for a personal relationship with the God of Common-Sense. The repetition also creates a sense of urgency, as the speaker is pleading with the God of Common-Sense to come down and help him.
In conclusion, "The God of Common-Sense" is a masterpiece of Robert Service. The poem's simple structure and rhyme scheme allow the message to shine through without any distractions. Service's use of personification, imagery, irony, and repetition is effective in conveying the speaker's sense of confusion and disorientation. The poem is a reminder of the importance of common-sense in our lives and the need for simplicity in a world that is often chaotic and confusing.
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