'You Can't Can Love' by Robert Service


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Bar-Room BalladsI don't know how the fishes feel, but I can't help thinking it odd,
That a gay young flapper of a female eel should fall in love with a cod.
Yet - that's exactly what she did and it only goes to prove,
That' what evr you do you can't put the lid on that crazy feeling Love.Now that young tom-cod was a dreadful rake, and he had no wish to wed,
But he feared that her foolish heart would break, so this is what he said:
"Some fellows prize a woman's eyes, and some admire her lips,
While some have a taste for a tiny waist, but - me, what I like is HIPS.""So you see, my dear," said that gay tom-cod, "Exactly how I feel;
Oh I hate to be unkind but I know my mind, and there ain't no hips on an eel."
"Alas! that's true," said the foolish fish, as she blushed to her finny tips:
"And with might and main, though it gives me pain, I'll try to develop hips."So day and night with all her might she physical culturized;
But alas and alack, in the middle of her back no hump she recognized.
So - then she knew that her love eclipse was fated from the start;
For you never yet saw an eel with hips, so she died of a broken heart.Chorus:Oh you've gotta hand it out to Love, to Love you can't can LoveYou'll find it from the bottom of the briny deep to the blue above.From the Belgin hare to the Polar Bear, and the turtle dove,You can look where you please, But from elephant to fleas,You'll never put the lid on Love.You can look where you choose, But from crabs to kangaroos,You'll never put the lid on Love.You can look where you like, But from polywogs to pike,You'll never put the lid on Love.You can look where you please, But from buffalo to bees,You'll never put the lid on Love.

Editor 1 Interpretation

"You Can't Can Love" by Robert Service: A Poem of Longing, Loss, and Redemption

Oh, what a poem! "You Can't Can Love" by Robert Service is a heartbreaking yet uplifting masterpiece that explores the themes of love, regret, and acceptance. In just sixteen stanzas, Service takes us on a journey of a man who has lost the love of his life, and who reflects on his past mistakes and missed opportunities. The poem is a beautiful reminder that even when we can't hold on to love, it will always hold on to us.

The Poem and Its Structure

The poem is written in a simple and straightforward style, with four quatrains that follow an ABAB rhyme scheme. The poem is divided into two parts: the first eight stanzas are dedicated to the narrator's reminiscences of the past, while the second eight stanzas are dedicated to his realization that love can't be contained or put away like a jar of preserves.

Service's choice of words and imagery is both vivid and powerful. He uses metaphors and similes to convey complex emotions and ideas. For example, in the first stanza, he compares love to a "tide that ebbs and flows," suggesting that love is a force of nature that can't be controlled or predicted. In the second stanza, he uses the metaphor of "fruit of Paradise" to describe the love that he has lost, implying that it was a rare and precious thing that he can never have again.

The Themes of Love and Loss

The central theme of the poem is love and loss. The narrator reflects on the time he spent with his beloved, and how he took their love for granted. He remembers the moments they shared, the laughter and the tears, and the simple pleasures of life that he can never fully enjoy again. He realizes that he has lost something precious and irreplaceable, and that his life will never be the same again.

The poem also explores the theme of regret. The narrator regrets the things he didn't do, the words he didn't say, and the chances he didn't take. He laments the fact that he didn't appreciate his love while he had it, and that he didn't hold on to it when he could. He knows that he can't turn back time, but he wishes he could.

The theme of redemption is also present in the poem. The narrator realizes that even though he has lost his love, he still has a chance to learn from his mistakes and to become a better person. He accepts that he can't change the past, but he can make the most of the present and the future. He knows that he can't can love, but he can still cherish it in his heart.

The Poet's Voice and Perspective

Service's voice in the poem is that of a reflective and introspective narrator who is looking back on his life. He speaks in the first person, using the pronoun "I" to convey his thoughts and feelings. His perspective is that of a man who has experienced both the joys and the sorrows of love, and who has come to understand its true nature.

Service's use of language and imagery is both lyrical and emotional. He uses metaphors and similes to convey complex ideas and emotions, and his words are often poignant and evocative. He has a gift for capturing the essence of the human experience and expressing it in a way that is both beautiful and profound.

The Poem's Relevance Today

Although "You Can't Can Love" was written almost a century ago, its message is still relevant today. Love is still a force of nature that can't be controlled or predicted, and many people still take it for granted. The poem reminds us that love is a precious and fragile thing that we should cherish and appreciate while we have it.

The poem is also relevant in the context of the #MeToo movement and the growing awareness of sexual harassment and assault. The poem reminds us that love should be based on respect, equality, and consent, and that we should never take advantage of someone's vulnerability or trust.

Conclusion

"You Can't Can Love" is a poem that speaks to the heart and soul of the human experience. It reminds us of the preciousness of love, and of the need to cherish and appreciate it while we have it. It also reminds us of the importance of learning from our mistakes and becoming better people, even in the face of loss and regret.

Robert Service's poem is a testament to the power of poetry to convey complex emotions and ideas in a way that is both beautiful and profound. It is a masterpiece that will continue to inspire and move readers for generations to come.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry You Can't Can Love: A Masterpiece by Robert Service

Robert Service, the renowned poet, has left an indelible mark on the world of literature with his exceptional works. His poem, "Poetry You Can't Can Love," is a masterpiece that has captured the hearts of many readers. This poem is a perfect example of Service's unique style, which combines humor, wit, and emotion to create a powerful and unforgettable piece of literature.

The poem begins with the speaker expressing his love for poetry. He describes how he has tried to capture the essence of poetry in a can, but he has failed. This metaphorical representation of poetry as something that cannot be contained in a can is a powerful statement. It suggests that poetry is something that is beyond the physical world, something that cannot be confined to a container.

Service's use of humor in this poem is evident in the line, "I've canned the laughter of a child, the song of bird and bee." This line is humorous because it is impossible to capture the laughter of a child or the song of a bird in a can. The absurdity of this statement is what makes it funny. However, the humor in this poem is not just for entertainment purposes. It serves a deeper purpose, which is to highlight the limitations of human beings. We cannot capture the beauty of nature or the essence of poetry in a can.

The poem then takes a more serious turn as the speaker describes the beauty of poetry. He talks about how poetry can make us feel alive, how it can make us see the world in a different way. The line, "It's the thrill of life that's in it, the glory and the glow," captures the essence of poetry. It is not just a collection of words; it is a reflection of life itself.

Service's use of imagery in this poem is exceptional. He describes the beauty of nature in a way that is both vivid and poetic. The line, "I've canned the scent of roses, the dew on meadow grass," is a perfect example of this. The imagery in this line is so vivid that we can almost smell the roses and feel the dew on our skin. This is the power of poetry, to transport us to another world, to make us feel things that we never thought possible.

The poem ends with the speaker acknowledging that poetry cannot be contained in a can. He says, "But though I've tried and tried and tried, I cannot can my love." This line is a powerful statement because it suggests that poetry is something that cannot be contained or controlled. It is something that is beyond our grasp, something that we can only experience and appreciate.

In conclusion, "Poetry You Can't Can Love" is a masterpiece by Robert Service. It is a perfect example of his unique style, which combines humor, wit, and emotion to create a powerful and unforgettable piece of literature. This poem is a celebration of poetry, of its beauty and power. It reminds us that poetry is not just a collection of words; it is a reflection of life itself. It is something that cannot be contained or controlled, something that we can only experience and appreciate.

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