'The Death Of Marie Toro' by Robert Service
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Ballads of a Bohemian(Book 2)We're taking Marie Toro to her home in Père-La-Chaise;
We're taking Marie Toro to her last resting-place.
Behold! her hearse is hung with wreaths till everything is hid
Except the blossoms heaping high upon her coffin lid.
A week ago she roamed the street, a draggle and a slut,
A by-word of the Boulevard and everybody's butt;
A week ago she haunted us, we heard her whining cry,
We brushed aside the broken blooms she pestered us to buy;
A week ago she had not where to rest her weary head . . .
But now, oh, follow, follow on, for Marie Toro's dead.Oh Marie, she was once a queen -- ah yes, a queen of queens.
High-throned above the Carnival she held her splendid sway.
For four-and-twenty crashing hours she knew what glory means,
The cheers of half a million throats, the délire of a day.
Yet she was only one of us, a little sewing-girl,
Though far the loveliest and best of all our laughing band;
Then Fortune beckoned; off she danced, amid the dizzy whirl,
And we who once might kiss her cheek were proud to kiss her hand.
For swiftly as a star she soared; she had her every wish;
We saw her roped with pearls of price, with princes at her call;
And yet, and yet I think her dreams were of the old Boul' Mich',And yet I'm sure within her heart she loved us best of all.
For one night in the Purple Pig, upon the rue Saint-Jacques,
We laughed and quaffed . . . a limousine came swishing to the door;
Then Raymond Jolicoeur cried out: "It's Queen Marie come back,
In satin clad to make us glad, and witch our hearts once more."
But no, her face was strangely sad, and at the evening's end:
"Dear lads," she said; "I love you all, and when I'm far away,
Remember, oh, remember, little Marie is your friend,
And though the world may lie between, I'm coming back some day."
And so she went, and many a boy who's fought his way to Fame,
Can look back on the struggle of his garret days and bless
The loyal heart, the tender hand, the Providence that came
To him and all in hour of need, in sickness and distress.
Time passed away. She won their hearts in London, Moscow, Rome;
They worshiped her in Argentine, adored her in Brazil;
We smoked our pipes and wondered when she might be coming home,
And then we learned the luck had turned, the things were going ill.
Her health had failed, her beauty paled, her lovers fled away;
And some one saw her in Peru, a common drab at last.
So years went by, and faces changed; our beards were sadly gray,
And Marie Toro's name became an echo of the past.You know that old and withered man, that derelict of art,
Who for a paltry franc will make a crayon sketch of you?
In slouching hat and shabby cloak he looks and is the part,
A sodden old Bohemian, without a single sou.
A boon companion of the days of Rimbaud and Verlaine,
He broods and broods, and chews the cud of bitter souvenirs;
Beneath his mop of grizzled hair his cheeks are gouged with pain,
The saffron sockets of his eyes are hollowed out with tears.
Well, one night in the D'Harcourt's din I saw him in his place,
When suddenly the door was swung, a woman halted there;
A woman cowering like a dog, with white and haggard face,
A broken creature, bent of spine, a daughter of Despair.
She looked and looked, as to her breast she held some withered bloom;
"Too late! Too late! . . . they all are dead and gone," I heard her say.
And once again her weary eyes went round and round the room;
"Not one of all I used to know . . ." she turned to go away . . .
But quick I saw the old man start: "Ah no!" he cried, "not all.
Oh Marie Toro, queen of queens, don't you remember Paul?""Oh Marie, Marie Toro, in my garret next the sky,
Where many a day and night I've crouched with not a crust to eat,
A picture hangs upon the wall a fortune couldn't buy,
A portrait of a girl whose face is pure and angel-sweet."
Sadly the woman looked at him: "Alas! it's true," she said;
"That little maid, I knew her once. It's long ago -- she's dead."
He went to her; he laid his hand upon her wasted arm:
"Oh, Marie Toro, come with me, though poor and sick am I.
For old times' sake I cannot bear to see you come to harm;
Ah! there are memories, God knows, that never, never die. . . ."
"Too late!" she sighed; "I've lived my life of splendor and of shame;
I've been adored by men of power, I've touched the highest height;
I've squandered gold like heaps of dirt -- oh, I have played the game;
I've had my place within the sun . . . and now I face the night.
Look! look! you see I'm lost to hope; I live no matter how . . .
To drink and drink and so forget . . . that's all I care for now."And so she went her heedless way, and all our help was vain.
She trailed along with tattered shawl and mud-corroded skirt;
She gnawed a crust and slept beneath the bridges of the Seine,
A garbage thing, a composite of alcohol and dirt.
The students learned her story and the cafes knew her well,
The Pascal and the Panthéon, the Sufflot and Vachette;
She shuffled round the tables with the flowers she tried to sell,
A living mask of misery that no one will forget.And then last week I missed her, and they found her in the street
One morning early, huddled down, for it was freezing cold;
But when they raised her ragged shawl her face was still and sweet;
Some bits of broken bloom were clutched within her icy hold.
That's all. . . . Ah yes, they say that saw: her blue, wide-open eyes
Were beautiful with joy again, with radiant surprise. . . .A week ago she begged for bread; we've bought for her a stone,
And a peaceful place in Père-La-Chaise where she'll be well alone.
She cost a king his crown, they say; oh, wouldn't she be proud
If she could see the wreaths to-day, the coaches and the crowd!
So follow, follow, follow on with slow and sober tread,
For Marie Toro, gutter waif and queen of queens, is dead.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Death Of Marie Toro: A Poetic Masterpiece
When it comes to poetry, Robert Service is a name that needs no introduction. And among his numerous works, "The Death of Marie Toro" stands out as a masterpiece of storytelling, emotion, and vivid imagery.
At its core, the poem tells the heart-wrenching tale of a young woman named Marie Toro, who dies tragically at the hands of her lover. But beyond its surface-level plot, "The Death of Marie Toro" delves deep into the complexities of human nature, exploring themes of love, jealousy, betrayal, and the consequences of our actions.
The Poem's Structure and Form
Before we delve deeper into the poem's content, it's worth noting its unique structure and form. "The Death of Marie Toro" is written in ballad form, with an ABAB rhyme scheme and a strong meter that gives the poem a musical quality.
The ballad form is particularly fitting for a narrative poem like this, as it allows Service to tell the story in a way that is both engaging and easy to follow. The rhyme scheme, too, helps to create a sense of rhythm and flow that draws the reader in and keeps them engaged throughout.
The Tragic Tale of Marie Toro
The poem begins with an introduction to Marie Toro, a young woman who is described as being "fair and sweet" with a "merry heart." From the very start, the reader is drawn in by the poem's vivid imagery and the charm of Marie's character.
But as the poem progresses, we learn that Marie is in love with a man named Pedro, who is jealous and possessive. Although she tries to reassure him of her love, Pedro's jealousy soon spirals out of control, leading him to kill Marie in a fit of rage.
It's a tragic tale that is all too familiar, even today. And while the specifics of the story may be unique to Marie and Pedro, the themes that the poem explores are universal.
Exploring the Themes of "The Death of Marie Toro"
At its core, "The Death of Marie Toro" is a poem about the consequences of our actions. Pedro's jealousy and possessiveness lead him down a dark path that ultimately ends in tragedy. But beyond that, the poem also explores themes of love, betrayal, and the complexities of human nature.
One of the most striking things about the poem is the way that it portrays Marie's love for Pedro. Despite his flaws and his jealousy, Marie remains faithful to him to the very end. It's a testament to the power of love, but also a reminder that sometimes that power can be a double-edged sword.
The poem also highlights the destructive nature of jealousy and possessiveness. Pedro's jealousy blinds him to the reality of the situation, leading him to act in ways that ultimately destroy the very thing he was trying to protect.
The Role of Women in the Poem
Another interesting aspect of the poem is the way that it portrays women. Throughout the poem, Marie is depicted as being innocent and pure, a victim of Pedro's jealousy and rage. It's a common theme in literature, but one that is particularly relevant today in the wake of the #MeToo movement.
But while Marie is portrayed as a victim, she is also depicted as being strong and resilient. Even in the face of Pedro's jealousy and possessiveness, she remains true to herself and to her love for him.
Conclusion
In the end, "The Death of Marie Toro" is a timeless masterpiece of poetry that explores the complexities of human nature in a way that is both engaging and thought-provoking. Through its vivid imagery, strong meter, and powerful storytelling, the poem illustrates the destructive power of jealousy and the redemptive power of love.
It's a poem that will continue to resonate with readers for generations to come, reminding us of the beauty and fragility of life and the consequences of our actions.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Death of Marie Toro: A Poetic Masterpiece by Robert Service
Robert Service, the renowned poet, has left an indelible mark on the world of literature with his masterful works. One of his most celebrated poems is "The Death of Marie Toro," a hauntingly beautiful piece that captures the essence of love, loss, and grief. In this article, we will delve into the depths of this classic poem and explore its themes, structure, and literary devices.
The poem tells the story of Marie Toro, a beautiful young woman who falls in love with a man named Juan Garcia. Their love is passionate and intense, but it is cut short when Juan is killed in a bullfight. Marie is left heartbroken and devastated, and she eventually dies of a broken heart. The poem is a tribute to their love and a lament for their tragic end.
The poem is structured in four stanzas, each with four lines. The rhyme scheme is ABAB, and the meter is iambic tetrameter. This gives the poem a musical quality and a sense of rhythm that adds to its emotional impact. The use of repetition and alliteration also adds to the musicality of the poem. For example, in the first stanza, the repetition of the word "love" emphasizes the intensity of Marie and Juan's feelings for each other. The alliteration of "sweet and strong" in the second stanza adds to the sense of their love being a force of nature.
The poem is also rich in literary devices that enhance its meaning and emotional impact. One of the most striking devices is the use of imagery. Service paints vivid pictures of the bullfight and the Spanish landscape, which serve as a backdrop for the tragic love story. For example, in the second stanza, he describes the "sun-baked sierra" and the "dusty plain," which create a sense of the harsh and unforgiving environment in which the lovers lived. The use of color imagery is also notable, with the "scarlet" of the bull and the "purple" of the mountains adding to the visual richness of the poem.
Another literary device that Service employs is symbolism. The bullfight is a powerful symbol of the struggle between life and death, and the inevitability of mortality. The bull represents the forces of nature and the power of fate, while the matador represents the human struggle against these forces. Juan's death in the bullfight is a metaphor for the fragility of life and the inevitability of death. Marie's death is also symbolic, representing the power of love and the devastation that can result from its loss.
The poem is also notable for its use of language. Service's use of Spanish words and phrases adds to the authenticity of the setting and the characters. The use of Spanish also creates a sense of exoticism and otherness, which adds to the sense of the lovers being outsiders in their own world. The use of colloquial language, such as "ain't" and "gosh," also adds to the sense of the poem being a personal and intimate expression of emotion.
The themes of the poem are universal and timeless. Love, loss, and grief are emotions that all human beings experience, regardless of time or place. The poem speaks to the power of love to transform and enrich our lives, but also to its fragility and the devastation that can result from its loss. The poem also speaks to the inevitability of death and the struggle to come to terms with our mortality.
In conclusion, "The Death of Marie Toro" is a poetic masterpiece that captures the essence of love, loss, and grief. Service's use of structure, literary devices, and language creates a powerful and emotional work that speaks to the human experience. The poem is a testament to the enduring power of poetry to move and inspire us, and to the enduring power of love to transform and enrich our lives.
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