'Was It You?' by Robert Service


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"Hullo, young Jones! with your tie so gay
And your pen behind your ear;
Will you mark my cheque in the usual way?
For I'm overdrawn, I fear."
Then you look at me in a manner bland,
As you turn your ledger's leaves,
And you hand it back with a soft white hand,
And the air of a man who grieves. . . .

"Was it you, young Jones, was it you I saw
(And I think I see you yet)
With a live bomb gripped in your grimy paw
And your face to the parapet?
With your lips asnarl and your eyes gone mad
With a fury that thrilled you through. . . .
Oh, I look at you now and I think, my lad,
Was it you, young Jones, was it you?


"Hullo, young Smith, with your well-fed look
And your coat of dapper fit,
Will you recommend me a decent book
With nothing of War in it?"
Then you smile as you polish a finger-nail,
And your eyes serenely roam,
And you suavely hand me a thrilling tale
By a man who stayed at home.

"Was it you, young Smith, was it you I saw
In the battle's storm and stench,
With a roar of rage and a wound red-raw
Leap into the reeking trench?
As you stood like a fiend on the firing-shelf
And you stabbed and hacked and slew. . . .
Oh, I look at you and I ask myself,
Was it you, young Smith, was it you?


"Hullo, old Brown, with your ruddy cheek
And your tummy's rounded swell,
Your garden's looking jolly chic
And your kiddies awf'ly well.
Then you beam at me in your cheery way
As you swing your water-can;
And you mop your brow and you blithely say:
`What about golf, old man?'

"Was it you, old Brown, was it you I saw
Like a bull-dog stick to your gun,
A cursing devil of fang and claw
When the rest were on the run?
Your eyes aflame with the battle-hate. . . .
As you sit in the family pew,
And I see you rising to pass the plate,
I ask: Old Brown, was it you?


"Was it me and you? Was it you and me?
(Is that grammar, or is it not?)
Who groveled in filth and misery,
Who gloried and groused and fought?
Which is the wrong and which is the right?
Which is the false and the true?
The man of peace or the man of fight?
Which is the ME and the YOU?"

Editor 1 Interpretation

Was It You? by Robert Service: A Deep Dive into the Mystery

Have you ever read a poem that left you with a lingering sense of intrigue and wonder? A poem that makes you question your own understanding of reality and human relationships? If you haven't, then you need to read Robert Service's "Was It You?" This classic poem, written in Service's signature style, is a masterful exploration of the human psyche and the mysteries of existence. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will delve deep into the world of "Was It You?" and uncover the hidden meanings and themes that make it such a powerful piece of literature.

The Story

Let's start with a brief summary of the poem. "Was It You?" is a narrative poem that tells the story of a man who is haunted by a mysterious, ethereal presence that seems to be following him wherever he goes. The man is tormented by this presence, which he cannot see or touch but can only sense. He wonders if it is a manifestation of his own guilt and fears, or if it is a divine message from a higher power. As the poem progresses, the man becomes increasingly obsessed with the presence, until he finally confronts it in a dramatic and powerful climax.

The Language

One of the most striking aspects of "Was It You?" is the language that Service uses to tell the story. The poem is written in a simple, straightforward style, with short, sharp lines and a clear rhyme scheme. Yet, despite its simplicity, the language is incredibly evocative and powerful. Service uses vivid imagery and sensory descriptions to create a sense of tension and unease, and his use of repetition and alliteration gives the poem a hypnotic, almost musical quality.

Consider the opening lines of the poem:

Was it you that I heard in the gloom,
As I softly padded along?
Was it you that came out of the room,
Where the dying man kept his song?

These lines set the tone for the entire poem, with their eerie, almost ghostly quality. The repetition of the "u" sound in "gloom" and "room" creates a sense of foreboding, while the use of the word "softly" suggests that the narrator is trying to be quiet and avoid detection. This creates a sense of tension and unease that runs throughout the poem.

The Themes

At its core, "Was It You?" is a poem about the mysteries of existence and the human psyche. The narrator is haunted by a presence that he cannot understand or explain, and he is forced to confront his own fears and doubts as he tries to make sense of it all. This makes the poem incredibly relatable, as we all experience moments of doubt and uncertainty in our lives.

One of the key themes of the poem is the idea of guilt and redemption. The narrator wonders if the presence that is haunting him is a manifestation of his own guilt and fear, and he is forced to confront the possibility that he may be responsible for the death of the dying man. This creates a sense of moral ambiguity that is at the heart of the poem, and it forces the reader to ask themselves difficult questions about their own morality and sense of responsibility.

Another key theme of the poem is the idea of faith and doubt. The narrator is torn between his belief in a higher power and his doubts about the existence of such a power. He wonders if the presence that is haunting him is a divine message, or if it is simply a figment of his own imagination. This creates a sense of tension and conflict that is at the heart of the poem, and it forces the reader to confront their own beliefs and doubts about the nature of existence.

The Interpretation

So, what does it all mean? What is the deeper message that Service is trying to convey with "Was It You?" There are many possible interpretations of the poem, but one of the most compelling is that it is a meditation on the nature of human relationships and the emotional bonds that connect us all.

The presence that is haunting the narrator is never fully explained, but it is clear that it is connected to the dying man in some way. The narrator wonders if the presence is the dying man's spirit, or if it is a manifestation of his own guilt and fear. This creates a sense of emotional ambiguity that is at the heart of the poem, and it forces the reader to ask themselves difficult questions about the nature of human relationships.

Is the narrator haunted by the dying man's spirit because he feels responsible for his death, or because he feels a deep emotional connection to him? Is the presence a symbol of the narrator's own mortality, or is it a reminder of the fragility of human relationships? These are difficult questions to answer, but they are at the heart of the poem's power and depth.

The Conclusion

In conclusion, "Was It You?" is a masterful exploration of the human psyche and the mysteries of existence. It is a poem that forces the reader to confront difficult questions about morality, faith, and human relationships, and it does so with a powerful and evocative use of language. Whether you are a seasoned poetry lover or a casual reader, "Was It You?" is a poem that will stay with you long after you have finished reading it. So, go ahead and read it again - you might just uncover something new and profound each time.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Was It You? by Robert Service is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. It is a poem that is both haunting and beautiful, and it speaks to the human experience in a way that few other poems can. In this analysis, we will take a closer look at the poem and explore its themes, its structure, and its meaning.

Themes

The central theme of the poem is the idea of love and loss. The speaker of the poem is haunted by the memory of a lost love, and he is searching for answers to the questions that he has about what happened. He is trying to understand why his love left him, and he is looking for someone to blame.

Another theme that runs throughout the poem is the idea of regret. The speaker is filled with regret for the things that he did not do, and the things that he did do that may have contributed to the loss of his love. He is filled with a sense of longing for the past, and he is searching for a way to make things right.

Structure

The poem is structured in a way that is both simple and effective. It is written in four stanzas, each with four lines. The rhyme scheme is AABB, which gives the poem a sense of rhythm and flow.

The first stanza sets the tone for the poem, with the speaker asking the question, "Was it you that I loved?" This question is repeated throughout the poem, and it serves as a reminder of the speaker's longing for his lost love.

The second stanza is where the speaker begins to explore his feelings of regret. He asks, "Was it I that was wrong?" and he wonders if he could have done something differently to prevent the loss of his love.

The third stanza is where the speaker begins to assign blame. He asks, "Was it she that deceived?" and he wonders if his love was unfaithful to him.

The final stanza is where the speaker comes to a realization. He realizes that it doesn't matter who was to blame, because the love that he had was real. He says, "It was love, and it came to an end," and he accepts that his love is gone.

Meaning

The meaning of the poem is both simple and complex. On the surface, it is a poem about lost love and the search for answers. But on a deeper level, it is a poem about the human experience.

The speaker of the poem is searching for answers to questions that may never be answered. He is trying to make sense of something that is inherently senseless. But in the end, he comes to a realization that is both profound and heartbreaking.

He realizes that love is not something that can be explained or understood. It is something that simply is. And even though his love has come to an end, he knows that it was real, and that it will always be a part of him.

In conclusion, Was It You? by Robert Service is a beautiful and haunting poem that speaks to the human experience in a way that few other poems can. It explores the themes of love and loss, regret, and the search for answers. It is a poem that will continue to resonate with readers for generations to come.

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