'The Telegraph Operator' by Robert W. Service


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1I will not wash my face;
2I will not brush my hair;
3I "pig" around the place --
4There's nobody to care.
5Nothing but rock and tree;
6Nothing but wood and stone;
7Oh God, it's hell to be
8Alone, alone, alone.

9Snow-peaks and deep-gashed draws
10Corral me in a ring.
11 I feel as if I was
12The only living thing
13 On all this blighted earth;
14And so I frowst and shrink,
15 And crouching by my hearth,
16I hear the thoughts I think.

17 I think of all I miss --
18The boys I used to know;
19 The girls I used to kiss;
20The coin I used to blow:
21 The bars I used to haunt;
22The racket and the row;
23 The beers I didn't want
24(I wish I had 'em now).

25 Day after day the same,
26Only a little worse;
27 No one to grouch or blame --
28Oh, for a loving curse!
29 Oh, in the night I fear,
30Haunted by nameless things,
31 Just for a voice to cheer,
32Just for a hand that clings!

33 Faintly as from a star
34Voices come o'er the line;
35 Voices of ghosts afar,
36 &160;&160;Not in this world of mine.
37 Lives in whose loom I grope;
38Words in whose weft I hear
39 Eager the thrill of hope,
40Awful the chill of fear.

41 I'm thinking out aloud;
42I reckon that is bad;
43 (The snow is like a shroud) --
44Maybe I'm going mad.
45 Say! wouldn't that be tough?
46This awful hush that hugs
47 And chokes one is enough
48To make a man go "bugs".

49 There's not a thing to do;
50I cannot sleep at night;
51 No wonder I'm so blue;
52Oh, for a friendly fight!
53 The din and rush of strife;
54A music-hall aglow;
55 A crowd, a city, life --
56Dear God, I miss it so!

57 Here, you have moped enough!
58Brace up and play the game!
59 But say, it's awful tough --
60Day after day the same
61 (I've said that twice, I bet).
62Well, there's not much to say.
63 I wish I had a pet,
64Or something I could play.

65 Cheer up! don't get so glum
66And sick of everything;
67 The worst is yet to come;
68God help you till the Spring.
69 God shield you from the Fear;
70Teach you to laugh, not moan.
71 Ha! ha! it sounds so queer --
72Alone, alone, alone.

Editor 1 Interpretation

The Telegraph Operator: A Masterpiece of Narrative Poetry

The Telegraph Operator, written by Robert W. Service, is a classic poem that tells the story of a lonely telegraph operator who falls in love with a mysterious woman he hears on the telegraph wire. The poem is a masterpiece of narrative poetry, combining vivid imagery, gripping storytelling, and powerful emotions to create a memorable work of art.

The Power of Imagery

One of the most striking elements of The Telegraph Operator is its vivid imagery. Service uses language to paint a picture of the lonely telegraph office:

The midnight shift is on the wire,
And at the key-board sits
A drowsy man with puffy eyes,
And aching head by fits.

These lines immediately set the scene, creating a sense of the dark, lonely, and oppressive atmosphere of the telegraph office. The imagery continues throughout the poem, as Service describes the woman on the other end of the line:

She's calling from the canyon lands
Beside the Mesa's rim,
With love-lorn voice and yearning:
"Oh, answer me, Jim, oh, Jim!"

The description of the canyon lands and the Mesa's rim adds a touch of romance and mystery to the scene, while the woman's voice is described as "love-lorn" and "yearning," creating a sense of longing and desire that draws the reader in.

The Art of Storytelling

Another notable aspect of The Telegraph Operator is its skillful storytelling. Service uses a simple but effective narrative to tell the story of Jim and the woman on the wire. The poem begins with Jim working the midnight shift, feeling lonely and isolated. Then, he hears the woman's voice on the wire, and they begin to talk. As they exchange messages, Jim becomes more and more enamored with the woman, even though he has never seen her face.

Service builds up the tension and emotion of the story gradually, using small details to create a sense of intimacy and connection between the two characters:

And so night after night they talk,
And she's so sweet and kind,
And Jim imagines what she's like
Until he's nearly blind.

The use of the phrase "nearly blind" suggests that Jim's imagination is so vivid that he can't see anything else; he is completely consumed by his love for the woman on the wire.

The Power of Emotion

The Telegraph Operator is a deeply emotional poem, full of passion, longing, and despair. Service uses language to convey the intensity of Jim's feelings for the woman on the wire:

He loves her voice, he loves her soul,
He loves her more than life,
And in the very depths of him
He's proud to call her wife.

These lines reveal the depth of Jim's love for the woman, and his desire to be with her and make her his wife. The poem is full of these powerful emotions, which are heightened by the simple and direct language that Service uses.

Conclusion

In conclusion, The Telegraph Operator is a masterpiece of narrative poetry, combining vivid imagery, skillful storytelling, and powerful emotions to create a memorable work of art. It is a testament to Robert W. Service's skill as a poet that he can evoke such strong feelings in the reader with such simple language and imagery. The poem is a timeless classic that deserves to be read and appreciated by generations of poetry lovers to come.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

The Telegraph Operator: A Classic Poem by Robert W. Service

If you are a fan of classic poetry, then you must have come across the famous poem, The Telegraph Operator, written by Robert W. Service. This poem is a masterpiece that captures the essence of the telegraph operator's life in the early 20th century. In this article, we will take a closer look at the poem and analyze its themes, structure, and literary devices.

The poem is set in the early 1900s, a time when telegraph operators were an essential part of communication. The telegraph was the fastest means of communication at the time, and telegraph operators were responsible for transmitting messages across long distances. The poem is a tribute to these unsung heroes who worked tirelessly to keep the lines of communication open.

The poem begins with the line, "I will not cease from mental fight." This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as it suggests that the telegraph operator's job is not an easy one. The telegraph operator is constantly fighting to keep the lines of communication open, even in the face of adversity. The poem goes on to describe the telegraph operator's life, from the long hours spent in the telegraph office to the dangers of working in remote locations.

One of the themes of the poem is the importance of communication. The telegraph operator is responsible for transmitting messages that can be a matter of life and death. The poem highlights the crucial role that telegraph operators played in keeping people connected, even in the most challenging circumstances. The telegraph operator is described as a "wizard of the wire," a master of his craft who can send messages across vast distances with ease.

Another theme of the poem is the isolation that telegraph operators often faced. The telegraph operator is often alone in the telegraph office, with only the sound of the telegraph key for company. The poem describes the telegraph operator's longing for human contact, as he listens to the sound of the telegraph key, hoping for a message from someone, anyone.

The structure of the poem is simple but effective. The poem is divided into four stanzas, each with four lines. The rhyme scheme is ABAB, which gives the poem a musical quality. The use of repetition in the poem is also effective, as it emphasizes the telegraph operator's tireless work. The repetition of the line, "I will not cease from mental fight," reinforces the idea that the telegraph operator's job is never done.

The poem also makes use of several literary devices, including imagery and metaphor. The use of imagery in the poem is particularly effective, as it helps to create a vivid picture of the telegraph operator's life. The line, "The lonely office light burns low," creates an image of the telegraph operator working late into the night, alone in the telegraph office. The metaphor of the telegraph operator as a "wizard of the wire" is also effective, as it suggests that the telegraph operator has a magical ability to send messages across vast distances.

In conclusion, The Telegraph Operator is a classic poem that captures the essence of the telegraph operator's life in the early 20th century. The poem highlights the importance of communication and the isolation that telegraph operators often faced. The structure of the poem is simple but effective, and the use of literary devices such as imagery and metaphor adds depth to the poem. Overall, The Telegraph Operator is a masterpiece of classic poetry that is still relevant today.

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