'Moon Song' by Robert Service


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A child saw in the morning skies
The dissipated-looking moon,
And opened wide her big blue eyes,
And cried: "Look, look, my lost balloon!"
And clapped her rosy hands with glee:
"Quick, mother! Bring it back to me."

A poet in a lilied pond
Espied the moon's reflected charms,
And ravished by that beauty blonde,
Leapt out to clasp her in his arms.
And as he'd never learnt to swim,
Poor fool! that was the end of him.

A rustic glimpsed amid the trees
The bluff moon caught as in a snare.
"They say it do be made of cheese,"
Said Giles, "and that a chap bides there. . . .
That Blue Boar ale be strong, I vow --
The lad's a-winkin' at me now."

Two lovers watched the new moon hold
The old moon in her bright embrace.
Said she: "There's mother, pale and old,
And drawing near her resting place."
Said he: "Be mine, and with me wed,"
Moon-high she stared . . . she shook her head.

A soldier saw with dying eyes
The bleared moon like a ball of blood,
And thought of how in other skies,
So pearly bright on leaf and bud
Like peace its soft white beams had lain;
Like Peace! . . . He closed his eyes again.

Child, lover, poet, soldier, clown,
Ah yes, old Moon, what things you've seen!
I marvel now, as you look down,
How can your face be so serene?
And tranquil still you'll make your round,
Old Moon, when we are underground.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Moon Song by Robert Service: A Masterpiece of Poetic Imagery

Moon Song, written by Robert Service, is a beautiful and haunting poem that captures the essence of nighttime beauty. The poem is an excellent example of Service's skill as a poet and his ability to use language to evoke powerful emotions and vivid images in the reader's mind.

At its core, Moon Song is a meditation on the beauty of the moon and its ability to create a sense of peace and tranquility in the world. The poem is written in a simple and straightforward style that belies the complexity of the imagery that Service employs.

The poem begins with a simple statement:

A silver dollar,
a lustrous moon,

This opening line sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The moon is compared to a silver dollar, which is an image that immediately creates a strong visual association in the reader's mind. The image of a silver dollar is one that is universally recognized, and it immediately establishes the moon as something that is valuable and precious.

Service then goes on to describe the moon as being lustrous. This is an interesting choice of words, as it suggests that the moon is not just bright or shiny, but that it has a quality of radiance or luminosity that is almost supernatural in nature. This sense of otherworldliness is reinforced later in the poem when Service describes the moon as being "a ghostly ship on a ghostly sea."

As the poem progresses, Service continues to use vivid and evocative imagery to describe the moon and its effect on the world around it. He describes how the moon casts a silvery light across the landscape, turning everything into a ghostly and ethereal version of itself. He also notes how the moon seems to have a calming effect on the world, creating a sense of stillness and quiet that is almost palpable:

And all that the gables grey and the chimney stacks
Know of the moon is a silver wash,
And all that the leafy lanes and the clover tracts
Know of the moon is a ghostly flash.

All night long, in a soft moon haze,
I will walk and muse and dream,
And the moonlight falling on my face
Will let me see things as they seem.

Service's use of language in these passages is particularly effective. The repeated use of the word "ghostly" creates a sense of otherworldliness and ethereality that is perfectly suited to the moon's nocturnal nature. The description of the moon as a "silver wash" and a "ghostly flash" also creates a sense of movement and fluidity that is in keeping with the ever-changing nature of the moon's light.

One of the most striking aspects of Moon Song is the way in which Service blends the natural and supernatural worlds. The moon, as described in the poem, is not just a physical object, but a force of nature that has the power to transform the world around it. Service writes:

The moon is a ghostly ship on a ghostly sea,
The world is haunted by her as she sails through the sky,
And one could almost swear that the moon is a she,
Who has come to her tryst with the stars up high.

This passage is particularly interesting in that it suggests that the moon is not just an object, but a living entity with agency and purpose. The personification of the moon as a "she" is also significant, as it ties the moon to the feminine principle and suggests a connection between the moon and the natural cycles of life and death.

Overall, Moon Song is a masterful poem that showcases Robert Service's skill as a poet. The imagery is vivid and evocative, and the language is simple yet powerful. The poem captures the beauty and wonder of the moon, and its ability to create a sense of peace and tranquility in the world. It is a testament to the enduring power of poetry to evoke powerful emotions and create lasting impressions on the human mind.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Moon Song: A Poem of Love and Longing

Robert Service’s Moon Song is a classic poem that has captured the hearts of many readers since its publication in 1915. The poem is a beautiful expression of love and longing, set against the backdrop of a moonlit night. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, imagery, and language used in the poem to understand its deeper meaning.

The poem begins with the speaker describing the moon as a “silver sail” that is “afloat on the seas of night”. This imagery sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as the moon becomes a symbol of hope and longing for the speaker. The moon is a constant presence throughout the poem, and its light is described as “soft and bright” and “a beacon to my questing eyes”. This imagery creates a sense of comfort and reassurance for the speaker, as if the moon is a guiding light that will lead him to his beloved.

The poem’s central theme is love and longing, and the speaker’s desire for his beloved is palpable throughout the poem. He describes her as “my heart’s delight” and “my soul’s desire”, and his longing for her is so strong that he wishes he could “fly to her side”. The speaker’s love for his beloved is all-consuming, and he is willing to do anything to be with her.

The poem’s language is simple and straightforward, but it is also deeply emotional. The speaker’s words are filled with passion and longing, and his love for his beloved is expressed in every line. The poem’s structure is also noteworthy, as it is written in four-line stanzas with a consistent rhyme scheme. This structure creates a sense of rhythm and flow, and it also adds to the poem’s emotional impact.

One of the most striking aspects of the poem is its use of imagery. The moon is a central image in the poem, and it is used to create a sense of longing and hope. The moon is described as a “silver sail” and a “beacon”, and these images create a sense of movement and direction. The moon is also described as “soft and bright”, which creates a sense of comfort and reassurance for the speaker.

Another important image in the poem is the speaker’s beloved. She is described as “my heart’s delight” and “my soul’s desire”, and these images create a sense of intimacy and closeness. The speaker’s love for his beloved is so strong that he wishes he could “fly to her side”, which creates a sense of urgency and longing.

The poem’s imagery is also used to create a sense of contrast. The moon is described as “afloat on the seas of night”, which creates a sense of vastness and emptiness. This contrast is heightened by the speaker’s longing for his beloved, which creates a sense of intimacy and closeness. The contrast between the vastness of the moon and the intimacy of the speaker’s love creates a sense of tension and longing that is at the heart of the poem.

In conclusion, Moon Song is a beautiful poem that captures the essence of love and longing. The poem’s imagery, language, and structure all work together to create a sense of passion and urgency that is deeply moving. The moon is a central image in the poem, and it is used to create a sense of hope and longing. The speaker’s love for his beloved is expressed in every line, and his longing for her is so strong that he wishes he could fly to her side. Moon Song is a timeless poem that speaks to the heart of human experience, and it will continue to captivate readers for generations to come.

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