'Music in the Bush' by Robert W. Service


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O'er the dark pines she sees the silver moon,
And in the west, all tremulous, a star;
And soothing sweet she hears the mellow tune
Of cow-bells jangled in the fields afar.

Quite listless, for her daily stent is done,
She stands, sad exile, at her rose-wreathed door,
And sends her love eternal with the sun
That goes to gild the land she'll see no more.

The grave, gaunt pines imprison her sad gaze,
All still the sky and darkling drearily;
She feels the chilly breath of dear, dead days
Come sifting through the alders eerily.

Oh, how the roses riot in their bloom!
The curtains stir as with an ancient pain;
Her old piano gleams from out the gloom
And waits and waits her tender touch in vain.

But now her hands like moonlight brush the keys
With velvet grace -- melodious delight;
And now a sad refrain from over seas
Goes sobbing on the bosom of the night;

And now she sings. (O! singer in the gloom,
Voicing a sorrow we can ne'er express,
Here in the Farness where we few have room
Unshamed to show our love and tenderness,

Our hearts will echo, till they beat no more,
That song of sadness and of motherland;
And, stretched in deathless love to England's shore,
Some day she'll hearken and she'll understand.)

A prima-donna in the shining past,
But now a mother growing old and gray,
She thinks of how she held a people fast
In thrall, and gleaned the triumphs of a day.

She sees a sea of faces like a dream;
She sees herself a queen of song once more;
She sees lips part in rapture, eyes agleam;
She sings as never once she sang before.

She sings a wild, sweet song that throbs with pain,
The added pain of life that transcends art --
A song of home, a deep, celestial strain,
The glorious swan-song of a dying heart.

A lame tramp comes along the railway track,
A grizzled dog whose day is nearly done;
He passes, pauses, then comes slowly back
And listens there -- an audience of one.

She sings -- her golden voice is passion-fraught,
As when she charmed a thousand eager ears;
He listens trembling, and she knows it not,
And down his hollow cheeks roll bitter tears.

She ceases and is still, as if to pray;
There is no sound, the stars are all alight --
Only a wretch who stumbles on his way,
Only a vagrant sobbing in the night.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Poetry, Music in the Bush by Robert W. Service: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation

Are you ready to go on a journey through the Canadian wilderness with Robert W. Service's Poetry, Music in the Bush? This classic poem is a celebration of the natural world, music, and poetry. From the opening lines, Service sets the tone for a magical experience, inviting us to join him in the heart of the forest:

Oh, you'll never know the joy of it till you've tried
In the peace and quiet of the woods to hide,
When the sun burns bright and the day is long,
And you sit and muse to the wild-bird's song.

The poem consists of twelve stanzas, each one a tribute to a different aspect of the beauty and wonder of nature. The first stanza, quoted above, sets the scene for the rest of the poem. Service invites the reader to experience the joy of being in the woods, away from the noise and bustle of civilization. He uses vivid imagery to paint a picture of a peaceful and idyllic setting, where the sun shines bright and the birds sing sweetly.

Nature as a Source of Inspiration

Nature is a central theme in Poetry, Music in the Bush, and Service uses it as a source of inspiration for his poetry. In the second stanza, he writes:

Oh, the poem that flows from a forest's heart
Is sweeter by far than a poet's art;
For the lilt that swings through the branches high
Is caught by the minstrel who's passing by.

Here, Service suggests that the beauty of nature is so great that it inspires poetry that is more beautiful than anything a human poet could create. He imagines the trees and birds as poets, creating their own songs and melodies, and suggests that these are the true poets. He sees himself as a "minstrel" who can capture these songs and turn them into poetry.

In the fifth stanza, Service again extols the virtues of nature as a source of inspiration:

Oh, the joy of it all when the red gods call
To the feast of the forest free;
When the maples flare in a crimson glare,
And the sap runs gold in the tree;
When the shy wild deer at the sight and ear
Of man do not bolt or flee;
When the moose alert in the woods avert
His head from the hunter's tree.

Here, Service describes the changing of the seasons from summer to fall, and the beauty that comes with it. The maples turn red and the sap runs gold, creating a stunning display of color. Service suggests that this beauty is a gift from the "red gods," and that it is a joy to experience. He also notes that in the forest, the animals are not afraid of humans, creating a sense of unity and harmony between all living things.

Music as a Representation of Nature

Music is another central theme in Poetry, Music in the Bush, and Service uses it as a representation of nature. In the third stanza, he writes:

Oh, the symphony strange that the wild woods breathe!
What sonorous vibrations swirl and seethe
In the vibrant air! How they rise and fall!
For the forest is never silent at all.

Here, Service describes the sounds of the forest as a "symphony," with different instruments playing their parts. He suggests that the forest is never truly silent, and that there is always music to be heard if one listens closely enough.

In the sixth stanza, Service goes even further, imagining the forest as an orchestra:

'Tis the orchestra wild of the woodland choir,
And the players are mute as they play;
But the music is there, and its harmony rare
Is sweeping my heart away.

Here, he imagines the birds and animals as the players in an orchestra, creating a harmony that is so beautiful it "sweeps his heart away." He suggests that the music of nature is as powerful as any human-made music, and that it has the ability to move us in profound ways.

The Importance of Imagination

Service places great importance on imagination in Poetry, Music in the Bush. In the eighth stanza, he writes:

Oh, the things we see when we lie and dream
In the mystical, magical shade!
And the whiffs of air that caress us there
Are the wings of Fancy's glade.

Here, he suggests that when we let our imaginations run free, we can see wondrous things in the natural world. He imagines the forest as a "mystical, magical shade," and suggests that the breeze that blows through it is the "wings of Fancy's glade." He encourages us to use our imaginations and to see the world in a new light.

Conclusion

Poetry, Music in the Bush is a celebration of the natural world, music, and poetry. Service uses vivid imagery and a powerful sense of imagination to create a world that is both beautiful and inspiring. He suggests that nature is a source of inspiration for poetry and that music is a representation of the beauty of the world around us. Through his poetry, he encourages us to embrace our imaginations and to see the world in a new light. This classic poem is a true masterpiece, one that will continue to inspire readers for generations to come.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry Music in the Bush: A Masterpiece of Robert W. Service

If you are a lover of poetry, then you must have heard of Robert W. Service. He was a Canadian poet and writer who became famous for his poems about the Yukon and Alaska during the Gold Rush. One of his most famous works is "The Cremation of Sam McGee," but today, we are going to talk about another masterpiece of his, "Poetry Music in the Bush."

"Poetry Music in the Bush" is a poem that describes the beauty of nature and how it can inspire poetry. The poem is set in the Canadian wilderness, and the speaker is a poet who is walking through the bush, listening to the sounds of nature. The poem is divided into three stanzas, each of which describes a different aspect of nature.

The first stanza describes the sounds of the forest. The speaker hears the rustling of leaves, the chirping of birds, and the buzzing of insects. He describes these sounds as "music," and he compares them to the sounds of a symphony orchestra. The speaker is so moved by these sounds that he feels compelled to write poetry.

The second stanza describes the beauty of the forest. The speaker sees the sunlight filtering through the trees, the wildflowers growing on the forest floor, and the animals that live in the forest. He describes the forest as a "cathedral," and he compares the trees to the pillars of a church. The speaker is so moved by the beauty of the forest that he feels compelled to write poetry.

The third stanza describes the power of nature. The speaker sees a storm approaching, and he describes the lightning and thunder as "angry gods." He compares the storm to a battle between the gods of nature and the gods of man. The speaker is so moved by the power of nature that he feels compelled to write poetry.

The poem is written in free verse, which means that it does not follow a specific rhyme scheme or meter. This gives the poem a natural and organic feel, which is appropriate for a poem about nature. The language of the poem is also very descriptive and vivid, which helps to create a strong sense of imagery.

One of the most interesting aspects of the poem is the way that it explores the relationship between nature and poetry. The speaker is inspired to write poetry by the sounds, beauty, and power of nature. He sees nature as a source of inspiration and creativity, and he feels that poetry is a way of capturing the essence of nature.

This idea is not unique to "Poetry Music in the Bush." Many poets throughout history have been inspired by nature, and they have used poetry as a way of expressing their feelings about the natural world. However, Robert W. Service takes this idea to a new level by suggesting that nature is not just a source of inspiration, but that it is also a kind of poetry in itself.

The poem suggests that the sounds, beauty, and power of nature are like a kind of music that can be heard by those who are attuned to it. The speaker hears this music and is moved to write poetry, but he also suggests that anyone can hear this music if they listen closely enough. This idea is very powerful because it suggests that nature is not just a passive backdrop to human activity, but that it is an active and dynamic force that can inspire and move us.

Another interesting aspect of the poem is the way that it explores the relationship between nature and civilization. The speaker suggests that nature is a kind of cathedral, and he compares the trees to the pillars of a church. This suggests that nature is a sacred space that is worthy of reverence and respect.

However, the poem also suggests that nature is under threat from civilization. The speaker describes the storm as a battle between the gods of nature and the gods of man, which suggests that there is a conflict between nature and civilization. This conflict is still relevant today, as we continue to grapple with issues like climate change and environmental degradation.

In conclusion, "Poetry Music in the Bush" is a masterpiece of Robert W. Service. It explores the relationship between nature and poetry in a powerful and evocative way, and it suggests that nature is not just a source of inspiration, but that it is also a kind of poetry in itself. The poem is a reminder of the beauty and power of nature, and it is a call to action to protect and preserve the natural world.

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