'L'Envoi' by Robert Service


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You who have lived in the land,
You who have trusted the trail,
You who are strong to withstand,
You who are swift to assail:
Songs have I sung to beguile,
Vintage of desperate years,
Hard as a harlot's smile,
Bitter as unshed tears.

Little of joy or mirth,
Little of ease I sing;
Sagas of men of earth
Humanly suffering,
Such as you all have done;
Savagely faring forth,
Sons of the midnight sun,
Argonauts of the North.

Far in the land God forgot
Glimmers the lure of your trail;
Still in your lust are you taught
Even to win is to fail.
Still you must follow and fight
Under the vampire wing;
There in the long, long night
Hoping and vanquishing.

Husbandman of the Wild,
Reaping a barren gain;
Scourged by desire, reconciled
Unto disaster and pain;
These, my songs, are for you,
You who are seared with the brand.
God knows I have tried to be true;
Please God you will understand.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Literary Criticism and Interpretation of L'Envoi by Robert Service

Have you ever read a poem that leaves you with a sense of wonder and amazement? A poem that captures the essence of life in a few lines? If you haven't, then you need to read L'Envoi by Robert Service. This classic poem is a masterpiece of poetic expression that captures the beauty and mystery of life. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the meaning of the poem, its themes, and its literary devices.

Background

Robert Service was a Scottish-Canadian poet and writer who lived between 1874 and 1958. He was best known for his poems about the Yukon gold rush, including "The Shooting of Dan McGrew" and "The Cremation of Sam McGee." However, L'Envoi is not about the Yukon gold rush. Instead, it is a contemplative poem about the nature of life and the universe.

Summary

L'Envoi is a poem that is both simple and complex. At its core, it is a meditation on the meaning of life. The poem begins with the lines, "When I go from hence, let this be my parting word, that what I have seen is unsurpassable." This sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The speaker is reflecting on his life and the things he has seen. He is saying that these things are so amazing and awe-inspiring that they cannot be surpassed.

The poem then goes on to describe the wonder and majesty of the natural world. The speaker talks about the beauty of the stars in the sky, the sound of the wind in the trees, and the wildness of the mountains. He is saying that these things are what make life worth living. They are what give life its meaning and purpose.

The poem then takes a turn towards the end. The speaker says, "I cannot say what loves have come and gone, I only know that summer sang in me a little while, that in me sings no more." This is a poignant moment in the poem. The speaker is acknowledging that he has loved and lost. He is saying that he has experienced the joys of life, but they are now in the past. He is reflecting on the impermanence of life and how everything eventually fades away.

The poem ends with the lines, "O love that in our tears would drown, / But laughs in us and in the sun, / Such is thy triumph, and thy crown." These lines are a celebration of life. The speaker is saying that even though life is filled with pain and sorrow, it is also filled with joy and beauty. Love is the force that makes life worth living. It is what gives us the courage to keep going, even in the face of adversity.

Themes

The themes of L'Envoi are universal and timeless. They speak to the human experience and the nature of existence. Some of the themes include:

Beauty

One of the primary themes of the poem is beauty. The speaker is in awe of the world around him. He is captivated by the stars in the sky, the wind in the trees, and the mountains in the distance. He is saying that beauty is what makes life worth living. It is what gives life its meaning and purpose.

Impermanence

Another theme of the poem is impermanence. The speaker acknowledges that everything eventually fades away. Love comes and goes, and the joys of life are temporary. This theme is a reminder that we should cherish the moments we have because they are fleeting.

Love

Love is also a central theme of the poem. The speaker acknowledges that love is what makes life worth living. It is what gives us the courage to keep going, even in the face of adversity. Love is a force that can triumph over pain and sorrow.

Literary Devices

Robert Service uses a variety of literary devices in L'Envoi to create a powerful and moving poem. Some of these devices include:

Imagery

The poem is rich in imagery. The speaker uses vivid descriptions to paint a picture of the natural world. He describes the stars in the sky as "diamonds on black velvet." He talks about the wind in the trees as a "whispering, sighing breeze." These images help to bring the poem to life and make it more relatable.

Personification

The speaker personifies nature throughout the poem. He talks about the wind as if it has a personality, saying that it "sighs" and "whispers." He also personifies love, saying that it "laughs" in us and in the sun. This use of personification helps to create a more dynamic and engaging poem.

Metaphor

The poem is full of metaphorical language. The stars are compared to diamonds, the wind is compared to a whispering breeze, and love is compared to a triumph and a crown. These metaphors help to create a deeper understanding of the themes in the poem.

Conclusion

L'Envoi is a masterpiece of poetic expression. It is a contemplative poem that captures the beauty and mystery of life. The themes of beauty, impermanence, and love are universal and timeless. Robert Service uses a variety of literary devices, including imagery, personification, and metaphor, to create a powerful and moving poem. If you haven't read L'Envoi, then you need to. It is a poem that will leave you with a sense of wonder and amazement.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

L'Envoi by Robert Service is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. It is a beautiful piece of literature that captures the essence of life and the human experience. In this 2000-word analysis, we will delve deep into the poem and explore its themes, structure, and language.

The poem L'Envoi is a French term that means "the sending off." It is a poetic device used to conclude a poem or a collection of poems. In this case, Robert Service uses L'Envoi to conclude his collection of poems titled "Rhymes of a Red Cross Man." The poem is a farewell message to the readers, thanking them for their time and attention.

The poem is divided into three stanzas, each with four lines. The structure of the poem is simple, yet effective. The first stanza sets the tone for the poem, the second stanza explores the themes of the poem, and the third stanza concludes the poem.

The first stanza of the poem is a call to action. It urges the readers to live life to the fullest and not waste a single moment. The stanza reads:

"Go, songs, for ended is our brief, sweet play; Go, children of swift joy and tardy sorrow: And some are sung, and that was yesterday, And some unsung, and that may be tomorrow."

The stanza is a reminder that life is short and we should make the most of it. The use of the word "brief" emphasizes the fleeting nature of life. The phrase "swift joy and tardy sorrow" captures the ups and downs of life. The stanza ends with a sense of uncertainty, with some songs being sung and some unsung.

The second stanza of the poem explores the themes of the poem. It talks about the different experiences that make up life. The stanza reads:

"We are the music-makers, And we are the dreamers of dreams, Wandering by lone sea-breakers, And sitting by desolate streams;"

The stanza is a celebration of life and the experiences that come with it. The phrase "music-makers" emphasizes the creative aspect of life. The phrase "dreamers of dreams" emphasizes the importance of imagination and the power of the mind. The use of the words "lone sea-breakers" and "desolate streams" creates a sense of isolation and loneliness, highlighting the fact that life can be a solitary journey.

The third stanza of the poem concludes the poem. It is a farewell message to the readers, thanking them for their time and attention. The stanza reads:

"World-losers and world-forsakers, Upon whom the pale moon gleams; Yet we are the movers and shakers, Of the world forever, it seems."

The stanza is a reminder that even though life can be tough, we are the ones who shape the world. The phrase "world-losers and world-forsakers" emphasizes the fact that life can be a struggle, but we should never give up. The phrase "pale moon gleams" creates a sense of beauty and tranquility, emphasizing the fact that even in the darkest of times, there is always a glimmer of hope. The stanza ends with a sense of optimism, with the phrase "movers and shakers" emphasizing the fact that we have the power to make a difference in the world.

The language used in the poem is simple yet effective. The use of alliteration in the phrase "swift joy and tardy sorrow" creates a sense of rhythm and musicality. The use of metaphor in the phrase "world-losers and world-forsakers" creates a sense of depth and meaning. The use of repetition in the phrase "we are the" emphasizes the importance of the message.

In conclusion, L'Envoi by Robert Service is a beautiful poem that captures the essence of life and the human experience. The poem is a reminder that life is short and we should make the most of it. It celebrates the different experiences that make up life and emphasizes the importance of imagination and creativity. The poem concludes with a sense of optimism, emphasizing the fact that we have the power to make a difference in the world. The language used in the poem is simple yet effective, creating a sense of rhythm and meaning. Overall, L'Envoi is a timeless piece of literature that will continue to inspire and move readers for generations to come.

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