'The Parson's Son' by Robert W. Service
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This is the song of the parson's son, as he squats in his shack alone,
On the wild, weird nights, when the Northern Lights shoot up from the frozen zone,
And it's sixty below, and couched in the snow the hungry huskies moan:
"I'm one of the Arctic brotherhood, I'm an old-time pioneer.
I came with the first -- O God! how I've cursed this Yukon -- but still I'm here.
I've sweated athirst in its summer heat, I've frozen and starved in its cold;
I've followed my dreams by its thousand streams, I've toiled and moiled for its gold.
"Look at my eyes -- been snow-blind twice; look where my foot's half gone;
And that gruesome scar on my left cheek, where the frost-fiend bit to the bone.
Each one a brand of this devil's land, where I've played and I've lost the game,
A broken wreck with a craze for 'hooch', and never a cent to my name.
"This mining is only a gamble; the worst is as good as the best;
I was in with the bunch and I might have come out right on top with the rest;
With Cormack, Ladue and MacDonald -- O God! but it's hell to think
Of the thousands and thousands I've squandered on cards and women and drink.
"In the early days we were just a few, and we hunted and fished around,
Nor dreamt by our lonely camp-fires of the wealth that lay under the ground.
We traded in skins and whiskey, and I've often slept under the shade
Of that lone birch tree on Bonanza, where the first big find was made.
"We were just like a great big family, and every man had his squaw,
And we lived such a wild, free, fearless life beyond the pale of the law;
Till sudden there came a whisper, and it maddened us every man,
And I got in on Bonanza before the big rush began.
"Oh, those Dawson days, and the sin and the blaze, and the town all open wide!
(If God made me in His likeness, sure He let the devil inside).
But we were all mad, both the good and the bad, and as for the women, well --
No spot on the map in so short a space has hustled more souls to hell.
"Money was just like dirt there, easy to get and to spend.
I was all caked in on a dance-hall jade, but she shook me in the end.
It put me queer, and for near a year I never drew sober breath,
Till I found myself in the bughouse ward with a claim staked out on death.
"Twenty years in the Yukon, struggling along its creeks;
Roaming its giant valleys, scaling its god-like peaks;
Bathed in its fiery sunsets, fighting its fiendish cold --
Twenty years in the Yukon. . .twenty years -- and I'm old.
"Old and weak, but no matter, there's 'hooch' in the bottle still.
I'll hitch up the dogs to-morrow, and mush down the trail to Bill.
It's so long dark, and I'm lonesome -- I'll just lay down on the bed;
To-morrow I'll go. . .to-morrow. . .I guess I'll play on the red.
". . .Come, Kit, your pony is saddled. I'm waiting, dear, in the court. . .
. . .Minnie, you devil, I'll kill you if you skip with that flossy sport. . .
. . .How much does it go to the pan, Bill?. . . play up, School, and play the game. . .
. . .Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. . ."
This was the song of the parson's son, as he lay in his bunk alone,
Ere the fire went out and the cold crept in, and his blue lips ceased to moan,
And the hunger-maddened malamutes had torn him flesh from bone.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Parson's Son: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Have you ever read a poem that left you feeling as if you had just been on a journey? That's exactly what Robert W. Service's "The Parson's Son" does. This poem is a stunning piece of literature that takes the reader on a voyage of discovery, both within themselves and the world around them. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the themes, symbolism, and literary devices used in "The Parson's Son" to gain a deeper understanding of this powerful poem.
Themes
At its core, "The Parson's Son" is a poem about the search for meaning and purpose in life. The parson's son, the protagonist of the poem, is on a quest to find something that will give his life meaning. He is searching for a purpose beyond the religious dogma that he has been taught all his life. This theme is evident in the first stanza of the poem, where the parson's son declares his desire to "search for truth and light."
The theme of searching for truth and light is further developed in the second stanza, where the parson's son sets out on his journey. He leaves his home and his father's church, symbolizing his departure from his old way of thinking. He travels through the countryside, meeting various people and experiencing different things, all in his quest for something that will give his life meaning.
The third stanza of the poem is where the theme of searching for meaning takes on a more personal tone. The parson's son meets a woman, and they fall in love. This love, however, is not enough to satisfy his search for meaning. He realizes that he still has not found what he is looking for, and so he continues on his journey.
The fourth and final stanza of the poem brings the theme of searching for meaning to its conclusion. The parson's son finally finds what he has been looking for, but it is not in the world around him. It is within himself. He realizes that the truth and light he has been searching for are already within him. He has been searching for something that was inside him all along.
Symbolism
"The Parson's Son" is a poem rich in symbolism. From the parson's son's journey to the various characters he meets along the way, every element of the poem has a deeper meaning.
One of the most important symbols in the poem is the parson's son's journey. His departure from his father's church and his travels through the countryside represent his departure from his old way of thinking and his search for something new. The journey is also a metaphor for the search for truth and light that the parson's son is on.
The characters that the parson's son meets along the way are also rich in symbolism. The old man he meets in the first stanza represents the wisdom of age and experience. The woman he falls in love with represents love and the search for emotional fulfillment. The soldier he meets in the third stanza represents the search for something greater than oneself.
Another important symbol in the poem is the parson's son's realization that the truth and light he has been searching for are within him. This symbolizes the idea that the answers to life's biggest questions are not outside of ourselves but within us.
Literary Devices
Robert W. Service employs a variety of literary devices in "The Parson's Son" to create a powerful and moving poem.
One of the most prominent literary devices in the poem is imagery. Service uses vivid imagery to bring the parson's son's journey to life. From the "long white road that snaked away" to the "sunlit glades where violets blow," every detail of the parson's son's journey is brought to life through imagery.
Another important literary device in the poem is the use of metaphor. The parson's son's journey is a metaphor for the search for truth and light, while the characters he meets along the way are metaphors for the different aspects of this search.
Service also uses repetition in the poem to create a sense of rhythm and emphasis. The phrase "search for truth and light" is repeated several times throughout the poem, driving home the central theme of the poem.
Conclusion
"The Parson's Son" is a stunning poem that explores the search for meaning and purpose in life. Through vivid imagery, powerful symbolism, and expert use of literary devices, Robert W. Service creates a poem that is both moving and thought-provoking. As the parson's son travels through the countryside, searching for truth and light, we are taken on a journey of our own, one that forces us to examine our own lives and search for meaning within ourselves. It is a poem that will stay with you long after you have finished reading it, a true masterpiece of literature.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Parson's Son: A Classic Poem by Robert W. Service
Robert W. Service is a renowned poet who has left an indelible mark on the world of literature. His poems are known for their vivid imagery, powerful emotions, and captivating storytelling. One of his most famous works is "The Parson's Son," a poem that tells the story of a young man who struggles to reconcile his religious beliefs with his desire for adventure and freedom.
The poem begins with a description of the parson's son, who is "tall and slim and supple, / And brown as a berry in the sun." He is a handsome young man, full of energy and vitality, but he is also burdened by his father's expectations. The parson's son is expected to follow in his father's footsteps and become a minister, but he longs for something more.
The first stanza sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as it describes the conflict between the parson's son's desire for adventure and his sense of duty to his father and his faith. The second stanza continues this theme, as the parson's son dreams of "the lure of the trail" and "the call of the wild." He imagines himself as a cowboy, riding the range and living a life of freedom and adventure.
However, the parson's son is torn between his desire for adventure and his sense of duty to his father and his faith. He knows that his father expects him to become a minister, and he feels guilty for wanting something different. In the third stanza, he prays for guidance, asking God to show him the right path to follow.
The fourth stanza is a turning point in the poem, as the parson's son decides to leave home and seek his fortune. He packs his bags and sets out on the road, determined to find his place in the world. The fifth stanza describes his journey, as he travels through "the land of the free" and experiences the joys and sorrows of life on the road.
The sixth and final stanza brings the poem full circle, as the parson's son returns home and reflects on his journey. He realizes that he has found what he was looking for, but he also knows that he can never go back to the life he had before. He has grown and changed, and he must now find a way to reconcile his new experiences with his faith and his duty to his father.
"The Parson's Son" is a powerful poem that explores the themes of freedom, adventure, and duty. It is a poem that speaks to the heart of every young person who has ever felt torn between their desire for adventure and their sense of duty to their family and their faith. Robert W. Service's vivid imagery and powerful storytelling make this poem a timeless classic that will continue to inspire and captivate readers for generations to come.
One of the most striking aspects of "The Parson's Son" is its use of vivid imagery. Service's descriptions of the parson's son and his journey are so vivid that they almost leap off the page. For example, in the first stanza, he describes the parson's son as "tall and slim and supple, / And brown as a berry in the sun." This description not only gives us a clear picture of what the parson's son looks like, but it also suggests that he is full of energy and vitality.
Similarly, in the second stanza, Service uses vivid imagery to describe the parson's son's dreams of adventure. He writes that the parson's son longs for "the lure of the trail" and "the call of the wild." These phrases are so evocative that we can almost feel the pull of the open road ourselves.
Another striking aspect of "The Parson's Son" is its exploration of the theme of duty. The parson's son feels a strong sense of duty to his father and his faith, but he also feels a strong desire for adventure and freedom. This conflict is at the heart of the poem, and it is one that many young people can relate to.
In the third stanza, the parson's son prays for guidance, asking God to show him the right path to follow. This prayer is a powerful expression of his sense of duty and his desire to do the right thing. However, it also suggests that he is struggling to find his own way in the world.
The fourth stanza is a turning point in the poem, as the parson's son decides to leave home and seek his fortune. This decision is a bold one, and it shows that he is willing to take risks in order to find his place in the world. However, it also suggests that he is willing to break with tradition and forge his own path.
The fifth stanza describes the parson's son's journey, as he travels through "the land of the free" and experiences the joys and sorrows of life on the road. This stanza is full of vivid descriptions and powerful emotions, as the parson's son encounters a wide range of people and experiences.
The sixth and final stanza brings the poem full circle, as the parson's son returns home and reflects on his journey. He realizes that he has found what he was looking for, but he also knows that he can never go back to the life he had before. This realization is a powerful one, and it suggests that the parson's son has grown and changed as a result of his experiences.
In conclusion, "The Parson's Son" is a classic poem that explores the themes of freedom, adventure, and duty. Robert W. Service's vivid imagery and powerful storytelling make this poem a timeless classic that will continue to inspire and captivate readers for generations to come. Whether you are a young person struggling to find your place in the world or an older reader looking back on your own journey, this poem is sure to resonate with you on a deep and emotional level.
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