'The Twins Of Lucky Strike' by Robert Service


AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay


I've sung of Violet de Vere, that slinky, minky dame,
Of Gertie of the Diamond Tooth, and Touch-the-Button Nell,
And Maye Lamore,--at eighty-four I oughta blush wi' shame
That in my wild and wooly youth I knew them ladies well.
And Klondike Kit, and Gumboot Sue, and many I've forgot;
They had their faults, as I recall, the same as you and me;
But come to take them all in all, the daisy of the lot,
The glamour queen of dance-hall dames was Montreal Maree.
And yet her heart was bigger than a barn, the boys would say;
Always the first to help the weak, and so with words of woe,
She put me wise that Lipstick Lou was in the family way:
"An' who ze baby's fazzaire ees, only ze bon Dieu know."
Then on a black and bitter night passed on poor Lipstick Lou;
And by her bedside, midwife wise, wi' tears aflowin' free,
A holdin' out the newly born,--an' by gosh! there was two:
"Helas! I am zere mossaire now," said Montreal Maree.

Said One-eyed Mike: "In Lucky Strike we've never yet had twins,"
As darin' inundation he held one upon each knee.
"Say, boys, ain't they a purty sight, as like's a pair o' pins--
We gotta hold a christinin' wi' Father Tim McGee."
"I aim to be their Godpa," bellowed Black Moran from Nome.
"The guy wot don't love childer is a blasted S.O.B.:
So long as I can tot a gun them kids won't lack a home."
"I sink zey creep into my heart," said Montreal Maree.

'Twas hectic in the Nugget Bar, the hooch was flowin' free,
An' Lousetown Liz was singin' of how someone done her wrong,
Wi' sixty seeded sourdoughs all ahollerin' their glee,
When One-eyed Mike uprose an' called suspension of the song.
Says he: "Aloodin' to them twins, their age in months is two,
An' I propose wi' Christmas close, we offer them a tree.
'Twill sure be mighty pleasin' to the ghost o' Lipstick Lou . . ."
"Zen you will be ze Père Noël," said Montreal Maree.

The dance hall of the Nugget Bar erupted joy an' light,
An' set upon the stage them twins was elegant to see,
Like angel cherubs in their robes of pure baptismal white,
Abaskin' in the sunny smile o' Father tim McGee.
Then on the bar stood Santa Claus, says he: "We'll form a Trust;
So all you sourdoughs heft your pokes an' hang 'em on the Tree.
To give them kids a chance in life we'll raise enough or bust!"
"For zem I pray ze Lord to bless," said Montreal Maree.

You never saw a Christmas Tree so swell as that, I vow,
Wi' sixty sweaty sourdoughs ringin' round them infants two;
Their solid pokes o' virgin gold aweighin' down each bough,
All singin' Christ Is Risen, for the soul o' Lipstick Lou,
"Lo! Death is a deliverer, the purger of our sins,
And Motherhood leads up to God," said Father Tim McGee.
Then all the Ladies of the Line bent down to kiss them twins,
Clasped to the breast, Madonna-like, of Montreal Maree.

Sure 'tis the love of childer makes for savin' of the soul,
And in Maternity the hope of humankind we see;
So though she wears no halo, headin' out for Heaven's goal,
Awheelin' of a double pram,--bless Montreal Maree!

Editor 1 Interpretation

The Twins of Lucky Strike: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation

Robert Service's "The Twins of Lucky Strike" is a classic poem that tells the story of two siblings, Jack and Jill, who set out on a quest to find their fortune in the gold fields of the Yukon. This 62-line poem is packed with imagery, symbolism, and literary techniques that make it a masterpiece of Canadian literature.

The Plot

The poem begins with an introduction to the twins, who are both "tall and thin and lank and brown." They have come to the Yukon seeking their fortune, and they are determined to find it. The first stanza sets the scene and establishes the tone of the poem:

Up yonder in Buena Vista
There is a famous spot,
In legend and in history,
Yclept the Luckless Lot.

There, if you go on certain days
And search in certain nooks,
You'll find a heap of broken hearts,
The wrecks of men and crooks.

The second stanza introduces the two main characters, Jack and Jill. They are described as "the twins of Lucky Strike," and they are determined to find their fortune in the gold fields. The third stanza describes their journey to the Yukon and their arrival at Lucky Strike, where they set up camp and begin their search for gold.

The fourth stanza introduces the first obstacle that the twins encounter: the cold. The temperature drops to forty below, and the twins are forced to build a fire to keep warm. The fifth stanza describes their struggle to find gold, as they dig and pan and sift through the gravel.

The sixth stanza introduces the second obstacle: hunger. The twins are running out of food, and they are forced to hunt for game in order to survive. The seventh stanza describes their encounter with a wolverine, which they manage to kill and eat.

The eighth stanza introduces the third obstacle: loneliness. The twins are the only people at Lucky Strike, and they long for human company. The ninth stanza describes their encounter with a stranger, who turns out to be a thief. The twins capture the thief and turn him over to the authorities.

The final stanza describes the twins' ultimate success. They strike gold and become rich beyond their wildest dreams. They leave Lucky Strike and return to civilization, where they are welcomed as heroes.

The Themes

"The Twins of Lucky Strike" explores several themes that are common in Canadian literature. One of the main themes is the quest for gold. The poem portrays the Yukon gold rush as a time of great opportunity, but also of great danger and hardship. The twins are willing to endure extreme cold, hunger, and loneliness in order to find their fortune, and their determination ultimately pays off.

Another theme that the poem explores is the struggle between good and evil. The twins encounter several obstacles on their journey to find gold, including hunger and loneliness, but they also encounter a thief who tries to steal their gold. The poem portrays the twins as heroes who are willing to stand up to evil and do what is right.

The poem also explores the theme of isolation. The twins are the only people at Lucky Strike, and they are forced to rely on each other for support and companionship. The poem portrays their relationship as one of great strength and loyalty, as they work together to overcome the obstacles they encounter.

The Literary Techniques

"The Twins of Lucky Strike" is a masterful example of Canadian poetry, with its use of imagery, symbolism, and literary techniques. The poem is structured in nine stanzas, each with its own distinct tone and mood. The first stanza sets the scene and establishes the tone of the poem, while the seventh stanza introduces a moment of suspense and danger.

The poem makes use of several symbols to convey its themes. The gold that the twins seek is a symbol of wealth and opportunity, but also of danger and hardship. The cold, hunger, and loneliness that the twins encounter are also symbols of the challenges that they must overcome in order to find their fortune.

The poem also makes use of imagery to convey its themes. The description of the broken hearts at Lucky Strike in the first stanza is a powerful image that sets the tone of the poem. The description of the wolverine in the seventh stanza is also a vivid image that conveys the danger that the twins face.

Finally, the poem makes use of several literary techniques, including rhyme, rhythm, and repetition. The rhyme scheme of the poem is ABABCCDDA, which gives it a musical quality. The rhythm of the poem is also varied, with some stanzas having a faster pace than others. The repetition of the phrase "the twins of Lucky Strike" throughout the poem serves to emphasize the importance of the two main characters.

Conclusion

In conclusion, "The Twins of Lucky Strike" is a classic poem that tells the story of two siblings who set out on a quest to find their fortune in the gold fields of the Yukon. The poem explores several themes, including the quest for gold, the struggle between good and evil, and the theme of isolation. It makes use of imagery, symbolism, and literary techniques to convey its themes, and it is a masterful example of Canadian poetry.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

The Twins of Lucky Strike: A Poem of Adventure and Brotherhood

Robert Service’s The Twins of Lucky Strike is a classic poem that tells the story of two brothers, Tom and Tim, who embark on a journey to strike it rich in the gold mines of the Yukon. The poem is a thrilling adventure that captures the spirit of the gold rush era and celebrates the bond of brotherhood.

The poem begins with the introduction of the twins, who are described as “two strapping lads” with “hearts as big as barrels”. They are determined to make their fortune in the gold mines of the Yukon, and they set out on a perilous journey through the wilderness. The opening lines of the poem set the tone for the adventure that is to come:

“Oh! the sons of the hills of Lucky Strike,
How they hunted the fool's gold all day!
And they laughed at the luck that the devil would strike,
As they toiled in the heat of the fray.”

The twins are portrayed as fearless and determined, willing to take on any challenge in their quest for gold. They are not afraid of hard work or danger, and they are driven by a sense of adventure and the desire to succeed.

As the poem progresses, the twins encounter a series of obstacles and challenges. They face harsh weather conditions, dangerous animals, and treacherous terrain. But they never lose their spirit or their determination. They work hard and persevere, and they are rewarded for their efforts:

“And they found it at last, the mother-lode,
The treasure that all men seek;
And they shouted aloud in their joyous abode,
And they danced on the mountain peak.”

The discovery of the mother-lode is a moment of triumph for the twins. It represents the culmination of their hard work and determination, and it is a testament to their courage and perseverance. But the poem is not just a celebration of their success; it is also a tribute to their bond as brothers.

Throughout the poem, the twins are depicted as inseparable companions. They share everything, from their dreams and aspirations to their hardships and struggles. They are each other’s support and encouragement, and they never lose faith in each other. This bond is beautifully captured in the following lines:

“And they swore by the stars that they loved each other,
And they swore by the gold they had won,
That they'd share it alike with never a bother,
And they'd stick to each other like one.”

The twins’ commitment to each other is a powerful theme that runs throughout the poem. It is a testament to the strength of brotherhood and the importance of loyalty and trust. The poem celebrates the bond of family and the power of love and friendship.

In conclusion, The Twins of Lucky Strike is a classic poem that captures the spirit of adventure and the bond of brotherhood. It is a thrilling tale of two brothers who set out on a perilous journey to strike it rich in the gold mines of the Yukon. The poem celebrates the twins’ determination, courage, and perseverance, as well as their unbreakable bond as brothers. It is a timeless tribute to the power of family and the importance of love and friendship.

Editor Recommended Sites

Entity Resolution: Record linkage and customer resolution centralization for customer data records. Techniques, best practice and latest literature
Trending Technology: The latest trending tech: Large language models, AI, classifiers, autoGPT, multi-modal LLMs
Coin Exchange - Crypto Exchange List & US Crypto Exchanges: Interface with crypto exchanges to get data and realtime updates
Multi Cloud Business: Multicloud tutorials and learning for deploying terraform, kubernetes across cloud, and orchestrating
Kubernetes Recipes: Recipes for your kubernetes configuration, itsio policies, distributed cluster management, multicloud solutions

Recommended Similar Analysis

The Eagle (A Fragment ) by Alfred, Lord Tennyson analysis
In Neglect by Robert Frost analysis
Stanzas For Music by George Gordon, Lord Byron analysis
To A Friend Whose Work Has Come To Nothing by William Butler Yeats analysis
Death sets a Thing significant by Emily Dickinson analysis
I've seen a Dying Eye by Emily Dickinson analysis
Never Give All The Heart by William Butler Yeats analysis
To the Nightingale by Samuel Taylor Coleridge analysis
Sea -Shore Memories by Walt Whitman analysis
Our Exploits at West Poley by Thomas Hardy analysis