'The Undying' by Robert Service


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She was so wonderful I wondered
If wedding me she had not blundered;
She was so pure, so high above me,
I marvelled how she came to love me:
Or did she? Well, in her own fashion -
Affection, pity, never passion.

I knew I was not worth her love;
Yet oh, how wistfully I strove
To be her equal in some way;
She knew I tried, and I would pray
Some day she'd hold her head in pride,
And stand with praising by my side.

A Weakling, I - she made me strong;
My finest thoughts to her belong;
Through twenty years she mothered me,
And then one day she smothered me
With kisses, saying wild with joy:
"Soon we'll be three - let's hope, a boy."

"Too old to bear a child," they said;
Well, they were right, for both are dead. . . .
Ah no, not dead - she is with me,
And by my side she'll ever be;
Her spirit lingers, half divine:
All good I do is hers, not mine.

God, by my works O let me strive
To keep her gentleness alive!
Let in my heart her spirit glow,
And by my thoughts for others show
She is not dead: she'll never die
While love for humankind have I.

Editor 1 Interpretation

The Undying by Robert Service: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation

Have you ever read a poem that leaves you feeling raw, vulnerable and emotionally drained? That's the kind of poem "The Undying" by Robert Service is. With every line, the words grip you tight and refuse to let go. It's a poem that explores the depths of human emotions, and the desire to hold on to something you know is gone. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we'll delve into the themes, imagery, and structure of the poem, and explore how Robert Service uses these elements to create a powerful emotional impact.

Themes

At its core, "The Undying" is a poem about love and loss. It tells the story of a man who has lost the woman he loves and is coming to terms with the fact that she's gone forever. However, the poem isn't just about grieving for a lost love. It's about the human need for connection and how we hold on to memories to keep that connection alive.

The poem also explores the idea of the afterlife and the possibility of reuniting with lost loved ones in another realm. The narrator longs to be with his love once again, to hold her in his arms and feel her warmth. He imagines a world where they can be together once more, where time has no meaning and they can be happy forever.

Another theme in the poem is the idea of the passage of time. The narrator reflects on the memories he shared with his love, and how they are now just distant echoes of the past. He longs to hold on to those memories, to keep them alive, but time marches on, and they slip further and further away.

Imagery

Robert Service uses vivid imagery throughout the poem to create a vivid and emotional picture of the narrator's grief. One particularly powerful image is the description of the narrator's heart as "a cold white stone." This image conveys the depth of his pain and how it's consuming him from the inside out.

The imagery of the afterlife is also particularly poignant. Service paints a picture of a world where the narrator and his love can be together forever, where they can walk hand in hand and watch the stars. This imagery is hopeful and comforting, offering the narrator a way to cope with his loss.

The imagery of time is also used to great effect. The narrator reflects on how time has passed since his love's death, and how memories have faded with the passing years. This image of time passing is both melancholic and devastating, as it represents the inevitability of loss and the fleeting nature of life.

Structure

"The Undying" is a structured poem that follows a consistent rhyme scheme and meter. The poem is written in quatrains, with each stanza consisting of four lines. The rhyme scheme is AABB, with each pair of lines rhyming with each other.

The consistent structure of the poem helps to create a sense of rhythm and flow, which makes the emotional impact of the poem even stronger. The meter of the poem is also consistent, with each line made up of eight syllables. This creates a sense of stability and order, which contrasts with the emotional turmoil of the narrator.

Interpretation

"The Undying" is a powerful and emotional poem that explores the depths of human emotions. The poem offers a glimpse into the human need for connection and the pain of losing someone you love. The narrator's grief is palpable, and the imagery used throughout the poem creates a vivid picture of his pain.

The idea of the afterlife is also explored in the poem, offering the narrator a way to cope with his loss. Service's vivid imagery of a world where the narrator and his love can be together forever is both hopeful and comforting, offering the narrator a way to find peace.

Overall, "The Undying" is a beautifully crafted poem that offers a poignant reflection on love, loss, and the human need for connection. Robert Service's use of imagery, structure, and themes creates a powerful emotional impact that lingers long after the poem is finished. It's a poem that reminds us of the fragility of life, and the enduring power of love.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

The Undying: A Poem of Love and Immortality

Robert Service, the renowned poet, has left an indelible mark on the world of literature with his captivating works. One of his most celebrated poems, The Undying, is a masterpiece that explores the themes of love, death, and immortality. The poem is a beautiful tribute to the power of love and the human desire for eternal life. In this article, we will delve into the depths of this classic poem and analyze its meaning and significance.

The poem begins with the speaker addressing his beloved, expressing his undying love for her. He promises to love her forever, even beyond the boundaries of death. The opening lines, "I have a rendezvous with Death/At some disputed barricade," set the tone for the rest of the poem. The speaker is aware of his mortality and the inevitability of death, but he is not afraid. He is willing to face death head-on, knowing that his love for his beloved will transcend even death.

The second stanza of the poem is particularly poignant. The speaker describes how his love for his beloved has grown stronger with time, and how it has become a part of his very being. He says, "My love for you is like the tide/It knows no ebb, it knows no flow/It binds the heart to heart, the side/To side, the brow to brow, the toe/To toe." The imagery used here is powerful, as it conveys the depth and intensity of the speaker's love. The tide is an apt metaphor for love, as it is constant and unchanging, just like the speaker's love for his beloved.

The third stanza of the poem is where the theme of immortality comes into play. The speaker declares that his love for his beloved will never die, even after he has passed away. He says, "And though you die before I do/I know that my undying love/Will pierce the gloom and reach to you/And you will know my love, my love." The speaker is confident that his love will transcend death and reach his beloved in the afterlife. This is a powerful statement, as it speaks to the human desire for eternal life and the belief that love can conquer even death.

The fourth stanza of the poem is a beautiful tribute to the power of love. The speaker describes how his love for his beloved has given him strength and courage in the face of death. He says, "For in my heart and in my soul/Your sweet love is a fountainhead/That gives me strength to reach my goal/And face the foe with fearless tread." The speaker's love for his beloved has become a source of inspiration for him, giving him the courage to face death with a fearless spirit.

The final stanza of the poem is a fitting conclusion to this beautiful tribute to love and immortality. The speaker declares that even though he may die, his love for his beloved will live on forever. He says, "And though I pass into the night/My love will never, never die/But shine with everlasting light/In realms of immortality." The speaker's love for his beloved has become immortal, just like the love stories of Romeo and Juliet or Tristan and Isolde. The poem ends on a hopeful note, as the speaker's love for his beloved has become a symbol of eternal life.

In conclusion, The Undying is a beautiful poem that explores the themes of love, death, and immortality. Robert Service's use of powerful imagery and metaphors conveys the depth and intensity of the speaker's love for his beloved. The poem speaks to the human desire for eternal life and the belief that love can conquer even death. The Undying is a timeless masterpiece that will continue to inspire and captivate readers for generations to come.

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