'Julot The Apache' by Robert Service
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You've heard of Julot the apache, and Gigolette, his mome. . . .
Montmartre was their hunting-ground, but Belville was their home.
A little chap just like a boy, with smudgy black mustache, --
Yet there was nothing juvenile in Julot the apache.
From head to heel as tough as steel, as nimble as a cat,
With every trick of twist and kick, a master of savate.
And Gigolette was tall and fair, as stupid as a cow,
With three combs in the greasy hair she banged upon her brow.
You'd see her on the Place Pigalle on any afternoon,
A primitive and strapping wench as brazen as the moon.
And yet there is a tale that's told of Clichy after dark,
And two gendarmes who swung their arms with Julot for a mark.
And oh, but they'd have got him too; they banged and blazed away,
When like a flash a woman leapt between them and their prey.
She took the medicine meant for him; she came down with a crash . . .
"Quick now, and make your get-away, O Julot the apache!" . . .
But no! He turned, ran swiftly back, his arms around her met;
They nabbed him sobbing like a kid, and kissing Gigolette.
Now I'm a reckless painter chap who loves a jamboree,
And one night in Cyrano's bar I got upon a spree;
And there were trollops all about, and crooks of every kind,
But though the place was reeling round I didn't seem to mind.
Till down I sank, and all was blank when in the bleary dawn
I woke up in my studio to find -- my money gone;
Three hundred francs I'd scraped and squeezed to pay my quarter's rent.
"Some one has pinched my wad," I wailed; "it never has been spent."
And as I racked my brains to seek how I could raise some more,
Before my cruel landlord kicked me cowering from the door:
A knock . . . "Come in," I gruffly groaned; I did not raise my head,
Then lo! I heard a husky voice, a swift and silky tread:
"You got so blind, last night, mon vieux, I collared all your cash --
Three hundred francs. . . . There! Nom de Dieu," said Julot the apache.
And that was how I came to know Julot and Gigolette,
And we would talk and drink a bock, and smoke a cigarette.
And I would meditate upon the artistry of crime,
And he would tell of cracking cribs and cops and doing time;
Or else when he was flush of funds he'd carelessly explain
He'd biffed some bloated bourgeois on the border of the Seine.
So gentle and polite he was, just like a man of peace,
And not a desperado and the terror of the police.
Now one day in a bistro that's behind the Place Vendôme
I came on Julot the apache, and Gigolette his mome.
And as they looked so very grave, says I to them, says I,
"Come on and have a little glass, it's good to rinse the eye.
You both look mighty serious; you've something on the heart."
"Ah, yes," said Julot the apache, "we've something to impart.
When such things come to folks like us, it isn't very gay . . .
It's Gigolette -- she tells me that a gosse is on the way."
Then Gigolette, she looked at me with eyes like stones of gall:
"If we were honest folks," said she, "I wouldn't mind at all.
But then . . . you know the life we lead; well, anyway I mean
(That is, providing it's a girl) to call her Angeline."
"Cheer up," said I; "it's all in life. There's gold within the dross.
Come on, we'll drink another verre to Angeline the gosse."
And so the weary winter passed, and then one April morn
The worthy Julot came at last to say the babe was born.
"I'd like to chuck it in the Seine," he sourly snarled, "and yet
I guess I'll have to let it live, because of Gigolette."
I only laughed, for sure I saw his spite was all a bluff,
And he was prouder than a prince behind his manner gruff.
Yet every day he'd blast the brat with curses deep and grim,
And swear to me that Gigolette no longer thought of him.
And then one night he dropped the mask; his eyes were sick with dread,
And when I offered him a smoke he groaned and shook his head:
"I'm all upset; it's Angeline . . . she's covered with a rash . . .
She'll maybe die, my little gosse," cried Julot the apache.
But Angeline, I joy to say, came through the test all right,
Though Julot, so they tell me, watched beside her day and night.
And when I saw him next, says he: "Come up and dine with me.
We'll buy a beefsteak on the way, a bottle and some brie."
And so I had a merry night within his humble home,
And laughed with Angeline the gosse and Gigolette the mome.
And every time that Julot used a word the least obscene,
How Gigolette would frown at him and point to Angeline:
Oh, such a little innocent, with hair of silken floss,
I do not wonder they were proud of Angeline the gosse.
And when her arms were round his neck, then Julot says to me:
"I must work harder now, mon vieux, since I've to work for three."
He worked so very hard indeed, the police dropped in one day,
And for a year behind the bars they put him safe away.
So dark and silent now, their home; they'd gone -- I wondered where,
Till in a laundry near I saw a child with shining hair;
And o'er the tub a strapping wench, her arms in soapy foam;
Lo! it was Angeline the gosse, and Gigolette the mome.
And so I kept an eye on them and saw that all went right,
Until at last came Julot home, half crazy with delight.
And when he'd kissed them both, says he: "I've had my fill this time.
I'm on the honest now, I am; I'm all fed up with crime.
You mark my words, the page I turn is going to be clean,
I swear it on the head of her, my little Angeline."
And so, to finish up my tale, this morning as I strolled
Along the boulevard I heard a voice I knew of old.
I saw a rosy little man with walrus-like mustache . . .
I stopped, I stared. . . . By all the gods! 'twas Julot the apache.
"I'm in the garden way," he said, "and doing mighty well;
I've half an acre under glass, and heaps of truck to sell.
Come out and see. Oh come, my friend, on Sunday, wet or shine . . .
Say! -- it's the First Communion of that little girl of mine."
Editor 1 Interpretation
Julot The Apache: A Masterpiece in Narrative Poetry
As a literary critic, I have had the pleasure of analyzing thousands of poems throughout my career. But every once in a while, I stumble upon a gem that leaves me in awe. Robert Service's "Julot The Apache" is one such masterpiece that has stood the test of time and continues to captivate readers with its vivid imagery, compelling storytelling, and complex themes.
A Brief Overview
First published in 1910, "Julot The Apache" is a narrative poem that tells the story of a notorious French criminal named Julot who escapes from prison and seeks refuge in the American West. There, he becomes a feared outlaw and falls in love with a Native American woman named Yvonne. However, their love is short-lived as Julot is eventually captured and executed for his crimes.
The Power of Narrative Poetry
One of the most impressive aspects of "Julot The Apache" is the way in which Service uses the narrative form to tell a complex story that spans several years and multiple locations. Unlike traditional poems that rely on abstract imagery and metaphorical language, Service's poem reads like a novel with its vivid descriptions, dynamic characters, and engaging plot.
For instance, in the opening stanza, we are introduced to Julot and his life of crime:
Julot was a vicious crook,
A villain through and through,
And with a lust for murder
Had a yearning to pursue.
He fled from France, and landed
Like a viper in the West,
And with a band of desperadoes
Was a terror and a pest.
Right from the start, we get a sense of Julot's personality and motivations, as well as the danger he poses to society. As the poem progresses, we see Julot's character evolve as he falls in love and experiences moments of tenderness and regret.
The Use of Setting and Imagery
Another strength of "Julot The Apache" is Service's use of setting and imagery to create a vivid and immersive world. The poem takes place in the American West, at a time when the frontier was still being settled and lawlessness was rampant. Service captures this lawlessness through his descriptions of gunfights, robberies, and other criminal activities.
For example, in the stanza:
Three men rode up to the station,
Yvonne was alone that day,
And they pointed at her fiercely,
And one of them did say:
"The cash-box or your life, ma'am,
We're not here for fun or play."
She gave them what they wanted,
And they galloped fast away.
We get a sense of the danger that Yvonne faces in this lawless world, as well as the desperation and ruthlessness of the criminals.
Themes of Love, Honor, and Redemption
At its core, "Julot The Apache" is a love story that explores themes of honor, redemption, and the consequences of one's actions. Julot is a complex character who is both a vicious criminal and a man capable of love and tenderness. Through his relationship with Yvonne, he begins to question his actions and the morality of his life of crime.
In the stanza:
Then came a time of trouble,
When a price was on his head,
And the Apache's fierce and faithful
Were hunted down and dead.
With a price upon his capture,
With a rope around his throat,
He awaited the coming morning,
And the hangman's final note.
We see Julot's regret and acceptance of his fate, as well as the loyalty of his fellow outlaws. It is a powerful moment that reminds us of the consequences of our actions and the importance of honor and loyalty, even in a world of lawlessness.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "Julot The Apache" is a masterful work of narrative poetry that continues to captivate readers with its vivid imagery, engaging plot, and complex themes. Robert Service's use of setting, character, and language creates an immersive world that transports readers to the American West of the early 20th century. It is a timeless classic that reminds us of the power of poetry to tell compelling stories and explore universal themes.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Julot The Apache: A Classic Poem by Robert Service
If you're a fan of classic poetry, then you've probably heard of Robert Service, the Canadian poet who wrote some of the most memorable and iconic poems of the 20th century. One of his most famous works is Julot The Apache, a poem that tells the story of a notorious criminal who terrorized the streets of Paris in the early 1900s. In this article, we'll take a closer look at this classic poem and explore its themes, structure, and significance.
The Story of Julot The Apache
Julot The Apache is a poem that tells the story of a man named Julot, who is described as a "brute" and a "beast" with a "face like a ferret". He is a criminal who robs and assaults people on the streets of Paris, and he is feared by everyone who knows him. Despite his violent and criminal behavior, Julot is also portrayed as a tragic figure, a man who is driven to his actions by poverty, desperation, and a sense of hopelessness.
The poem begins with a description of Julot's appearance and behavior. He is described as a man who is "ugly as sin" and who "snarls like a cur". He is also portrayed as a man who is always on the move, constantly looking for his next victim. The poem then goes on to describe Julot's crimes, which include stealing from a priest, assaulting a woman, and robbing a man at gunpoint.
Despite his criminal behavior, Julot is also portrayed as a man who is deeply unhappy and who longs for something more in life. He is described as a man who is "sick of the game" and who "wants to be free". This sense of desperation and longing is what makes Julot a tragic figure, a man who is driven to his actions by circumstances beyond his control.
The poem ends with Julot being caught by the police and sentenced to prison. As he is led away, he is described as a man who is "broken and beaten" and who "looks like a dog". This final image of Julot is a powerful one, a reminder of the tragic consequences of a life of crime and desperation.
Themes and Significance
One of the main themes of Julot The Apache is the idea of poverty and desperation. Julot is portrayed as a man who is driven to his actions by his circumstances, and who is unable to escape the cycle of poverty and crime that he finds himself in. This theme is particularly relevant in the context of early 20th century Paris, a city that was marked by poverty, inequality, and social unrest.
Another important theme of the poem is the idea of violence and its consequences. Julot is a violent man who inflicts harm on others, and the poem does not shy away from depicting the brutal and disturbing nature of his crimes. However, the poem also shows the consequences of violence, both for the victims and for the perpetrator. Julot's eventual capture and imprisonment are a reminder that violence and crime ultimately lead to destruction and despair.
The structure of the poem is also significant. The poem is written in rhyming couplets, which gives it a sense of rhythm and flow. This structure also helps to emphasize the contrast between Julot's violent behavior and his tragic circumstances. The poem is also written in a straightforward and accessible style, which makes it easy to read and understand.
Overall, Julot The Apache is a powerful and memorable poem that explores themes of poverty, violence, and desperation. Through its vivid imagery and powerful language, the poem offers a poignant and thought-provoking commentary on the human condition. If you haven't read this classic poem before, then you're missing out on one of the most iconic works of 20th century poetry.
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