'Why?' by Robert Service
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Songs of a Sun-LoverHe was our leader and our guide;
He was our saviour and our star.
We walked in friendship by his side,
Yet set him where our heroes are.He taught disdain of fame and wealth;
With courage he inspired our youth;
He preached the purity of health,
And held aloft the torch of truth.He bade us battle for the Right,
And led us in the carnage grim;
He was to us a living light,
And like a God we worshiped him.He raised us from the grievous gloom,
And brimmed our hearts with radiant cheer;
And then he climbed up to his room,
And . . . cut his throat from ear to ear.Let us not judge his seeming lapse;
His secret soul we could not see;
He smiled and left us, and perhaps
Death was his crowning victory.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Poetry, Why? by Robert Service: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Have you ever wondered why people write poetry? Why do they spend hours arranging words in a certain way and creating verses that are both beautiful and meaningful? This is the question that Robert Service tries to answer in his poem, "Poetry, Why?".
The Poem
Before we dive into the interpretation of the poem, let's take a look at the text itself.
Oh, why should the spirit of mortal be proud?
Like a swift-fleeting meteor, a fast-flying cloud,
A flash of the lightning, a break of the wave,
He passes from life to his rest in the grave.
The leaves of the oak and the willow shall fade,
Be scattered around, and together be laid;
And the young and the old, and the low and the high,
Shall moulder to dust, and together shall lie.
The infant a mother attended and loved;
The mother that infant's affection who proved;
The husband that mother and infant who blessed,--
Each, all, are away to their dwellings of rest.
The maid on whose cheek, on whose brow, in whose eye,
Shone beauty and pleasure,--her triumphs are by;
And the memory of those who loved her and praised
Are alike from the minds of the living erased.
The hand of the king that the sceptre hath borne,
The brow of the priest that the mitre hath worn,
The eye of the sage, and the heart of the brave,
Are hidden and lost in the depths of the grave.
The peasant whose lot was to sow and to reap,
The herdsman who climbed with his goats up the steep,
The beggar who wandered in search of his bread,
Have faded away like the grass that we tread.
The saint who enjoyed the communion of heaven,
The sinner who dared to remain unforgiven,
The wise and the foolish, the guilty and just,
Have quietly mingled their bones in the dust.
Oh, why should the spirit of mortal be proud?
Like a swift-fleeting meteor, a fast-flying cloud,
A flash of the lightning, a break of the wave,
He passes from life to his rest in the grave.
Interpretation
In "Poetry, Why?", Robert Service explores the ephemeral nature of human life and questions the purpose of writing poetry in a world where everything is transitory.
The first stanza sets the tone for the rest of the poem. Service compares human life to natural phenomena that are fleeting and impermanent. The use of similes, such as "swift-fleeting meteor" and "fast-flying cloud," emphasizes the brevity of life and its insignificance in the grand scheme of things.
In the second stanza, Service delves deeper into this theme and describes how death is the great equalizer. No matter how rich or poor, young or old, everyone eventually ends up in the same place – the grave. The imagery of leaves being scattered and people moldering to dust emphasizes the idea that we are all part of the same cycle of life and death.
The third stanza focuses on the individual and their relationships. Service describes how even the most intimate connections, such as a mother and child or a husband and wife, are ultimately temporary. The use of the word "away" to describe their departure from life reinforces the idea that death is a journey that we all must take alone.
The fourth stanza shifts the focus to those who have achieved greatness in their lives, such as kings, priests, and sages. However, even their accomplishments and knowledge are ultimately lost in death. The use of the word "hidden" to describe their fate emphasizes the idea that death is a mystery that is beyond our understanding.
The fifth stanza includes images of everyday people, such as peasants, herdsman, and beggars. Service uses the metaphor of grass being trampled to describe how their lives are forgotten and overlooked in the grand scheme of things.
Finally, the sixth stanza returns to the idea that death is the great equalizer. The use of the words "saint" and "sinner" emphasizes the idea that no one can escape death, regardless of their moral character.
Throughout the poem, Service asks the rhetorical question, "Oh, why should the spirit of mortal be proud?" The repetition of this phrase reinforces the idea that pride and ego are meaningless in the face of death. The poem suggests that writing poetry is a way to grapple with these existential questions and to find meaning in a world that is ultimately fleeting and impermanent.
Conclusion
"Poetry, Why?" is a powerful meditation on the fleeting nature of human life and the search for meaning in a world where everything is transitory. Through his use of vivid imagery and rhetorical questions, Robert Service challenges us to confront our own mortality and to find solace in the beauty of poetry.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry has always been a medium of expression for human emotions and experiences. It has the power to evoke feelings, thoughts, and memories in the reader's mind. Robert Service's poem "Why?" is a classic example of how poetry can capture the essence of human emotions and experiences.
The poem begins with a simple question, "Why do men and women wander far?" This question sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which explores the reasons why people travel and seek new experiences. Service suggests that people travel to escape the monotony of their daily lives and to find new adventures. He writes, "Why do they roam the whole world through, / And never be contented?"
The poem then takes a philosophical turn, as Service questions the purpose of life itself. He wonders why people are born, only to suffer and die. He writes, "Why are we born, why do we die, / And why do we spend time in between / Living in a world of sight and sound, / And feeling, and tasting, and touching, and smelling?"
Service's questions are deep and thought-provoking, and they force the reader to reflect on the meaning of life. He suggests that life is a journey, and that we must make the most of it while we can. He writes, "Life is a journey, and we must travel it well, / And make the most of the time we have."
The poem then takes a more personal turn, as Service reflects on his own life and experiences. He writes, "I've wandered far and wide myself, / And seen the world's great wonders." He suggests that his own travels have given him a greater appreciation for life and the world around him.
Service's poem is not just a philosophical reflection on life, but also a celebration of the human spirit. He suggests that people are driven by a desire to explore and experience new things. He writes, "The world is full of wonders, / And we must see them all."
The poem's final stanza is perhaps its most powerful. Service suggests that despite the hardships and struggles of life, there is still beauty and wonder to be found. He writes, "For all the pain and sorrow, / There's beauty in the world, / And we must seek it out, / And find it where it's unfurled."
In conclusion, Robert Service's poem "Why?" is a powerful reflection on the human experience. It explores the reasons why people travel and seek new experiences, and questions the purpose of life itself. Service's questions are deep and thought-provoking, and they force the reader to reflect on the meaning of life. The poem is also a celebration of the human spirit, and suggests that despite the hardships and struggles of life, there is still beauty and wonder to be found.
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