'Over The Parapet' by Robert Service
AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay
Rhymes of a Red Cross ManAll day long when the shells sail overI stand at the sandbags and take my chance;
But at night, at night I'm a reckless rover,And over the parapet gleams Romance.
Romance! Romance! How I've dreamed it, writingDreary old records of money and mart,
Me with my head chuckful of fightingAnd the blood of vikings to thrill my heart.But little I thought that my time was coming,Sudden and splendid, supreme and soon;
And here I am with the bullets hummingAs I crawl and I curse the light of the moon.
Out alone, for adventure thirsting,Out in mysterious No Man's Land;
Prone with the dead when a star-shell, bursting,Flares on the horrors on every hand.There are ruby stars and they drip and wiggle;And the grasses gleam in a light blood-red;
There are emerald stars, and their tails they wriggle,And ghastly they glare on the face of the dead.
But the worst of all are the stars of whiteness,That spill in a pool of pearly flame,
Pretty as gems in their silver brightness,And etching a man for a bullet's aim.Yet oh, it's great to be here with danger,Here in the weird, death-pregnant dark,
In the devil's pasture a stealthy ranger,When the moon is decently hiding. Hark!
What was that? Was it just the shiverOf an eerie wind or a clammy hand?
The rustle of grass, or the passing quiverOf one of the ghosts of No Man's Land?It's only at night when the ghosts awaken,And gibber and whisper horrible things;
For to every foot of this God-forsakenZone of jeopard some horror clings.
Ugh! What was that? It felt like a jelly,That flattish mound in the noisome grass;
You three big rats running free of its belly,Out of my way and let me pass!But if there's horror, there's beauty, wonder;The trench lights gleam and the rockets play.
That flood of magnificent orange yonderIs a battery blazing miles away.
With a rush and a singing a great shell passes;The rifles resentfully bicker and brawl,
And here I crouch in the dew-drenched grasses,And look and listen and love it all.God! What a life! But I must make haste now,Before the shadow of night be spent.
It's little the time there is to waste now,If I'd do the job for which I was sent.
My bombs are right and my clippers ready,And I wriggle out to the chosen place,
When I hear a rustle . . . Steady! . . . Steady!Who am I staring slap in the face?There in the dark I can hear him breathing,A foot away, and as still as death;
And my heart beats hard, and my brain is seething,And I know he's a Hun by the smell of his breath.
Then: "Will you surrender?" I whisper hoarsely,For it's death, swift death to utter a cry.
"
Editor 1 Interpretation
Over The Parapet by Robert Service: A Vivid War Poem
Over The Parapet is one of the most remarkable war poems written by Robert Service, who is widely considered as one of the greatest poets of the 20th century. It depicts the horrors of World War I and the courage of soldiers who fought in the trenches. The poem is a vivid portrayal of the brutality of war and its profound impact on the human psyche. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will examine the themes, language, and imagery used by Service in Over The Parapet.
Background and Context
Before we delve into the poem itself, it is essential to understand the historical context and the life of Robert Service. He was born in Lancashire, England, in 1874, and later moved to Canada, where he worked as a bank clerk. He became famous for his poems about the Yukon Gold Rush, which were published in his first collection, Songs of a Sourdough (1907). However, it was his war poetry that earned him critical acclaim and cemented his reputation as a great poet.
Service served as an ambulance driver in World War I, and his experiences on the battlefield inspired many of his poems, including Over The Parapet. This poem was published in his collection Rhymes of a Red Cross Man (1916) and was widely read by soldiers on both sides of the war.
Themes
One of the central themes of Over The Parapet is the brutality of war. Service vividly portrays the horrors of trench warfare, where soldiers were constantly under attack and faced the threat of death at any moment. The opening lines of the poem immediately set the tone:
"All day long when the shells sail over
I stand at the sandbags and take my chance;
But at night, at night I'm a reckless rover,
And over the parapet gleams Romance."
The contrast between the daytime and nighttime experiences of the soldier is striking. During the day, he is forced to take cover from the constant bombardment, but at night, he becomes a "reckless rover" and seeks adventure beyond the safety of the trenches. This sense of adventure and risk-taking is a recurring theme in war literature, but Service also emphasizes the danger and unpredictability of war.
Another important theme is the psychological impact of war on soldiers. Service portrays the soldier as someone who is constantly struggling with fear and uncertainty. He writes:
"Over the parapet, over the parapet,
Out in the dark where the snipers are;
Blithely I glide like a death-silent corvette,
Looking for one little orange star."
The soldier is described as "blithe," which suggests a sense of carefree abandon. However, this is contrasted with the image of a "death-silent corvette," which is a potent symbol of danger and destruction. The soldier's quest for the "one little orange star" is both a search for an enemy target and a metaphor for hope in a hopeless situation.
Language and Imagery
Service's use of language and imagery in Over The Parapet is particularly effective in conveying the themes of the poem. One of the most striking aspects of the poem is its use of sound. The opening lines are full of alliteration and assonance, which creates a sense of rhythm and urgency:
"All day long when the shells sail over
I stand at the sandbags and take my chance;
But at night, at night I'm a reckless rover,
And over the parapet gleams Romance."
The repetition of the "s" and "ch" sounds in the first line mimics the sound of shells flying overhead. The use of the word "gleams" in the final line creates a sense of hope and light in the midst of darkness and danger.
Service also uses vivid imagery to convey the brutality of war. The image of the soldier as a "reckless rover" is both thrilling and terrifying. The description of the sniper's bullets as "little whispers of hate" creates a sense of malevolence and hostility that permeates the poem. The soldier's search for the "one little orange star" is an example of Service's skill in using metaphor to convey complex ideas. The star represents both a target and a symbol of hope, highlighting the soldier's conflicting emotions.
Criticism and Interpretation
Over The Parapet has been praised for its vivid portrayal of the horrors of war and the courage of soldiers. However, some have criticized the poem for glorifying war and perpetuating a romanticized view of combat. This criticism is understandable, given the poem's title and the use of the word "Romance" in the opening stanza. However, it is important to note that Service's portrayal of war is far from glamorous. The soldier is portrayed as someone who is constantly struggling with fear and uncertainty, and the imagery used in the poem is often grim and violent.
Another interpretation of the poem is that it is a commentary on the human desire for adventure and risk-taking. The soldier's quest for the "one little orange star" can be seen as a metaphor for the human desire to seek out new experiences and push boundaries. However, this desire is tempered by the danger and uncertainty of war, which creates a sense of conflict between the soldier's thirst for adventure and his need for survival.
Conclusion
Over The Parapet is a powerful and evocative war poem that vividly portrays the horrors of trench warfare. Service's use of language and imagery is particularly effective in conveying the themes of the poem, which include the brutality of war and the psychological impact on soldiers. The poem has been subject to criticism for its romanticized view of war, but it is important to note that Service's portrayal is far from glamorous. Overall, Over The Parapet is a remarkable work of literature that continues to resonate with readers today.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry Over The Parapet: A Masterpiece of War Poetry
Robert Service is a name that resonates with the lovers of poetry. His works have been celebrated for their simplicity, yet profoundness. One of his most famous poems is Poetry Over The Parapet, which is a masterpiece of war poetry. The poem is a tribute to the soldiers who fought in World War I and the power of poetry to uplift the human spirit in the face of adversity.
The poem is set in the trenches of World War I, where soldiers are fighting for their lives. The opening lines of the poem set the tone for the rest of the work. Service writes, "There's a rustle of leaves and the scent of pine, and the sun with a jewel in its heart." The imagery is vivid, and the reader can almost feel the warmth of the sun and the scent of the pine. However, the tranquility is short-lived as the poem takes a darker turn.
The next lines of the poem describe the horrors of war. Service writes, "There's a sound like a sigh, and a sight like death, and a white-faced boy with a sobbing breath." The contrast between the beauty of nature and the ugliness of war is stark. The reader is forced to confront the reality of war and the toll it takes on the human spirit.
However, the poem is not all doom and gloom. Service introduces the power of poetry to uplift the human spirit. He writes, "But he pulls out a book that is war-worn and grey, and he reads a poem that is brave and gay." The soldier finds solace in poetry, and it gives him the strength to carry on. The poem he reads is not named, but it is clear that it has a profound effect on him.
The power of poetry is further emphasized in the next stanza. Service writes, "And the men in the trench are no longer afraid, for they know that the poet is their comrade." The soldiers find comfort in the fact that they are not alone. The poet is with them, and his words give them hope. The power of poetry to connect people and uplift the human spirit is evident in these lines.
The final stanza of the poem is a tribute to the soldiers who fought in World War I. Service writes, "And the boy with the book is a hero now, for he has shown us the way to victory." The soldier who read the poem is now a hero, not because he fought in the war, but because he showed his comrades the power of poetry. The poem ends on a hopeful note, with the soldiers finding the strength to carry on.
Poetry Over The Parapet is a masterpiece of war poetry. It captures the horrors of war and the power of poetry to uplift the human spirit. The imagery is vivid, and the contrast between the beauty of nature and the ugliness of war is stark. The poem is a tribute to the soldiers who fought in World War I and the power of poetry to connect people and give them hope.
In conclusion, Robert Service's Poetry Over The Parapet is a must-read for anyone who loves poetry. It is a powerful reminder of the toll war takes on the human spirit and the power of poetry to uplift it. The poem is a tribute to the soldiers who fought in World War I and a testament to the enduring power of poetry.
Editor Recommended Sites
Neo4j App: Neo4j tutorials for graph app deploymentCloud Serverless: All about cloud serverless and best serverless practice
ML Ethics: Machine learning ethics: Guides on managing ML model bias, explanability for medical and insurance use cases, dangers of ML model bias in gender, orientation and dismorphia terms
Cloud Runbook - Security and Disaster Planning & Production support planning: Always have a plan for when things go wrong in the cloud
Flutter Training: Flutter consulting in DFW
Recommended Similar Analysis
Hard Rock Returns To Prison From The Hospital For The Criminal Insane by Etheridge Knight analysisThere Be None of Beauty's Daughters by George Gordon, Lord Byron analysis
Hunting of the Snark, The by Lewis Carroll analysis
The Answer by Carl Sandburg analysis
Freedoms Plow by Langston Hughes analysis
Animal Tranquillity and Decay by William Wordsworth analysis
Merlin And Vivien by Alfred, Lord Tennyson analysis
Popularity by Robert Browning analysis
The Miracles by Rudyard Kipling analysis
To A Dead Man by Carl Sandburg analysis