'My Madonna' by Robert Service


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The Spell of the Yukon and Other VersesI haled me a woman from the street,Shameless, but, oh, so fair!
I bade her sit in the model's seatAnd I painted her sitting there.I hid all trace of her heart unclean;I painted a babe at her breast;
I painted her as she might have beenIf the Worst had been the Best.She laughed at my picture and went away.Then came, with a knowing nod,
A connoisseur, and I heard him say;"'Tis Mary, the Mother of God."So I painted a halo round her hair,And I sold her and took my fee,
And she hangs in the church of Saint Hillaire,Where you and all may see.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Poetry Criticism and Interpretation: My Madonna by Robert Service

Are you a lover of poetry? Do you appreciate the beauty of words woven together to create a masterpiece? If your answer is yes, then you need to read My Madonna by Robert Service. This poem is an excellent example of how a poet can use language and imagery to evoke emotions in his readers.

Robert Service is a well-known Canadian poet who is known for his narrative poems. In My Madonna, he tells a story of a young man who is in love with a girl who is out of his reach. The poem is set in Italy, and Service uses the Italian landscape and culture to create a vivid picture in his reader's mind.

The Structure of My Madonna

My Madonna is a sonnet, which means it has 14 lines. The poem consists of three quatrains and a final couplet. The rhyme scheme is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG, and the meter is iambic pentameter. This means that each line has ten syllables, and the stress falls on every other syllable.

The structure of the poem is significant because it creates a sense of order and symmetry. The sonnet form is associated with love poetry, and Service uses it to express the speaker's love for his Madonna.

The Imagery in My Madonna

Service's use of imagery in My Madonna is exceptional. He uses vivid descriptions to create a picture of the Italian landscape and its people. The opening lines of the poem are an excellent example of this:

"Oh, little brown maiden, shy of eye,
Flushed with the bloom of your sun-kissed sky,
What ailed you to wander, so far from home,
In this holy city of Rome?"

The speaker addresses the Madonna as a "little brown maiden" and describes her as being "flushed with the bloom" of her sun-kissed sky. This evokes an image of a young, innocent girl who is out of her element in the city of Rome.

Service uses other imagery to describe the Madonna's beauty. He mentions her "starry eyes," "rosebud mouth," and "lilting laugh," which all contribute to the image of a young, vibrant girl.

The imagery in the poem creates a sense of nostalgia and longing. The speaker is in love with the Madonna but knows that he can never have her. The description of her beauty is bittersweet because it only emphasizes the distance between them.

The Theme of Love in My Madonna

Love is the central theme of My Madonna. The speaker is in love with the Madonna, but he knows that he can never have her. He compares his love to a flame that burns brightly but cannot last:

"Ah, little brown maiden, since we must part,
My love like a flame shall illumine my heart,
Till at last it has burned its ultimate goal,
And its light shall submerge my soul."

The theme of unrequited love is a common one in poetry, but Service's treatment of it is unique. He uses the Italian landscape and culture to create a sense of longing and nostalgia, which adds depth to the poem.

The Tone of My Madonna

The tone of My Madonna is wistful and nostalgic. The speaker is in love with the Madonna, but he knows that he can never have her. He is resigned to his fate but still holds onto the hope that he will see her again:

"Ah, little brown maiden, soon I must go,
Back to the North with its ice and snow,
Back to the land of the spruce and pine,
But your face in my heart I shall ever enshrine."

The tone of the poem is melancholic, but it is also infused with hope. The speaker's love for the Madonna is a bright spot in his life, and he cherishes the memory of her.

Conclusion

My Madonna is a beautiful poem that evokes a sense of longing and nostalgia. Service's use of imagery and language is exceptional, and he creates a vivid picture of the Italian landscape and culture. The theme of love is central to the poem, and the speaker's unrequited love for the Madonna is both wistful and hopeful. If you are a lover of poetry, then you need to read My Madonna by Robert Service.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry My Madonna: A Masterpiece by Robert Service

If you are a lover of poetry, then you must have come across the classic poem "My Madonna" by Robert Service. This masterpiece is a beautiful tribute to a woman who is revered as a symbol of purity, love, and devotion. The poem is a perfect example of how a skilled poet can use words to create a vivid image in the reader's mind.

Robert Service was a renowned poet who was born in England in 1874. He is best known for his poems about the Canadian wilderness and the Yukon Gold Rush. However, "My Madonna" is one of his most famous poems, and it is easy to see why.

The poem is written in the first person, and the speaker is addressing his "Madonna." The poem is divided into three stanzas, each with four lines. The rhyme scheme is ABAB, and the meter is iambic tetrameter, which means that each line has four iambs, or stressed and unstressed syllables.

The first stanza sets the tone for the poem. The speaker describes his Madonna as "a lady of a noble line," which suggests that she comes from a wealthy and respected family. He also describes her as "a queen in crown of living light," which suggests that she is a symbol of purity and goodness.

The second stanza is where the speaker expresses his love and devotion to his Madonna. He says that he would "lay his life down at her feet" and that he would "worship her with tears and sighs." This stanza is full of emotion and passion, and it is clear that the speaker is deeply in love with his Madonna.

The third stanza is where the poem takes a surprising turn. The speaker reveals that his Madonna is not a woman at all, but a statue of the Virgin Mary. He says that he has "knelt before her in the aisle" and that he has "prayed to her with faith and love." This revelation adds a new layer of meaning to the poem and makes it even more powerful.

One of the most striking things about "My Madonna" is the way that Service uses language to create a vivid image in the reader's mind. He uses words like "crown of living light" and "queenly grace" to describe the Madonna, which creates a sense of awe and reverence. He also uses words like "tears" and "sighs" to describe the speaker's emotions, which creates a sense of intimacy and vulnerability.

Another thing that makes "My Madonna" so powerful is the way that it explores the theme of love and devotion. The speaker's love for his Madonna is so strong that he is willing to lay down his life for her. This kind of devotion is rare in today's world, and it is a reminder of the power of love and faith.

The revelation in the third stanza is also significant because it shows the power of faith and belief. The speaker's devotion to the Madonna is not diminished by the fact that she is a statue. Instead, it is strengthened because he believes that she is a symbol of purity and goodness.

In conclusion, "My Madonna" is a masterpiece of poetry that explores the themes of love, devotion, and faith. Robert Service's use of language is masterful, and he creates a vivid image of the Madonna in the reader's mind. The poem is a reminder of the power of love and faith, and it is a testament to the enduring power of poetry. If you have not read "My Madonna" yet, then you are missing out on one of the greatest poems of all time.

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