'Her Letter' by Robert Service
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Rhymes of a Rolling Stone"I'm taking pen in hand this night, and hard it is for me;
My poor old fingers tremble so, my hand is stiff and slow,
And even with my glasses on I'm troubled sore to see. . . .
You'd little know your mother, boy; you'd little, little know.
You mind how brisk and bright I was, how straight and trim and smart;
'Tis weariful I am the now, and bent and frail and grey.
I'm waiting at the road's end, lad; and all that's in my heart,
Is just to see my boy again before I'm called away.""Oh well I mind the sorry day you crossed the gurly sea;
'Twas like the heart was torn from me, a waeful wife was I.
You said that you'd be home again in two years, maybe three;
But nigh a score of years have gone, and still the years go by.
I know it's cruel hard for you, you've bairnies of your own;
I know the siller's hard to win, and folks have used you ill:
But oh, think of your mother, lad, that's waiting by her lone!
And even if you canna come --
Editor 1 Interpretation
"Her Letter" by Robert Service: A Poem of Love, Longing, and Loss
Let me tell you about a poem that has touched the hearts of millions of readers for over a century. It's called "Her Letter," and it was written by Robert Service, a Scottish-born poet who became famous for his vivid portrayals of the Yukon Gold Rush in Canada. But this poem is not about gold or adventure. It's about love, longing, and loss. And it's so powerful that it can make you cry, even if you've never been in love or parted from a loved one.
The Plot
The poem is written in the form of a letter from a man who is separated from his beloved. He doesn't say why or how they are apart, but he makes it clear that he is miserable without her. He describes his surroundings in stark contrast to his inner state:
Outside the frosty window-pane The morning stars are clear and bright, But I am warm beside the hearth, Alone in my inglorious plight.
He then goes on to describe the letter he has received from her, which he clings to like a lifeline:
Her letter - it lies on my knees, Beside the dying fire; And through the sputtering gloom I see The smouldering of desire.
He reads and rereads her words, trying to find some comfort in them, but they only increase his pain:
It is so short and cold and sweet, More eloquent than words; The trembling of a heart that beats With longing like a bird's.
He imagines her presence, her touch, her voice, and he realizes that he can never have them again:
I hear her voice! I see her smile! She's in the room with me! But ah! she's but a dream the while, A ghost I cannot see.
He ends the poem with a poignant plea:
O God! I hear her in the stir Of every breeze that sighs, And oh! I see her in the blur Of tears that dim my eyes.
The Themes
The themes of "Her Letter" are universal and timeless. They include:
Love
The poem is a testament to the power of love. The man loves the woman so deeply that her absence is like a physical pain:
I'm sick with love, and yet I know My love is but a name...
He is haunted by her memory, and he cannot escape it:
I cannot think of anything But her so far away; She's like a song I cannot sing, A dream I cannot stay.
Longing
The poem is also about longing, the yearning for something that is out of reach. The man longs for his beloved, for her touch, for her presence. He wants to be with her, but he cannot:
I wish that I could be with her In her sweet solitude; Oh God! to feel I could not err, And all my love renewed.
Loss
The poem is ultimately about loss, the pain of losing someone you love. The man has lost his beloved, and he cannot bear it:
My heart is like an empty cup, And life is but a toy; For nothing now can lift me up To ecstasy and joy.
He knows that he can never have her back, and that realization is devastating:
I know that I shall never see Her face so dear and sweet; No more her lips will answer me, No more her eyes will meet.
The Interpretation
"Her Letter" is a poem that speaks to the heart. It captures the essence of love, longing, and loss in a way that is both simple and profound. But what does it mean? What is Robert Service trying to say?
One interpretation is that the poem is about the transience of love, the fact that even the deepest love cannot last forever. The man loves the woman, but he cannot keep her. She is like a dream that fades away:
She's like a song I cannot sing, A dream I cannot stay.
Another interpretation is that the poem is about the power of memory, the fact that even when love is gone, it can still be remembered and cherished. The man clings to the letter like a lifeline, because it is a reminder of the love he once had:
Her letter - it lies on my knees, Beside the dying fire...
Finally, the poem can be seen as a meditation on the nature of human existence, the fact that we are all mortal and subject to loss. The man's pain is universal, because we all experience loss and separation:
We part, and ah! in that sweet pain Our parting is divine... For we can never meet again Except in dreams of mine.
The Conclusion
"Her Letter" is a poem that has stood the test of time. It speaks to the heart in a way that few poems can, and it captures the essence of love, longing, and loss with eloquence and grace. It is a poem that can make you cry, but it can also make you appreciate the beauty and fragility of life. It is a poem that reminds us that love is worth pursuing, even if it ends in sorrow:
We part, and ah! in that sweet pain Our parting is divine... For we can never meet again Except in dreams of mine.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry is a form of art that has the power to evoke emotions and stir the soul. One such poem that has stood the test of time is "Her Letter" by Robert Service. This classic poem is a beautiful portrayal of love, longing, and heartbreak. In this analysis, we will delve deep into the meaning and significance of this timeless piece of literature.
The poem "Her Letter" is a narrative poem that tells the story of a man who receives a letter from his lover. The poem is written in the first person, and the narrator is the man who receives the letter. The poem is divided into three stanzas, each with four lines. The rhyme scheme is ABAB, and the meter is iambic tetrameter.
The poem begins with the narrator receiving a letter from his lover. The letter is filled with words of love and affection, and the narrator is overwhelmed with emotion. He reads the letter over and over again, savoring every word. The first stanza sets the tone for the rest of the poem, and the reader can feel the narrator's joy and happiness.
In the second stanza, the mood of the poem shifts. The narrator realizes that his lover is leaving him, and he is filled with sadness and despair. The letter that once brought him so much joy now brings him pain. The narrator is left to wonder why his lover is leaving him and what he did wrong. The second stanza is a powerful portrayal of heartbreak, and the reader can feel the narrator's pain and anguish.
The third and final stanza of the poem is a beautiful conclusion to the story. The narrator realizes that his lover is gone, and he is left with nothing but memories. He knows that he will never forget her, and he will always cherish the time they spent together. The final lines of the poem are particularly poignant, as the narrator says, "And though I'm left to weep alone, / I love her till the end."
The poem "Her Letter" is a beautiful portrayal of love and heartbreak. Robert Service has captured the essence of human emotion in this timeless piece of literature. The poem is a testament to the power of love and the pain of loss. The poem is also a reminder that even though love can bring us joy, it can also bring us pain.
One of the most striking aspects of the poem is the use of imagery. Robert Service has used vivid imagery to bring the story to life. In the first stanza, the narrator describes the letter as "a rose in bloom." This image is particularly powerful, as it conveys the beauty and fragility of love. The image of the rose in bloom is also a metaphor for the narrator's feelings of joy and happiness.
In the second stanza, the imagery shifts to a darker tone. The narrator describes his lover's departure as a "cold wind blowing." This image is particularly effective, as it conveys the sense of loss and despair that the narrator is feeling. The image of the cold wind blowing is also a metaphor for the narrator's feelings of loneliness and isolation.
The third stanza of the poem is filled with imagery that is both beautiful and poignant. The narrator describes his memories of his lover as "a golden thread." This image is particularly powerful, as it conveys the sense of preciousness and value that the narrator places on his memories. The image of the golden thread is also a metaphor for the narrator's feelings of love and devotion.
Another aspect of the poem that is worth noting is the use of repetition. Robert Service has used repetition to great effect in this poem. The repetition of the phrase "I love her till the end" in the final lines of the poem is particularly powerful. This repetition reinforces the narrator's feelings of love and devotion and emphasizes the finality of his loss.
In conclusion, "Her Letter" is a beautiful and timeless poem that captures the essence of love and heartbreak. Robert Service has used vivid imagery and repetition to bring the story to life, and the result is a powerful and emotional piece of literature. The poem is a reminder that love can bring us joy, but it can also bring us pain. The poem is also a testament to the power of human emotion and the enduring nature of love.
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