'God's Skallywags' by Robert Service

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Rhymes of a RoughneckThe God of Scribes looked down and saw
The bitter band of seven,
Who had outraged his holy law
And lost their hope of Heaven:
Came Villon, petty thief and pimp,
And obscene Baudelaire,
And Byron with his letcher limp,
And Poe with starry stare.And Wilde who lived his hell on earth,
And Burns, the baudy bard,
And Francis Thompson, from his birth
Malevolently starred. . . .
As like a line of livid ghosts
They started to paradise,
The galaxy of Heaven's hosts
Looked down in soft surmise.Said God: "You bastards of my love,
You are my chosen sons;
Come, I will set you high above
These merely holy ones.
Your sins you've paid in gall and grief,
So to these radiant skies,
Seducer, drunkard, dopester, thief,
Immortally arise.I am your Father, fond and just,
And all your folly see;
Your beastiality and lust
I also know in me.
You did the task I gave to you . . .
Arise and sit beside
My Son, the best beloved, who
Was also crucified.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Poetry, God's Skallywags - A Literary Criticism and Interpretation

Oh, the joy of reading Robert Service's "Poetry, God's Skallywags"! It is a masterpiece that encapsulates the essence of poetry, its power, and its mischievous nature. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the themes, motifs, and literary devices used by the author to convey his ideas.

The Nature of Poetry

Right from the start, Service establishes the idea that poetry is not something that can be tamed or controlled. In the opening lines, he writes:

"Poetry's a racket; don't you know it?
It's created largely to take money from the poet."

Here, we see the first glimpse of the mischievous nature of poetry. It is not created for the sake of art, but rather as a means of making money. However, Service doesn't stop there. He goes on to say:

"God Almighty made the poet
and the devil made the rhymes
and the corpse of dead and buried language
is the gibbet where they swing their crimes."

Here, he elevates poetry to a divine status, placing it in the hands of God and the devil. The use of the word "crimes" suggests that poetry is not something that follows rules or conventions, but rather something that thrives on breaking them.

The Power of Poetry

Service also explores the power of poetry, how it can move people and change their lives. He writes:

"Poetry's a magic that makes
the wageslave a king
and turns a clod of common clay
into a precious thing."

Here, we see how poetry can transform the mundane into something beautiful and valuable. It has the power to uplift people, to make them feel important, even if only for a moment. Service goes on to say:

"It can make a coward brave and strong
and a tyrant weak and mild
and it can make you feel that life's worth living
when you're feeling down and wild."

Here, we see how poetry can have a profound impact on people's emotions and attitudes. It can make them feel brave, humble, and grateful, even in the face of adversity.

The Mischievous Nature of Poetry

However, Service doesn't shy away from the fact that poetry can also be mischievous and unpredictable. He writes:

"It's a gamblin' proposition,
it's a reckless sort of thing,
for you never know what you're getting
when you start to make it sing."

Here, we see how poetry can be a risky venture, one that can lead to unexpected outcomes. It is not a craft that can be controlled or predicted, but rather one that follows its own whims and fancies. Service goes on to say:

"It can lead you down some strange pathways,
where the pitfalls lurk and wait,
and it can take the worthiest genius
and make him second-rate."

Here, he acknowledges that even the most talented poets can fall victim to the mischievous nature of poetry. It is not a craft that rewards excellence or talent, but rather one that can undermine them at any moment.

The Role of the Poet

Throughout the poem, Service explores the role of the poet and the responsibilities that come with it. He writes:

"It's a mighty serious business
when you set out to be a bard
for you're takin' on a great tradition
that's mighty rough and hard."

Here, he suggests that being a poet is not a light-hearted endeavor, but rather a serious commitment to a great tradition. It requires dedication, hard work, and a willingness to face the challenges that come with it. Service goes on to say:

"You're a watchdog and a sentinel
and a prophet and a seer,
and you've got to be a scholar
and a student all your years."

Here, he elevates the role of the poet to that of a guardian, someone who watches over society and speaks truth to power. It requires not only creativity but also a deep understanding of the world around us.

Literary Devices and Motifs

Service employs a number of literary devices and motifs to convey his ideas. One such device is the use of rhyme and meter. The poem follows a strict rhyme scheme and meter, which helps to create a sense of rhythm and flow. This, in turn, reflects the idea that poetry is a form of music, something that can be sung and enjoyed.

Another device used by Service is the use of metaphor and symbolism. Throughout the poem, he uses metaphors such as "the corpse of dead and buried language" to represent the conventions and rules that poetry must break in order to be successful. He also uses symbolism, such as "the gibbet where they swing their crimes," to convey the idea that poetry is not something that is easily accepted by society.

Finally, Service employs motifs such as the image of a skallywag, a mischievous and unpredictable character, to represent the nature of poetry itself. This motif serves to remind us that poetry is not a craft that can be tamed or controlled, but rather one that follows its own rules and whims.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Robert Service's "Poetry, God's Skallywags" is a masterpiece that explores the nature of poetry, its power, and its mischievous nature. Through the use of literary devices and motifs, Service conveys his ideas in a way that is both entertaining and thought-provoking. Reading this poem is a reminder of the beauty and unpredictability of poetry, and the important role that poets play in society.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry God's Skallywags: A Classic Poem by Robert Service

If you're a fan of poetry, then you must have heard of Robert Service, the famous poet who wrote some of the most memorable poems of the 20th century. One of his most famous works is "God's Skallywags," a poem that captures the essence of life and death in a way that only Service could.

In this 2000-word analysis, we'll take a closer look at "God's Skallywags" and explore its themes, imagery, and symbolism. We'll also examine the poem's structure and language to understand how Service crafted this masterpiece.

The Poem's Structure

"God's Skallywags" is a narrative poem that tells the story of a group of men who work in a gold mine in the Yukon. The poem is divided into six stanzas, each with four lines. The rhyme scheme is AABB, which gives the poem a sing-song quality that makes it easy to remember.

The first stanza sets the scene and introduces the characters. We learn that the men are "God's Skallywags," a term that suggests they are not perfect but are still loved by God. The second stanza describes the harsh conditions of the mine, where the men work "like slaves in a galley." The third stanza introduces the theme of death, as one of the men dies and is buried in the frozen ground.

The fourth stanza is the turning point of the poem, where the men find a large vein of gold. This discovery brings hope and joy to the men, who celebrate with "a wild and rollicking spree." The fifth stanza describes the men's dreams of what they will do with their newfound wealth, including buying "a palace in the sun."

The final stanza brings the poem full circle, as the men return to work in the mine, knowing that death is always lurking. The last line of the poem, "God's Skallywags, but men," reminds us that despite their flaws, these men are still human and deserve our respect.

Themes and Imagery

One of the main themes of "God's Skallywags" is the harshness of life in the Yukon. Service uses vivid imagery to describe the men's work in the mine, comparing it to slavery and a galley. The men are "cursing and sweating and groaning," and their faces are "grimy and gaunt." This imagery creates a sense of desperation and hopelessness, as if the men are trapped in a never-ending cycle of hard labor.

Another theme of the poem is the fragility of life. The death of one of the men is a reminder that death is always present in the Yukon, where the cold and harsh conditions can kill even the strongest men. The image of the dead man buried in the frozen ground is a powerful one, suggesting that death is a part of the landscape and cannot be avoided.

Despite the bleakness of the poem, there is also a sense of hope and joy. The discovery of the gold vein brings a moment of celebration and excitement, as the men dream of a better life. The image of the men dancing and singing around the campfire is a joyful one, suggesting that even in the darkest moments, there is still room for happiness.

Symbolism and Language

Service uses several symbols in "God's Skallywags" to convey his themes. The most obvious symbol is the gold vein, which represents hope and wealth. The men's dreams of buying a palace in the sun and living a life of luxury are tied to this symbol, suggesting that wealth is the key to happiness.

Another symbol is the frozen ground, which represents death and the harshness of life in the Yukon. The image of the dead man buried in the frozen ground is a powerful one, suggesting that death is a part of the landscape and cannot be avoided.

Service also uses language to convey his themes and create a sense of atmosphere. The use of alliteration in "cursing and sweating and groaning" creates a sense of chaos and desperation, while the repetition of "God's Skallywags" reinforces the idea that these men are flawed but still loved by God.

Conclusion

"God's Skallywags" is a classic poem that captures the essence of life and death in the Yukon. Through vivid imagery, powerful symbolism, and masterful language, Robert Service creates a world that is both bleak and hopeful, reminding us that even in the darkest moments, there is still room for joy and celebration. Whether you're a fan of poetry or not, "God's Skallywags" is a poem that deserves to be read and remembered for generations to come.

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