'Death And Life' by Robert Service


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Songs of a Sun-Lover'Twas in the grave-yard's gruesome gloom
That May and I were mated;
We sneaked inside and on a tomb
Our love was consummated.
It's quite all right, no doubt we'll wed,
Our sin will go unchidden . . .
Ah! sweeter than the nuptial bed
Are ecstasies forbidden.And as I held my sweetheart close,
And she was softly sighing,
I could not help but think of those
In peace below us lying.
Poor folks! No disrespect we meant,
And beg you'll be forgiving;
We hopes the dead will not resent
The rapture of the living.And when in death I, too, shall lie,
And lost to those who love me,
I wish two sweethearts roving by
Will plight their troth above me.
Oh do not think that I will grieve
To hear the vows they're voicing,
And if their love new life conceive,
'Tis I will be rejoicing.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Poetry, Death And Life: A Literary Analysis

Introduction

Robert Service is a renowned poet who is known for his ability to capture the essence of life through his poems. His work is characterized by a blend of the humorous and the serious, the profound and the mundane, the tragic and the comic. In "Poetry, Death And Life," Service explores the themes of life, death, and poetry. Through this poem, Service reflects on the fleeting nature of life, the inevitability of death, and the power of poetry to immortalize human experience.

Analysis

Theme of Life and Death

The theme of life and death is one that pervades the poem from beginning to end. The poem begins with the lines, "life is a journey that can be traveled but once, and the road that we travel has a beginning and an end." These lines set the tone for the rest of the poem, which is a meditation on the fleeting nature of life. Service uses vivid imagery to capture the transience of life, such as when he writes, "the leaves of the oak tree are withered and sere, and the songs that the nightingale sang have all died." These lines are a reminder that everything in life is subject to change and that nothing lasts forever.

The inevitability of death is another theme that runs throughout the poem. Service acknowledges that death is an inescapable reality that we all must face eventually. He writes, "death is a journey that we all must take, and the road that we travel has no turning back." These lines are a potent reminder that life is short and that death is the great equalizer that comes for us all.

Theme of Poetry

The theme of poetry is another significant aspect of the poem. Service asserts that poetry has the power to transcend time and immortalize human experience. He writes, "poetry is a journey that never ends, and the road that we travel is paved with the words of the poets who came before us." These lines suggest that poetry is a medium through which we can connect with the past and the future.

Service also emphasizes the power of poetry to capture the beauty and the tragedy of human experience. He writes, "poetry is a mirror that shows us the world, and the beauty and the sorrow that we find there." These lines suggest that poetry is a tool that we can use to reflect upon our lives and our experiences.

Form and Structure

The poem is structured in six stanzas, each consisting of four lines. The rhyme scheme is ABAB, which creates a sense of continuity and stability throughout the poem. The use of iambic tetrameter also contributes to the poem's smooth and rhythmic flow.

The repetition of the phrase "life is a journey" at the beginning of each stanza creates a sense of unity and coherence throughout the poem. The repetition of this phrase also emphasizes the theme of transience, as it suggests that life is a journey that is always moving forward, and that we must make the most of the time we have.

Literary Devices

Service employs a variety of literary devices in the poem to convey the themes of life, death, and poetry.

One such device is imagery, which he uses to create vivid pictures in the reader's mind. For example, he writes, "the leaves of the oak tree are withered and sere," which creates a sense of decay and impermanence.

Service also uses metaphor to convey his ideas. For example, he writes, "death is a journey that we all must take," which equates death with a journey. This metaphor emphasizes the inevitability of death and suggests that we are all ultimately headed in the same direction.

Another literary device that Service employs is repetition. The repetition of the phrase "life is a journey" at the beginning of each stanza emphasizes the theme of transience and the idea that life is always moving forward.

Interpretation

"Poetry, Death And Life" is a poem that invites the reader to reflect upon the fleeting nature of life, the inevitability of death, and the power of poetry to immortalize human experience. Through vivid imagery, metaphor, and repetition, Service captures the essence of the human condition and reminds us of the importance of living life to the fullest.

The poem suggests that life is a journey that is always moving forward and that we must make the most of the time we have. It also acknowledges the inevitability of death and reminds us that we are all ultimately headed in the same direction.

Service's emphasis on the power of poetry to immortalize human experience is a testament to the enduring nature of art. By writing poetry, we can connect with the past and the future and reflect upon the beauty and the tragedy of human experience.

Conclusion

In "Poetry, Death And Life," Robert Service captures the essence of the human experience through his exploration of the themes of life, death, and poetry. Through vivid imagery, metaphor, and repetition, Service reminds us of the fleeting nature of life, the inevitability of death, and the power of poetry to immortalize human experience. The poem is a powerful meditation on the human condition and a call to live life to the fullest.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry has always been a medium for expressing the deepest emotions and thoughts of the human mind. It is a form of art that has the power to move people, to inspire them, and to make them feel alive. One such poem that has stood the test of time and continues to inspire people is "Death and Life" by Robert Service.

Robert Service was a British-Canadian poet who lived from 1874 to 1958. He was known for his narrative poems that often depicted the harsh realities of life in the Canadian wilderness. "Death and Life" is one such poem that tells the story of a man who is faced with the inevitability of death and how he chooses to face it.

The poem begins with the lines, "There are two men in me, one I've forgotten, / And the other is grim and grey." These lines set the tone for the rest of the poem, which is a reflection on the duality of human nature. The speaker is torn between two sides of himself, one that is full of life and the other that is consumed by the fear of death.

The first stanza of the poem describes the speaker's fear of death. He says, "I'm haunted by spectres of what might have been, / Of the life I might have led." The speaker is consumed by regret and the fear that he has not lived his life to the fullest. He is afraid of what lies ahead and what he will leave behind.

However, in the second stanza, the speaker begins to embrace life. He says, "But the second man in me awakens, / And he's raring to have his say." This second man represents the speaker's desire to live life to the fullest, to embrace every moment and to make the most of his time on earth.

The third stanza of the poem is perhaps the most powerful. The speaker says, "He's the man who's glad to be living, / And he's willing to fight and die." This line represents the speaker's acceptance of death. He is no longer afraid of what lies ahead, but instead, he is willing to face it head-on. He is willing to fight for his life and to die if necessary.

The fourth stanza of the poem is a reflection on the beauty of life. The speaker says, "For life is a challenge to conquer, / And death is a sleep that is sweet." This line represents the speaker's understanding that life is a precious gift, and that death is a natural part of the cycle of life. He sees death not as an end, but as a new beginning.

The final stanza of the poem is a call to action. The speaker says, "So come on, old fellow, be cheerful, / And keep your chin up and your pride." This line represents the speaker's desire to inspire others to embrace life and to face death with courage and dignity.

In conclusion, "Death and Life" is a powerful poem that speaks to the duality of human nature. It is a reflection on the fear of death and the desire to live life to the fullest. Robert Service's use of language and imagery is masterful, and the poem continues to inspire people to this day. It is a reminder that life is a precious gift, and that we should embrace every moment and face death with courage and dignity.

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