'Over The Parapet' by Robert Service
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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.
Romance! Romance! How I've dreamed it, writing
Dreary old records of money and mart,
Me with my head chuckful of fighting
And 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 humming
As 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 shiver
Of an eerie wind or a clammy hand?
The rustle of grass, or the passing quiver
Of 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-forsaken
Zone 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 yonder
Is 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.
"English schwein-hund!" he murmurs coarsely.
"Then we'll fight it out in the dark," say I.
So we grip and we slip and we trip and wrestle
There in the gutter of No Man's Land;
And I feel my nails in his wind-pipe nestle,
And he tries to gouge, but I bite his hand.
And he tries to squeal, but I squeeze him tighter:
"Now," I say, "I can kill you fine;
But tell me first, you Teutonic blighter!
Have you any children?" He answers: "Nein."
Nine! Well, I cannot kill such a father,
So I tie his hands and I leave him there.
Do I finish my little job? Well, rather;
And I get home safe with some light to spare.
Heigh-ho! by day it's just prosy duty,
Doing the same old song and dance;
But oh! with the night -- joy, glory, beauty:
Over the parapet -- Life, Romance!
Editor 1 Interpretation
Over The Parapet by Robert Service
Are you ready to be swept away into a world of bravery, courage, and the horrors of war? Robert Service's classic poem, "Over The Parapet," does just that. It is a heart-wrenching piece that takes us into the trenches of World War I, where soldiers struggle to survive in the face of danger.
The poem opens with a vivid description of the battlefield. The speaker is a soldier, looking out over the parapet, watching as "death prowls in the twilight." The scene is set with eerie silence, broken only by the occasional sound of a gun firing. Service does an excellent job of creating a sense of tension and danger from the very beginning.
As the poem progresses, we see the soldier's thoughts turn to home, and the loved ones he has left behind. He thinks of his mother, who "prayed for him so hard," and his sweetheart, who "kissed him so tenderly." It is a poignant moment, as we are reminded of the human cost of war.
The soldier then turns his attention back to the battlefield, and we see him become increasingly fearful. He knows that death is coming, and he wonders if he will have the courage to face it. Service uses powerful imagery to convey the soldier's emotions. We see him "crouched like a cat," and "shaking like a leaf." It is a visceral image that brings home the reality of war.
The climax of the poem comes when the soldier decides to take action. He decides that he cannot sit and wait for death to come to him. Instead, he will take the fight to the enemy. It is a moment of bravery and heroism, as the soldier leaps over the parapet and charges towards the enemy lines.
Service's use of language in this section is particularly effective. The soldier is described as being "mad with the lust of battle," and we see him "singing and shouting." It is a stark contrast to the fear and uncertainty of the earlier stanzas, and it leaves the reader feeling exhilarated.
The poem ends with the soldier's fate uncertain. We don't know if he survives his charge, or if he is cut down by enemy fire. It is a powerful ending that leaves the reader with a sense of unease. We are reminded that war is unpredictable, and that even the bravest of soldiers may not make it home.
In conclusion, "Over The Parapet" is a powerful and emotive poem that captures the reality of war. Service's use of imagery and language is masterful, and he creates a sense of tension and danger from the very beginning. The poem is a reminder of the human cost of war, and the bravery and heroism that it can inspire. It is a classic piece of literature that deserves to be read and appreciated by all.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Over The Parapet: A Poem of Courage and Sacrifice
Robert Service’s Over The Parapet is a classic poem that captures the essence of courage and sacrifice in the face of war. Written during the First World War, the poem tells the story of a soldier who risks his life to save his comrades, and in doing so, becomes a hero. With its vivid imagery and powerful message, Over The Parapet remains a timeless tribute to the bravery of those who fought and died in the trenches.
The poem opens with a description of the soldier’s surroundings: “The sky is clear and blue and bright, / The morning sun is gold and white”. This idyllic scene is quickly shattered by the sound of gunfire, which serves as a reminder of the harsh reality of war. The soldier is stationed in a trench, which is described as “a narrow grave” – a metaphor that highlights the danger and claustrophobia of his situation. The use of metaphor is a recurring theme in the poem, and serves to create a sense of depth and meaning that goes beyond the literal description of events.
As the soldier looks out over the parapet, he sees his comrades falling one by one. The imagery here is particularly powerful: “I see them stagger, reel and spin, / And topple down to lie within / The ghastly welter of the wire”. The use of alliteration and rhyme creates a sense of rhythm that mimics the chaos of battle. The soldier is filled with a sense of despair and helplessness, as he watches his friends die before his eyes.
However, in the midst of this chaos, the soldier finds the courage to act. He climbs over the parapet and runs towards his fallen comrades, dodging bullets and shells as he goes. The imagery here is particularly vivid: “I hear the bullets zip and whine, / And as I run I feel the fine / Sharp whistle of a piece of shell”. The use of sensory details creates a sense of immediacy and urgency that draws the reader into the action.
As the soldier reaches his comrades, he is faced with a difficult decision. He can either stay and fight, or he can retreat to safety. However, he chooses to stay and fight, knowing that his actions may cost him his life. The poem captures this moment of decision with the following lines: “I see my comrades lying there, / And in my heart I say a prayer, / And then I turn and face the foe”. The use of internal rhyme and repetition creates a sense of resolution and determination that is both inspiring and moving.
The soldier fights bravely, but ultimately he is overwhelmed by the enemy. He falls to the ground, but not before he has taken down several of his foes. The final lines of the poem capture the soldier’s sacrifice: “I feel a stab of sudden pain, / And then I know that I am slain, / And yet I smile – and so I die”. The use of irony here is particularly poignant, as the soldier’s smile in the face of death serves as a reminder of the bravery and selflessness that he has displayed.
Overall, Over The Parapet is a powerful tribute to the courage and sacrifice of those who fought and died in the First World War. The poem captures the horror and chaos of battle, while also celebrating the bravery and selflessness of the soldiers who fought in it. The use of vivid imagery, metaphor, and rhyme creates a sense of depth and meaning that goes beyond the literal description of events. As such, the poem remains a timeless reminder of the human cost of war, and a tribute to those who gave their lives in the service of their country.
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