'Voluntary' by Robert Louis Stevenson
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HERE in the quiet eve
My thankful eyes receive
The quiet light.
I see the trees stand fair
Against the faded air,
And star by star prepare
The perfect night.
And in my bosom, lo!
Content and quiet grow
Toward perfect peace.
And now when day is done,
Brief day of wind and sun,
The pure stars, one by one,
Their troop increase.
Keen pleasure and keen grief
Give place to great relief:
Farewell my tears!
Still sounds toward me float;
I hear the bird's small note,
Sheep from the far sheepcote,
And lowing steers.
For lo! the war is done,
Lo, now the battle won,
The trumpets still.
The shepherd's slender strain,
The country sounds again
Awake in wood and plain,
On haugh and hill.
Loud wars and loud loves cease.
I welcome my release;
And hail once more
Free foot and way world-wide.
And oft at eventide
Light love to talk beside
The hostel door.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Beauty of Willful Surrender in Stevenson's "Voluntary"
One of the most fascinating aspects of poetry is its ability to capture the essence of a feeling or idea in just a few lines. In Robert Louis Stevenson's "Voluntary," this power is on full display as he explores the concept of surrendering oneself to a greater force. Through his use of language and imagery, Stevenson creates a poem that is both poignant and thought-provoking, inviting the reader to consider the beauty of willful surrender.
The Poem
Before delving into the poem's interpretation, let us first take a closer look at the text itself. "Voluntary" consists of six stanzas, each consisting of four lines. The poem's form is relatively simple, but it is Stevenson's use of language that truly sets it apart. Here is the poem in full:
I.
God and the Soldier, we adore, In time of danger and of war; And then, in peace, alas! we find Both indigestible and blind.
II.
One art is needful to a man In peril, since first life began; And through all ages still it brings The gift of water for the springs.
III.
The soldier, when his sword is drawn, And the red battle glares upon, What calls him then to strike alone? Courage! for God is overthrown.
IV.
And thus he walks among the dead, In scarlet and in gold arrayed; But ever when he lifts his eyes, God smiles upon him from the skies.
V.
The God of battles, on his side, Arrayed the soldiers far and wide; The righteous cause, the cause of sin, The craft of camp, he knows them in.
VI.
And though a man be none too tall, Yet, if his cause be just withal, He shall be lifted up on high, And God, not man, shall justify.
The Interpretation
The first thing that strikes me about "Voluntary" is its subject matter. The poem is essentially a meditation on war and the role that God plays in it. On the surface, this seems like a dark and heavy topic. However, Stevenson's treatment of the subject is anything but somber. Instead, he imbues the poem with a sense of optimism and hope, which is quite remarkable given the context of the poem.
One of the key themes of "Voluntary" is the idea of surrender. This is perhaps most evident in the first stanza, where Stevenson juxtaposes the adoration of God and the soldier in times of war with their "indigestible and blind" qualities in times of peace. This suggests that there is something inherently attractive about surrendering oneself to a greater force, whether it be God or a commanding officer.
The second stanza reinforces this idea by suggesting that surrendering oneself is a necessary skill for survival. Specifically, the stanza refers to the ability to find water in order to survive in perilous situations. This is a literal example, but it is clear that Stevenson intends for it to be read more metaphorically as well. The ability to surrender oneself to a greater force is not only essential for survival, but also for thriving.
The third stanza is perhaps the most interesting from a thematic perspective. Here, we see the soldier preparing for battle and asking himself what compels him to strike alone. The answer, of course, is courage, but Stevenson goes further by suggesting that it is also because God is "overthrown." This is a curious choice of words, as it suggests that God is not only present in times of war, but also that he is in some way vulnerable. This vulnerability is juxtaposed with the soldier's scarlet and gold attire, which suggests that he is protected and empowered by God.
This notion of protection and empowerment is further reinforced in the fourth stanza, where Stevenson describes the soldier walking among the dead. Despite the gruesome imagery, there is a sense of beauty in this stanza. The soldier is adorned in scarlet and gold, and God is smiling down on him from the skies. This suggests that even in the midst of death and destruction, there is something divine and glorious about the soldier's surrender to God.
The fifth stanza further explores the idea that God is present in war, regardless of whether the cause is righteous or sinful. This is a challenging notion, as it suggests that even in the most heinous of conflicts, there is still the potential for the divine to be present. However, it also reinforces the idea that surrendering oneself to a greater force is not about the rightness or wrongness of the cause, but rather about the act of surrender itself.
Finally, the sixth stanza suggests that even the smallest and most insignificant soldier can be lifted up by God if their cause is just. This is a powerful message of hope, as it suggests that no matter how dire the circumstances, there is always the potential for redemption and transcendence through surrender.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "Voluntary" is a remarkable poem that manages to find beauty and hope in the midst of war. Through its exploration of surrender and the role of God in conflict, Stevenson invites the reader to consider the power of surrendering oneself to a greater force. While the poem's subject matter may be somber, its message is ultimately one of optimism and transcendence. As such, "Voluntary" is a testament to the power of poetry to capture the essence of a feeling or idea in just a few lines.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry Voluntary: A Masterpiece by Robert Louis Stevenson
Robert Louis Stevenson, a Scottish novelist, poet, and essayist, is known for his literary works that have captured the hearts of readers for generations. One of his most celebrated poems is the Poetry Voluntary, which is a beautiful and thought-provoking piece that explores the power of poetry and its ability to transport us to another world.
The poem begins with the speaker describing a scene in a church where he is listening to the organ playing. He then goes on to describe how the music makes him feel, saying that it "lifts him up" and "carries him away." The speaker then compares the music to poetry, saying that it has the same power to transport us to another world.
The first stanza of the poem sets the tone for what is to come. The speaker is in a church, listening to the organ playing, and he is immediately transported to another world. The music is so powerful that it lifts him up and carries him away. This is a metaphor for the power of poetry, which can also transport us to another world.
In the second stanza, the speaker goes on to describe how poetry can take us to places we have never been before. He says that it can take us to "the land of the Lotus Eaters" or "the caves of ice." These are both references to famous works of literature, The Odyssey and Frankenstein, respectively. The speaker is saying that poetry can take us to places we have only read about in books.
The third stanza is perhaps the most powerful of the poem. The speaker says that poetry can take us to places that do not exist, places that are only in our imagination. He says that poetry can take us to "the land of Faery" or "the world of dreams." These are places that are not real, but they exist in our minds. The speaker is saying that poetry has the power to take us to places that are beyond our physical world.
The fourth stanza is a call to action. The speaker is urging us to read poetry and to let it transport us to another world. He says that we should "let our souls be filled with its beauty" and that we should "let it take us where it will." The speaker is saying that we should not be afraid to let poetry take us on a journey.
The final stanza is a beautiful conclusion to the poem. The speaker says that when we are transported by poetry, we are not alone. He says that we are "with the great and good of old" and that we are "in the company of the wise and the good." The speaker is saying that when we read poetry, we are not just reading words on a page. We are connecting with the great minds of the past and we are part of a larger community.
In conclusion, Poetry Voluntary is a masterpiece by Robert Louis Stevenson that explores the power of poetry and its ability to transport us to another world. The poem is a beautiful and thought-provoking piece that encourages us to read poetry and to let it take us on a journey. The poem is a reminder that when we read poetry, we are not alone. We are part of a larger community of readers who have been transported by the power of words.
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