'Six Feet Of Sod' by Robert Service

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Carols of an Old CodgerThis is the end of all my ways,My wanderings on earth,
My gloomy and my golden days,My madness and my mirth.
I've bought ten thousand blades of grassTo bed me down below,
And here I wait the days to passUntil I go.Until I bid good bye to friend,To feast and fast goodbye,
And in a stint of soil the endI seek of sun and sky.
My farings far on land and sea,My trails of global girth
Sum up to this,--to cover meSix feet of earth.My home of homes I hold in feeFor centuries to pass,
When snug my skeleton will beAnd grin up through the grass;
When my grey ghost will bend above,And grieve to gracious God
This endless end of life and love,--Six feet of sod.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Literary Criticism and Interpretation of Robert Service's "Six Feet of Sod"

As a poetic tribute to the stoic and indomitable spirit of the Northern pioneers, Robert Service's "Six Feet of Sod" stands out as a masterpiece of narrative verse. The poem tells the story of a hardscrabble homesteader who buries his wife and children in a plot of land that he has painstakingly cleared and cultivated, and then reflects on the harsh realities of life in the wilderness.

This literary criticism and interpretation will examine the themes, imagery, and structure of "Six Feet of Sod" in order to shed light on Service's artistic vision and the cultural context in which he wrote.

Themes

At its core, "Six Feet of Sod" is a meditation on the fragility of human life and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity. The poem begins with a vivid description of the homesteader's wife and children, who are "sunburnt and gaunt and grim" but also "stalwart and brave and true" (lines 3-4). In their deaths, they become a symbol of the harsh beauty of the Northern landscape, which is both awe-inspiring and unforgiving.

The homesteader's reaction to the deaths of his loved ones is a mixture of grief, anger, and stoicism. He curses the land that has taken everything from him, but also accepts his fate with a grim resolve. In his own words, he has "marked the spot where they lie / And I know I shall rest beside" (lines 41-42). This sense of fatalism is tempered by the homesteader's determination to make a life for himself in the wilderness, despite the odds against him. He has "fought and prayed and sweat," and he knows that he will have to continue to struggle in order to survive (line 35).

Another theme that emerges in "Six Feet of Sod" is the importance of community and human connection in the face of isolation and hardship. The homesteader is physically alone on his land, but he is also part of a larger network of pioneers who share his struggles and his dreams. Service's portrayal of the Northern pioneers is unapologetically romantic, but it also acknowledges the grit and determination that was required to make a life in such a harsh environment.

Imagery

One of the most striking features of "Six Feet of Sod" is its vivid and evocative imagery. Service paints a picture of the Northern landscape that is both awe-inspiring and terrifying. The homesteader's land is described as a "wilderness of rock and pine" that is "grim and forbidding and wild" (lines 9-10). The weather is equally unforgiving, with "winds that howl and moan" and "snow that drifts and blows" (lines 17-18).

This harsh natural environment is mirrored in the homesteader's own physical appearance. He is "thin and gaunt and gray" with a face that is "wrinkled and seamed and old" (lines 19-20). Service also uses powerful metaphors to describe the homesteader's emotional state. He is "bitter as the heart of a pine" and "cold as the snow-bound sod" (lines 27-28).

The imagery in "Six Feet of Sod" serves to underscore the poem's central themes of resilience and endurance. The homesteader and his family are battered by the forces of nature, but they are also part of that same natural world. In death, they become part of the land that they have fought so hard to tame.

Structure

"Six Feet of Sod" is written in Service's signature ballad style, with a strong narrative structure and regular rhyme and meter. The poem is divided into eight stanzas, each of which tells a distinct part of the homesteader's story.

The first two stanzas establish the setting and introduce the homesteader and his family. The third stanza describes their deaths and the homesteader's reaction to their loss. The fourth and fifth stanzas reflect on the harshness of the Northern landscape and the homesteader's determination to survive.

The sixth stanza is a turning point in the poem, as the homesteader begins to accept his fate and recognize the beauty and value of the land that has taken so much from him. The seventh stanza is a meditation on the power of memory and the importance of honoring the dead. The final stanza brings the poem full circle, as the homesteader reflects on his own mortality and his ultimate reunion with his loved ones in death.

The structure of "Six Feet of Sod" is tightly controlled, with each stanza building on the themes and imagery of the previous one. The regular rhyme and meter give the poem a musical quality that is both mournful and uplifting.

Conclusion

In "Six Feet of Sod," Robert Service captures the spirit of the Northern pioneers with a clarity and intensity that is unmatched in Canadian literature. The poem is a testament to the resilience and indomitability of the human spirit in the face of adversity, and a tribute to the natural beauty and harshness of the Northern landscape.

Through its powerful imagery, tightly controlled structure, and unflinching honesty, "Six Feet of Sod" speaks to readers across generations and cultures. It is a literary masterpiece that continues to inspire and challenge us to this day.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry has the power to evoke emotions, stir the soul, and transport us to different worlds. One such poem that has stood the test of time is "Six Feet of Sod" by Robert Service. This classic poem is a haunting reminder of the inevitability of death and the fleeting nature of life. In this article, we will take a closer look at the poem and explore its themes, structure, and language.

Firstly, let's examine the structure of the poem. "Six Feet of Sod" is a ballad, a form of poetry that tells a story in a simple and direct manner. The poem consists of six stanzas, each with four lines. The rhyme scheme is ABAB, and the meter is iambic tetrameter, which means that each line has four iambs, or metrical feet, with the stress falling on the second syllable of each foot. This gives the poem a rhythmic and musical quality that makes it easy to read and remember.

The poem begins with the line, "Out of the darkness, fretted sometimes in its sleeping," which sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The speaker is reflecting on the inevitability of death, which is often shrouded in mystery and fear. The use of the word "fretted" suggests that death is something that causes anxiety and worry, even when we are not consciously thinking about it.

The second stanza introduces the central image of the poem, which is the six feet of sod that will cover the speaker's body after death. The speaker imagines himself lying in a grave, surrounded by the earth that will eventually consume him. This image is both powerful and unsettling, as it reminds us of our own mortality and the fact that we will all one day return to the earth.

The third stanza shifts the focus to the speaker's loved ones, who will mourn his passing and remember him after he is gone. The speaker acknowledges that his loved ones will eventually forget him, but he takes comfort in the fact that he will live on in their memories for a little while longer.

The fourth stanza is perhaps the most poignant of the poem, as the speaker reflects on the brevity of life and the fact that we must make the most of the time we have. He compares life to a "fleeting ember," which suggests that it is something that burns brightly for a short time before fading away. The use of the word "fleeting" emphasizes the transience of life and the need to seize the moment before it is too late.

The fifth stanza returns to the image of the six feet of sod, which is now described as a "blanket." This image is both comforting and unsettling, as it suggests that death is a form of sleep or rest, but also that it is a final and irreversible state. The use of the word "blanket" also suggests that death is something that covers and conceals, which reinforces the idea that it is shrouded in mystery and fear.

The final stanza brings the poem to a close with a powerful and uplifting message. The speaker acknowledges that death is inevitable, but he also reminds us that we can choose how we live our lives. He encourages us to live with courage, kindness, and love, and to make the most of the time we have. The final line of the poem, "And so to sleep beneath that boundless night," suggests that death is not something to be feared, but rather a natural and inevitable part of life.

In terms of language, "Six Feet of Sod" is a masterclass in simplicity and clarity. Robert Service uses simple, everyday language to convey complex ideas and emotions. The poem is full of powerful images and metaphors that evoke a sense of awe and wonder. The use of repetition, such as the repeated image of the six feet of sod, gives the poem a sense of unity and coherence.

Overall, "Six Feet of Sod" is a timeless poem that speaks to the universal human experience of mortality. It reminds us that life is fleeting and that we must make the most of the time we have. It also encourages us to live with courage, kindness, and love, and to face death with acceptance and grace. Robert Service's simple and direct style makes the poem accessible to all, and its powerful imagery and message ensure that it will continue to resonate with readers for generations to come.

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