'The Leaning Tower' by Robert Service
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Having an aged hate of height
I forced myself to climb the Tower,
Yet paused at every second flight
Because my heart is scant of power;
Then when I gained the sloping summit
Earthward I stared, straight as a plummet.
When like a phantom by my side
I saw a man cadaverous;
At first I fancied him a guide,
For dimly he addressed me thus:
"Sir, where you stand, Oh long ago!
There also stood Galilleo.
"Proud Master of a mighty mind,
he worshipped truth and knew not fear;
Aye, though in age his eyes were blind,
Till death his brain was crystal clear;
And here he communed with the stars,
Where now you park your motor cars.
"This Pisa was a pleasant place,
Beloved by poets in their prime;
Yonder our Shelly used to pace,
And Byron ottavas would rhyme.
Till Shelley, from this fair environ,
Scrammed to escape egregious Byron.
"And you who with the horde have come,
I hate your guts, I say with candour;
Your wife wears slacks, and you chew gum,
So I, the ghost of Savage Landor,
Beg you, step closer to the edge,
That I may push you o'er the ledge."
But back I shrank, sped down the stair,
And sought the Baptistry where God is;
For I had no desire, I swear,
To prove the law of falling bodies. . . .
You're right - when one's nigh eighty he's a
Damphool to climb the Tower of Pisa.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Leaning Tower: A Masterpiece of Robert Service
The Leaning Tower is a masterpiece of Robert Service, a Canadian poet who is known for his narrative style of poetry. The poem tells the story of a man who is enamoured by the beauty of the Leaning Tower of Pisa and decides to climb it. However, he soon realizes that the tower's tilt poses a danger to his life. The poem is a beautiful depiction of man's desire to conquer nature and his ultimate realization of his own limitations.
The Theme of Hubris
One of the central themes of The Leaning Tower is hubris. The protagonist of the poem is driven by his desire to conquer the tower and the danger it poses. He disregards the warnings of the locals and decides to climb the tower anyway. He is filled with a sense of invincibility and believes that he can overcome any obstacle.
However, his hubris is soon revealed when he realizes that the tower's tilt makes it impossible for him to climb any further. He is forced to confront his own limitations and the fact that nature is more powerful than he is. The poem is a cautionary tale about the dangers of hubris and the importance of respecting the power of nature.
The Beauty of the Tower
Another important aspect of the poem is the beauty of the Leaning Tower. Service's vivid descriptions of the tower's architecture and surroundings make it come alive in the reader's mind. He paints a picture of a stunning structure that has captivated people for centuries.
The protagonist of the poem is no exception. He is entranced by the tower's beauty and is compelled to climb it. Service's descriptions of the tower's surroundings, such as the "golden Tuscan hills" and "the blue Mediterranean Sea," add to the beauty of the scene.
The Tension and Danger
Despite the beauty of the tower and its surroundings, the poem is filled with tension and danger. The protagonist's climb is fraught with peril, and the reader is constantly on edge, wondering if he will make it to the top.
The danger is heightened by the tower's tilt, which makes the climb even more precarious. Service's use of vivid imagery, such as "the tower tilted like a drunken man," adds to the tension of the scene.
The Symbolism of the Tower
The Leaning Tower can also be interpreted as a symbol for the human desire to conquer nature. The tower, with its dramatic tilt, represents the challenge that nature poses to man. The protagonist's climb represents man's attempt to overcome this challenge and assert his dominance over nature.
However, the tower's tilt also symbolizes the futility of man's attempts to conquer nature. No matter how hard he tries, man will always be subject to the whims of nature. The tower's lean is a reminder that nature is more powerful than man will ever be.
Conclusion
In conclusion, The Leaning Tower is a masterpiece of narrative poetry that explores the themes of hubris, beauty, tension, and symbolism. Service's vivid descriptions and use of imagery bring the tower and its surroundings to life, while the protagonist's climb is a reminder of man's desire to conquer nature and his ultimate limitations. The poem is a cautionary tale about the dangers of hubris and the importance of respecting the power of nature.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Leaning Tower: A Masterpiece of Robert Service
Robert Service is a renowned poet who has left an indelible mark on the world of literature. His poems are known for their simplicity, yet they are powerful enough to evoke strong emotions in the reader. One of his most famous works is "The Leaning Tower," a poem that tells the story of a tower that leans precariously, defying the laws of gravity. In this article, we will analyze and explain the poem in detail, exploring its themes, literary devices, and overall significance.
The poem begins with a vivid description of the tower, which is described as "a tower of marble, a tower of stone, / A tower of glory, a tower alone." The tower is depicted as a magnificent structure that stands tall and proud, a symbol of human achievement. However, the tower's beauty is marred by the fact that it leans to one side, as if defying the laws of physics. This is the central theme of the poem, and it is explored in great detail throughout.
The first stanza sets the tone for the rest of the poem, with its use of vivid imagery and powerful language. The tower is described as "a tower of marble, a tower of stone," which emphasizes its solidity and permanence. The use of the word "glory" also suggests that the tower is a symbol of human achievement, something that people can be proud of. However, the fact that the tower is "alone" suggests that it is also isolated and vulnerable, a theme that is explored further in the poem.
The second stanza introduces the idea that the tower is leaning, which is described as "a strange, weird thing, a thing of dread." The use of the word "weird" suggests that the tower's lean is unnatural, something that defies explanation. The fact that it is "a thing of dread" suggests that it is also something to be feared, a potential danger to those who come near it. This creates a sense of tension and unease that is carried throughout the rest of the poem.
The third stanza explores the idea that the tower's lean is a mystery, something that cannot be explained. The speaker asks, "What is the secret of this tower?" but there is no answer. This creates a sense of mystery and intrigue, as the reader is left wondering what could have caused the tower to lean in such a way. The use of the word "secret" also suggests that there is something hidden or unknown about the tower, something that is waiting to be discovered.
The fourth stanza introduces the idea that the tower's lean is a challenge, something that people are drawn to. The speaker says, "Men come from far to see its lean," suggesting that the tower has become a tourist attraction, something that people are curious about. The fact that people are drawn to the tower despite its potential danger suggests that there is something compelling about it, something that people cannot resist.
The fifth stanza explores the idea that the tower's lean is a symbol of human frailty, something that reminds us of our own mortality. The speaker says, "It leans because of human pride," suggesting that the tower's lean is a result of human arrogance, something that we are all guilty of. The fact that the tower is a symbol of human frailty suggests that it is also a reminder of our own mortality, something that we cannot escape.
The sixth stanza introduces the idea that the tower's lean is a metaphor for life itself, something that is precarious and uncertain. The speaker says, "Life is a leaning tower, as frail as it is fair," suggesting that life is like the tower, something that is beautiful but also fragile. The fact that life is compared to the tower suggests that it is also something that is subject to the same laws of physics, something that can be affected by external forces beyond our control.
The seventh stanza explores the idea that the tower's lean is a challenge to human ingenuity, something that inspires us to find a solution. The speaker says, "But men will find a way to make it stand," suggesting that human beings are capable of overcoming even the most difficult challenges. The fact that the tower's lean is seen as a challenge to human ingenuity suggests that it is also something that inspires us to be creative and resourceful.
The eighth and final stanza brings the poem to a close, with the speaker reflecting on the tower's lean and its significance. The speaker says, "And so it leans, and so we learn / That life is brief, but art is long." This suggests that the tower's lean is a reminder of the brevity of life, something that we must all come to terms with. However, the fact that the tower is also a work of art suggests that it is something that will endure, something that will outlast us all.
In terms of literary devices, the poem makes use of vivid imagery, powerful language, and metaphorical language. The use of vivid imagery helps to create a sense of tension and unease, while the powerful language emphasizes the tower's beauty and significance. The metaphorical language helps to connect the tower's lean to broader themes, such as human frailty and the brevity of life.
Overall, "The Leaning Tower" is a masterpiece of Robert Service, a poem that explores the themes of human frailty, mortality, and ingenuity. Its use of vivid imagery, powerful language, and metaphorical language make it a powerful and evocative work of literature, one that will continue to inspire and challenge readers for generations to come.
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