'Retired' by Robert Service
AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay
I used to sing, when I was young,
The joy of idleness;
But now I'm grey I hold my tongue,
For frankly I confess
If I had not some job to do
I would be bored to death;
So I must toil until I'm through
With this asthmatic breath.
Where others slothfully would brood
beg for little chores,
To peel potatoes, chop the wood,
And even scrub the floors.
When slightly useful I can be,
I'm happy as a bboy;
Dish-washing is a boon to me,
And brushing boots a joy.
The young folks tell me: "Grandpa, please,
Don't be so manual;
You certainly have earned your ease -
Why don't you rest a spell?"
Say I: I'll have a heap of rest
On my sepulchral shelf;
So now please let me do my best
To justify myself."
For one must strive or one will die,
And work's our dearest friend;
God meant it so, and that is why
I'll toil unto the end.
I thank the Lord I'm full of beans,
So let me heft a hoe,
And I will don my garden jeans
And help the beans to grow.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Retired by Robert Service: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Oh, the life of a retiree! Restful mornings, leisurely afternoons, and worry-free evenings - isn't that what we all dream of? But have you ever stopped to wonder what goes on in the mind of a retiree? What thoughts flit through their mind as they sit in their armchair, staring out at the world? In his poem "Retired," Robert Service delves deep into the psyche of a retired man and presents us with a poignant, thought-provoking, and moving portrayal of the twilight years. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the themes, symbols, and literary techniques used by Service to bring this poem to life.
Themes
At its core, "Retired" is a meditation on the nature of old age, the passage of time, and the inevitability of death. The speaker of the poem, an old man who has retired from the world, reflects on the passing of time and the changes that have taken place around him. He muses on how the world has moved on without him and how he has become a stranger to the people and places he once knew so well. The theme of isolation and loneliness is also pervasive throughout the poem. The speaker is acutely aware of his own solitude and longs for the company of others, but knows that it is an impossible dream.
Another key theme in the poem is the idea of regret. The speaker looks back on his life and wonders if he has lived it to the fullest. He regrets the missed opportunities and the chances he did not take. He is haunted by the memories of the people he has lost and the things he has left behind. In this sense, "Retired" can be seen as a cautionary tale about the importance of living in the moment and seizing the day.
Symbols
Service uses a number of powerful symbols to convey the themes of the poem. One of the most striking of these is the image of the "empty chair." The speaker describes how he used to sit in the same chair every day, watching the world go by. But now that he is retired, the chair remains empty, a symbol of his own absence from the world. The empty chair also suggests the fragility of life and the inevitability of death.
Another powerful symbol in the poem is the moon. The speaker describes how he used to watch the moon rise and set every night, but now he no longer bothers. The moon represents the passage of time and the changing of the seasons. It is a reminder that everything in life is transient and fleeting, and that we must make the most of the time we have.
Literary Techniques
Service employs a number of literary techniques to bring the poem to life. One of the most notable of these is the use of imagery. The speaker describes the world around him in vivid, sensory detail, bringing it to life for the reader. He describes the "crimson sky" at sunset, the "wintry winds" blowing outside, and the "cold grey light" of morning. These images create a strong sense of atmosphere and mood, and draw the reader into the world of the poem.
Another key technique used by Service is the use of repetition. The poem is full of repeated phrases and lines, such as "I'm retired," "nothing to do," and "nobody calls." These repetitions create a sense of monotony and routine, emphasizing the speaker's sense of isolation and boredom. They also serve to drive home the central themes of the poem, such as the passage of time and the inevitability of death.
Interpretation
So, what does "Retired" mean? At its heart, this poem is a poignant reflection on the human condition. It reminds us that life is fleeting, and that we must make the most of the time we have. It encourages us to live in the moment and seize the day, to take risks and follow our dreams, and to cherish the people and experiences that make life worth living.
But "Retired" is also a deeply personal poem, one that speaks to our own fears and anxieties about the passage of time. It reminds us that we are all mortal, that we will all grow old and eventually pass away. It encourages us to confront this reality head-on, to embrace our own mortality and to live our lives with a sense of purpose and meaning.
In conclusion, "Retired" is a powerful, moving, and thought-provoking poem that speaks to the universal human experience. Through its themes, symbols, and literary techniques, it encourages us to reflect on our own lives and to make the most of the time we have. It is a reminder that life is precious, and that we must cherish every moment we have.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Retired: A Poem of Reflection and Regret
Robert Service's poem "Retired" is a powerful and poignant exploration of the human experience of aging and the regrets that can come with it. Through vivid imagery and evocative language, Service captures the sense of loss and longing that can accompany the end of a life's work, as well as the bittersweet memories that remain.
The poem begins with a description of the speaker's former life as a "man of action," a "doer of deeds" who "fought and won and lost." This opening stanza sets the tone for the rest of the poem, establishing the speaker's sense of pride in his past accomplishments and his awareness that those days are now behind him. The repetition of the phrase "I was" emphasizes the speaker's sense of distance from his former self, as if he is looking back on a different person entirely.
As the poem continues, the speaker reflects on the passing of time and the changes that have come with it. He describes the "silver threads among the gold" in his hair, a symbol of his aging and the loss of his youth. He also notes the changes in the world around him, from the "new-fangled notions" of the younger generation to the "strange new ways" of technology and progress. These observations serve to highlight the speaker's sense of disconnection from the world he once knew, as well as his sense of nostalgia for a simpler time.
The poem's central theme, however, is the speaker's regret for the things he did not do in his life. He laments the "untraveled roads" he did not take, the "unclimbed heights" he did not reach, and the "unseen sights" he did not behold. These regrets are all the more poignant because they are presented in contrast to the speaker's former life of action and adventure. He is not regretful of the risks he took or the battles he fought, but rather of the opportunities he missed.
The poem's final stanza is perhaps its most powerful, as the speaker reflects on the inevitability of death and the legacy he will leave behind. He acknowledges that his life's work will soon be forgotten, that his "name will be a legend and a by-word" only to those who knew him in life. This recognition of his own mortality serves to heighten the sense of regret and loss that pervades the poem, as the speaker realizes that his time is running out and that there is no going back.
Overall, "Retired" is a deeply moving and thought-provoking poem that speaks to the universal human experience of aging and the regrets that can come with it. Through its vivid imagery and evocative language, the poem captures the sense of loss and longing that can accompany the end of a life's work, as well as the bittersweet memories that remain. Whether read as a meditation on mortality or a cautionary tale about the importance of seizing the day, "Retired" is a powerful reminder of the fleeting nature of life and the importance of making the most of the time we have.
Editor Recommended Sites
Devsecops Review: Reviews of devsecops tooling and techniquesNow Trending App:
Defi Market: Learn about defi tooling for decentralized storefronts
Compsci App - Best Computer Science Resources & Free university computer science courses: Learn computer science online for free
GCP Anthos Resources - Anthos Course Deep Dive & Anthos Video tutorial masterclass: Tutorials and Videos about Google Cloud Platform Anthos. GCP Anthos training & Learn Gcloud Anthos
Recommended Similar Analysis
Desire by Samuel Taylor Coleridge analysisThe Soul has Bandaged moments by Emily Dickinson analysis
Elegy Written In A Country Church-Yard by Thomas Gray analysis
The Mystery Of Marie Roget - A Sequel To "The Murder In The Rue Morgue" by Edgar Allen Poe analysis
The Pasture by Robert Frost analysis
By The Bivouac's Fitful Flame by Walt Whitman analysis
To any army wife by Sappho analysis
Pantoum Of The Great Depression by Donald Justice analysis
Jim by Hilaire Belloc analysis
Panthea by Oscar Wilde analysis