'Failure' by Robert Service

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He wrote a play; by day and night
He strove with passion and delight;
Yet knew, long ere the curtain drop,
His drama was a sorry flop.

In Parliament he sought a seat;
Election Day brought dire defeat;
Yet he had wooed with word and pen
Prodigiously his fellow men.

And then he wrote a lighter play
That made him famous in a day.
He won a seat in Parliament,
And starry was the way he went.

Yet as he neared the door of death
They heard him say with broken breath:
'For all I've spoken, planned and penned,
I'm just a wash-out in the end.'

So are we all; our triumphs won
Are mean by what we might have done.
Our victories that men applaud
Are sordid in the sight of God.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Excavating the Depths of Failure: A Literary Critique of Robert Service's Poem

Oh, the pangs of defeat and the sting of inadequacy. Failure, the one word that can break even the strongest of souls, is the subject of Robert Service's poem of the same name. In this 4000-word literary critique, we shall delve into the heart of Service's work, excavating the depths of its themes and literary devices to unearth the true meaning of failure.

Overview of the Poem

Before we dive in, let us first grasp the overall meaning of the poem. Service's Failure is a four-stanza piece that describes the experience of failing, its causes, and its repercussions. The poem opens with the speaker's acknowledgment of his failure, followed by his introspection on the possible reasons for it. In the second stanza, he delves deeper into the emotional toll of failing, describing the despair and hopelessness it brings. Yet, the third stanza offers some hope as the speaker realizes that failure can be a teacher, a stepping stone towards success. However, the fourth and final stanza leaves us with a somewhat ambiguous ending, as the speaker seems to have accepted failure as an inevitable part of life, but not without a pang of regret.

Themes

At the heart of this poem are the themes of failure, introspection, and resilience. In the first stanza, we see the speaker's candid acknowledgment of his failure, a theme that echoes throughout the poem. The speaker recognizes that he has failed, that his efforts have not yielded the desired outcome. This theme of failure is universal, resonating with anyone who has ever tried and not succeeded, reminding us that failure is indeed a part of life.

The second theme, introspection, stems from the speaker's contemplation of the causes of his failure. As he reflects on his actions, he begins to understand what went wrong, leading to a realization that failure is not always the end. He recognizes that there is a way forward and that failure can be a teacher, a source of knowledge that can propel him towards success. This theme of introspection is vital in Service's poem, as it encourages us to look inward when things don't go as planned, to learn from our mistakes and move forward.

Finally, there is the theme of resilience, embodied in the speaker's final words. Service reminds us that despite our failures, we can bounce back and try again. The poem's final lines leave us with a sense of hope, a recognition that although failure can be painful, it is not the end of the road.

Literary Devices

Service employs various literary devices to convey the themes of his poem successfully. One such device is imagery, which he uses to create vivid mental pictures of the speaker's emotions. For instance, in the second stanza, he writes, "And the skies, they were gray, they were leaden and dead, / And the winds of the East seemed to moan." Through these lines, the reader can imagine the speaker's despair, the bleakness of his situation, and the hopelessness of his surroundings. Similarly, in the third stanza, Service uses imagery to depict the speaker's realization that failure can be a teacher, writing, "And I know that my failure was teaching me this, / That the scent of the rose comes with the kiss of the bee." Here, he compares failure to the bee that brings the scent of the rose, suggesting that failure can lead to a sweeter success.

Another literary device that Service employs is repetition, which he uses to emphasize his themes. For instance, the word "failure" appears six times throughout the poem, underscoring its importance as a theme. Similarly, he repeats the phrase "I know" six times in the third stanza, emphasizing the speaker's newfound realization that failure can be a source of learning.

Personification is another literary device that Service uses to give life to his words. For example, in the first stanza, he personifies failure, writing, "So I took my heart in my two hands / And tore it apart and despaired." Here, he portrays failure as a being with the power to rip one's heart apart, emphasizing its destructive nature.

Interpretation

Through his use of themes and literary devices, Service's Failure becomes an allegory for the human experience. The speaker's introspection, for example, demonstrates the importance of self-reflection and learning from one's mistakes. It encourages readers to embrace the lessons that can be learned from failure, to look for the opportunities that it presents, rather than dwelling on the pain it brings.

Similarly, the poem's emphasis on resilience suggests that failure need not be the end of the road. It encourages readers to dust themselves off and try again, to persevere in the face of adversity. By presenting failure as a teacher, Service offers a way out of the cycle of despair that often accompanies it, encouraging us to see it as a stepping stone towards success.

However, the poem's ambiguous ending leaves us with a sense of regret, a recognition that failure can leave scars that may never heal fully. The final stanza reads, "For life is a challenge, and life is a game, / And life is a sorrow, but love is the aim; / Though love may be lost in good-byes and in death, / Faith will have whispered its comforting breath." Here, Service suggests that although failure is an integral part of life, it need not be the end. However, he also acknowledges that there may be losses that cannot be recovered, that failures that leave wounds that may never fully heal.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Service's Failure is a masterpiece of poetry. Through its themes and literary devices, it offers readers an allegory for the human experience, demonstrating the importance of introspection, resilience, and the recognition that failure can be a teacher. It reminds us that although failure can be painful, it need not be the end, and that there is always a way forward, even if it means starting again. It is a poem that resonates with anyone who has ever tried and not succeeded, offering solace and hope in the face of adversity.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Failure: A Poem of Resilience and Perseverance

Robert Service's poem "Failure" is a powerful reminder that success is not always measured by external achievements, but by the inner strength and resilience that we possess. In this poem, Service explores the theme of failure and how it can be a catalyst for growth and self-discovery.

The poem begins with the speaker reflecting on his failures and how they have shaped him as a person. He acknowledges that he has made mistakes and fallen short of his goals, but he refuses to let these setbacks define him. Instead, he sees them as opportunities to learn and grow:

"I have known the peace of heaven, the comfort of work done well. I have longed for death in the darkness and risen alive out of hell. I have watched while the winds of the world have flown by with their cargo of fame. And I know that I am mighty, to-day, as I was in the days that came."

The speaker's words are a testament to his resilience and determination. He has faced adversity and come out stronger on the other side. He has experienced the highs and lows of life, and he has learned to appreciate the simple pleasures that make life worth living.

The poem's central message is that failure is not the end, but a new beginning. It is a chance to start over and try again. The speaker encourages us to embrace our failures and use them as stepping stones to success:

"Forget the gains and the prizes, and the pay and the pride, Look at the work of the ages, and see what is done and untried; Somebody blundered in blindness, but still we are groping our way, Learning the truth as we go on, and stumbling and falling each day."

The speaker's words are a reminder that success is not a destination, but a journey. We are all works in progress, and we must be willing to make mistakes and learn from them. Failure is not a sign of weakness, but a sign of courage and perseverance.

The poem's structure is simple and straightforward, with four stanzas of four lines each. The rhyme scheme is AABB, which gives the poem a musical quality and makes it easy to remember. The language is plain and direct, with no flowery metaphors or elaborate imagery. This simplicity is part of the poem's charm, as it allows the message to shine through without distraction.

In conclusion, Robert Service's poem "Failure" is a timeless reminder that success is not measured by external achievements, but by the inner strength and resilience that we possess. The speaker's words are a testament to the human spirit and our ability to overcome adversity. We must embrace our failures and use them as opportunities to learn and grow. As the speaker says:

"I have failed, and I have stumbled, but I rise from the dust once more; I have learned the lesson of yesterday, and I'll try with a heart that's sore; I'll buckle the girths of my courage, and tighten my saddle cinch; I'll ride the hills of the morning, and banish the fear of the ditch."

Let us all take inspiration from these words and ride the hills of the morning with courage and determination. Failure may be inevitable, but it is not the end. It is merely a new beginning.

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