'The Parson's Son' by Robert Service

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This is the song of the parson's son, as he squats in his shack alone,
On the wild, weird nights, when the Northern Lights shoot up from the frozen zone,
And it's sixty below, and couched in the snow the hungry huskies moan:

"I'm one of the Arctic brotherhood, I'm an old-time pioneer.
I came with the first -- O God! how I've cursed this Yukon -- but still I'm here.
I've sweated athirst in its summer heat, I've frozen and starved in its cold;
I've followed my dreams by its thousand streams, I've toiled and moiled for its gold.

"Look at my eyes -- been snow-blind twice; look where my foot's half gone;
And that gruesome scar on my left cheek, where the frost-fiend bit to the bone.
Each one a brand of this devil's land, where I've played and I've lost the game,
A broken wreck with a craze for `hooch', and never a cent to my name.

"This mining is only a gamble; the worst is as good as the best;
I was in with the bunch and I might have come out right on top with the rest;
With Cormack, Ladue and Macdonald -- O God! but it's hell to think
Of the thousands and thousands I've squandered on cards and women and drink.

"In the early days we were just a few, and we hunted and fished around,
Nor dreamt by our lonely camp-fires of the wealth that lay under the ground.
We traded in skins and whiskey, and I've often slept under the shade
Of that lone birch tree on Bonanza, where the first big find was made.

"We were just like a great big family, and every man had his squaw,
And we lived such a wild, free, fearless life beyond the pale of the law;
Till sudden there came a whisper, and it maddened us every man,
And I got in on Bonanza before the big rush began.

"Oh, those Dawson days, and the sin and the blaze, and the town all open wide!
(If God made me in His likeness, sure He let the devil inside.)
But we all were mad, both the good and the bad, and as for the women, well --
No spot on the map in so short a space has hustled more souls to hell.

"Money was just like dirt there, easy to get and to spend.
I was all caked in on a dance-hall jade, but she shook me in the end.
It put me queer, and for near a year I never drew sober breath,
Till I found myself in the bughouse ward with a claim staked out on death.

"Twenty years in the Yukon, struggling along its creeks;
Roaming its giant valleys, scaling its god-like peaks;
Bathed in its fiery sunsets, fighting its fiendish cold --
Twenty years in the Yukon . . . twenty years -- and I'm old.

"Old and weak, but no matter, there's `hooch' in the bottle still.
I'll hitch up the dogs to-morrow, and mush down the trail to Bill.
It's so long dark, and I'm lonesome -- I'll just lay down on the bed;
To-morrow I'll go . . . to-morrow . . . I guess I'll play on the red.

". . . Come, Kit, your pony is saddled. I'm waiting, dear, in the court . . .
. . . Minnie, you devil, I'll kill you if you skip with that flossy sport . . .
. . . How much does it go to the pan, Bill? . . . play up, School, and play the game . . .
. . . Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name . . ."

This was the song of the parson's son, as he lay in his bunk alone,
Ere the fire went out and the cold crept in, and his blue lips ceased to moan,
And the hunger-maddened malamutes had torn him flesh from bone.

Editor 1 Interpretation

An Exciting Interpretation of Robert Service's The Parson's Son

Have you ever read a poem that not only tells a story but also manages to evoke so many emotions in you? Robert Service's The Parson's Son is one such poem. As I delved into the world of the Parson's Son, I was mesmerized by the vivid descriptions, the use of language, and the vivid imagery that the poem conjures. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I aim to explore the various literary elements that make The Parson's Son a classic poem.

Background

Before we dive into the poem, let's take a moment to understand the context in which it was written. Robert Service was a Canadian poet and writer who lived from 1874 to 1958. He is known for his narrative poetry that often depicts life in the Yukon, a region in northwestern Canada, during the Gold Rush. The Parson's Son was written in 1912 and is part of a collection of poems called Ballads of a Cheechako.

Summary

The Parson's Son tells the story of a young man who is the son of a parson. He is raised in a sheltered environment, surrounded by books and religion. However, he is restless and yearns for adventure. One day, he leaves home and sets out into the world. He travels far and wide, experiencing all that life has to offer. He falls in love with a woman and has a child with her. However, he eventually realizes that his true calling is to return home and become a preacher like his father. He returns home, but his experiences have changed him, and he is no longer content with a sheltered life.

Imagery

One of the most striking aspects of The Parson's Son is the vivid imagery that Service uses to bring the story to life. He uses rich, descriptive language to paint a picture of the world that the Parson's Son experiences. For example, when describing the young man's departure from home, Service writes:

And he heard the call of the windswept plains, And he saw the lure of the lonely trails, And he felt in his heart an unquenchable flame That burned and burned and never paled.

These lines create a visual and emotional image of the young man's departure. We can imagine the vast expanse of the plains, the winding trails, and the flames of passion burning inside him. This imagery draws us in and makes us feel like we are a part of the story.

Theme

At its core, The Parson's Son is a story about the search for purpose and meaning in life. The young man grows up in a sheltered environment, surrounded by books and religion. However, he feels stifled and yearns for adventure. He sets out into the world and experiences all that life has to offer. He falls in love and has a child, but eventually realizes that his true calling is to become a preacher like his father.

The poem explores the tension between the desire for adventure and the need for stability and purpose. The young man's experiences change him, but he realizes that he cannot escape his roots. He returns home, but his experiences have left him restless and searching for something more. This theme is relevant to all of us, as we all struggle to find our place in the world and make sense of our experiences.

Mood

The mood of The Parson's Son is bittersweet. On the one hand, the poem is a celebration of life and all that it has to offer. The young man experiences love, adventure, and excitement. However, the poem is also tinged with sadness and regret. The young man realizes that he cannot escape his roots and that his experiences have left him changed. He is no longer content with a sheltered life, but he cannot fully embrace the life that he has chosen.

The combination of these emotions creates a complex and layered mood that is both uplifting and melancholic. This mood is a testament to Service's skill as a writer, as he manages to capture the full range of human emotions in a single poem.

Conclusion

In conclusion, The Parson's Son is a classic poem that explores the search for purpose and meaning in life. The poem is full of vivid imagery, rich language, and complex emotions. It is a celebration of life and all that it has to offer, but also a reminder that our experiences can leave us restless and searching for something more. Through the story of the Parson's Son, Robert Service invites us to reflect on our own lives and the paths that we have chosen. This poem is a true masterpiece and a testament to the power of poetry to capture the essence of the human experience.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

The Parson's Son: A Classic Poem by Robert Service

Robert Service, the renowned poet, is known for his ability to capture the essence of life in his works. His poems are a reflection of the human experience, and they resonate with readers of all ages. One of his most famous poems is The Parson's Son, which tells the story of a young man who struggles to find his place in the world.

The poem begins with a description of the parson's son, who is "a lad of twenty summers, tall and straight and strong." He is described as being "fair of face and frank of eye," and he is said to have a "heart that's full of song." This opening stanza sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which is a celebration of youth and the joy of life.

The parson's son is portrayed as a carefree young man who loves to sing and dance. He is not interested in the serious business of life, such as studying or working. Instead, he spends his days wandering through the countryside, enjoying the beauty of nature and the company of his friends.

Despite his carefree nature, the parson's son is not without his troubles. He is often criticized by his father, who wants him to follow in his footsteps and become a minister. The parson's son, however, has no interest in this path, and he resents his father's attempts to control his life.

The conflict between the parson's son and his father is a central theme of the poem. The parson's son feels trapped by his father's expectations, and he longs to break free and live life on his own terms. This struggle is something that many young people can relate to, as they try to find their place in the world and assert their independence.

As the poem progresses, the parson's son becomes more and more disillusioned with his life. He begins to see the world as a cruel and unfair place, and he feels that he will never be able to find happiness. This sense of despair is captured in the following lines:

"I see the world as a bitter thing, And a cruel thing and a sad, And I wonder why I was ever born, And why life is ever so bad."

Despite his despair, the parson's son does not give up. He continues to search for meaning and purpose, and he eventually finds it in the most unexpected place. One day, while wandering through the countryside, he comes across a group of gypsies who are singing and dancing. He is immediately drawn to their carefree spirit, and he joins in their festivities.

This encounter with the gypsies is a turning point for the parson's son. He realizes that there is more to life than the narrow path that his father has set for him. He sees that there are other ways of living, and he begins to embrace his own individuality.

The final stanza of the poem is a celebration of the parson's son's newfound freedom. He sings and dances with the gypsies, and he feels that he has finally found his place in the world. The poem ends on a hopeful note, with the parson's son looking forward to a future filled with joy and possibility.

In conclusion, The Parson's Son is a classic poem that captures the essence of youth and the struggle for independence. Robert Service's vivid imagery and powerful language bring the parson's son to life, and his story resonates with readers of all ages. The poem is a celebration of individuality and the human spirit, and it reminds us that there is always hope, even in the darkest of times.

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