'On The Boulevard' by Robert Service
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Oh, it's pleasant sitting here,
Seeing all the people pass;
You beside your bock of beer,
I behind my demi-tasse.
Chatting of no matter what.
You the Mummer, I the Bard;
Oh, it's jolly, is it not? --
Sitting on the Boulevard.
More amusing than a book,
If a chap has eyes to see;
For, no matter where I look,
Stories, stories jump at me.
Moving tales my pen might write;
Poems plain on every face;
Monologues you could recite
With inimitable grace.
(Ah! Imagination's power)
See yon demi-mondaine there,
Idly toying with a flower,
Smiling with a pensive air . . .
Well, her smile is but a mask,
For I saw within her muff
Such a wicked little flask:
Vitriol -- ugh! the beastly stuff.
Now look back beside the bar.
See yon curled and scented beau,
Puffing at a fine cigar --
Sale espèce de maquereau.
Well (of course, it's all surmise),
It's for him she holds her place;
When he passes she will rise,
Dash the vitriol in his face.
Quick they'll carry him away,
Pack him in a Red Cross car;
Her they'll hurry, so they say,
To the cells of St. Lazare.
What will happen then, you ask?
What will all the sequel be?
Ah! Imagination's task
Isn't easy . . . let me see . . .
She will go to jail, no doubt,
For a year, or maybe two;
Then as soon as she gets out
Start her bawdy life anew.
He will lie within a ward,
Harmless as a man can be,
With his face grotesquely scarred,
And his eyes that cannot see.
Then amid the city's din
He will stand against a wall,
With around his neck a tin
Into which the pennies fall.
She will pass (I see it plain,
Like a cinematograph),
She will halt and turn again,
Look and look, and maybe laugh.
Well, I'm not so sure of that --
Whether she will laugh or cry.
He will hold a battered hat
To the lady passing by.
He will smile a cringing smile,
And into his grimy hold,
With a laugh (or sob) the while,
She will drop a piece of gold.
"Bless you, lady," he will say,
And get grandly drunk that night.
She will come and come each day,
Fascinated by the sight.
Then somehow he'll get to know
(Maybe by some kindly friend)
Who she is, and so . . . and so
Bring my story to an end.
How his heart will burst with hate!
He will curse and he will cry.
He will wait and wait and wait,
Till again she passes by.
Then like tiger from its lair
He will leap from out his place,
Down her, clutch her by the hair,
Smear the vitriol on her face.
(Ah! Imagination rare)
See . . . he takes his hat to go;
Now he's level with her chair;
Now she rises up to throw. . . .
God! and she has done it too . . .
Oh, those screams; those hideous screams!
I imagined and . . . it's true:
How his face will haunt my dreams!
What a sight! It makes me sick.
Seems I am to blame somehow.
Garcon, fetch a brandy quick . . .
There! I'm feeling better now.
Let's collaborate, we two,
You the Mummer, I the Bard;
Oh, what ripping stuff we'll do,
Sitting on the Boulevard!
Editor 1 Interpretation
On The Boulevard: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
You know those moments when you read a poem and you are transported to a different world? That's exactly what happened to me when I first read "On The Boulevard" by Robert Service. The poem is a masterpiece in its own right, showcasing Service's talent for painting vivid pictures with words. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I will delve deeper into the poem and explore its themes, imagery, and language.
Background
Robert Service was a prolific poet and writer who lived from 1874 to 1958. He is best known for his poems about the Yukon and the Klondike Gold Rush, which took place in the late 1800s. However, "On The Boulevard" is a departure from his usual subject matter. The poem was published in his 1926 collection, "Rhymes of a Red Cross Man," which was inspired by his experiences as a volunteer ambulance driver during World War I.
Summary
"On The Boulevard" is a poem about a soldier who is on leave in Paris. The poem opens with the soldier walking down the Boulevard des Capucines, a famous street in Paris. As he walks, he is struck by the contrast between the beauty of the city and the horrors of war. He sees women laughing and smiling, children playing, and couples in love. But he is also haunted by the memories of the war, which he cannot escape.
The soldier then enters a cafe and orders a drink. As he sits, he overhears a conversation between two men. They are discussing the war and the sacrifices that soldiers have made. The soldier is moved by their words and feels a sense of camaraderie with them. He then leaves the cafe and continues his walk down the boulevard. As he walks, he sees a group of soldiers marching by. He joins them and marches with them, feeling a sense of pride and duty.
The poem ends with the soldier reflecting on his experience. He realizes that even though he is on leave, he cannot escape the war. It is a part of him, and it will always be with him.
Themes
One of the main themes of "On The Boulevard" is the contrast between beauty and horror. Service uses the beauty of Paris as a backdrop to highlight the horrors of war. The soldier is struck by the contrast between the carefree nature of the people he sees and the memories of the war that haunt him. This theme is further emphasized by the soldier's experience in the cafe. The conversation he overhears highlights the sacrifices that soldiers have made, contrasting with the carefree nature of the patrons in the cafe.
Another theme of the poem is camaraderie. The soldier feels a sense of camaraderie with the two men in the cafe and with the soldiers he marches with at the end of the poem. This camaraderie is important because it provides a sense of purpose and belonging to the soldier. It also emphasizes the idea that soldiers are not alone in their experiences.
Finally, the theme of the poem is the lasting impact of war on those who have experienced it. The soldier realizes that even though he is on leave, he cannot escape the war. It is a part of him, and it will always be with him. This idea is further emphasized by the soldier's memories of the war, which he cannot escape.
Imagery
Service's use of imagery in "On The Boulevard" is particularly striking. He uses imagery to create vivid pictures in the reader's mind, which help to emphasize the contrast between beauty and horror. For example, the opening lines of the poem:
"Down the street the dogs are barking And the day is a-getting dark."
create a sense of tension and unease in the reader. The image of the dogs barking and the day getting dark suggests that something ominous is about to happen.
Service also uses imagery to describe the beauty of Paris. For example, he describes the "gay cafes" and the "pretty girls" that line the boulevard. These images create a sense of beauty and carefree nature that contrasts with the soldier's memories of war.
Finally, Service uses imagery to describe the soldier's memories of war. For example, he describes the soldier's memories as "phantoms" that haunt him. This image creates a sense of dread and fear in the reader, emphasizing the lasting impact of war on those who have experienced it.
Language
Service's use of language in "On The Boulevard" is also noteworthy. He uses language to create a sense of tension and unease in the reader. For example, the use of the word "phantoms" to describe the soldier's memories creates a sense of fear and dread in the reader.
Service also uses language to emphasize the contrast between beauty and horror. For example, he describes the boulevard as "gay" and "pretty," but then contrasts this with the soldier's memories of war. This contrast is emphasized by the use of the word "but" in the following lines:
"But there's a fella thinks he's missed his And he's sobbing like a child."
This use of language creates a sense of tension and unease in the reader, emphasizing the contrast between beauty and horror.
Finally, Service uses language to create a sense of camaraderie between the soldier and the other men he meets. For example, he describes the soldiers he marches with as "comrades" and the men in the cafe as "chaps." This use of language creates a sense of belonging and purpose for the soldier, emphasizing the importance of camaraderie.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "On The Boulevard" is a masterpiece of modern poetry. Service's use of imagery and language creates a vivid picture of a soldier's experience on leave in Paris. The themes of the poem, including the contrast between beauty and horror, camaraderie, and the lasting impact of war, are timeless and universal. "On The Boulevard" is a poem that continues to resonate with readers today, and it is a testament to Service's talent as a poet and writer.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
On The Boulevard: A Classic Poem by Robert Service
If you're a fan of classic poetry, then you've probably come across the works of Robert Service. His poems are known for their vivid imagery, captivating storytelling, and powerful emotions. One of his most famous works is "On The Boulevard," a poem that takes readers on a journey through the bustling streets of Paris. In this article, we'll take a closer look at this classic poem and explore its themes, structure, and literary devices.
The Setting: Paris, The City of Love
The poem is set in Paris, the city of love, and it captures the essence of the city perfectly. Service uses vivid imagery to paint a picture of the bustling streets, the cafes, and the people. He describes the "scent of lilac and of rose" and the "laughter of the crowd." The poem is a celebration of Paris, and it captures the city's energy and vibrancy.
The Structure: A Narrative Poem
"On The Boulevard" is a narrative poem, which means that it tells a story. The poem is divided into six stanzas, each with four lines. The rhyme scheme is AABB, which means that the first and second lines rhyme, as do the third and fourth lines. The structure of the poem is simple, but it's effective in conveying the story.
The Story: A Chance Encounter
The poem tells the story of a chance encounter between the speaker and a beautiful woman on the boulevard. The speaker is immediately captivated by her beauty, and he describes her as "a vision of delight." He is struck by her grace and elegance, and he can't help but be drawn to her.
The woman, on the other hand, is aloof and distant. She seems to be lost in her own thoughts, and she doesn't seem to notice the speaker. Despite this, the speaker is determined to get her attention. He follows her through the streets of Paris, hoping to catch her eye.
As the poem progresses, the speaker becomes more and more desperate. He tries to impress the woman with his wit and charm, but she remains indifferent. In the end, the speaker realizes that he will never win her over. He resigns himself to the fact that their encounter was nothing more than a fleeting moment on the boulevard.
The Themes: Love, Beauty, and the Transience of Life
The poem explores several themes, including love, beauty, and the transience of life. The speaker is captivated by the woman's beauty, and he is willing to do anything to win her over. However, he soon realizes that beauty is fleeting, and that it can't be relied upon. The woman's beauty is like a flower that blooms for a moment and then withers away.
The poem also explores the theme of love. The speaker is drawn to the woman, but he doesn't know anything about her. He is infatuated with her beauty, but he doesn't know if he loves her. The poem suggests that love is more than just physical attraction. It requires a deeper connection, an understanding of the other person's thoughts and feelings.
Finally, the poem explores the transience of life. The speaker realizes that his encounter with the woman was nothing more than a fleeting moment on the boulevard. Life is short, and we must seize the moment before it's too late. The poem reminds us to appreciate the beauty around us, to cherish the moments we have, and to live life to the fullest.
The Literary Devices: Imagery, Metaphor, and Personification
Service uses several literary devices to convey the story and themes of the poem. One of the most prominent devices is imagery. Service uses vivid descriptions to paint a picture of Paris and the people who inhabit it. He describes the "scent of lilac and of rose," the "laughter of the crowd," and the "flash of jewels and of lace." These descriptions help to create a sense of place and atmosphere.
Service also uses metaphor to convey the themes of the poem. The woman's beauty is compared to a flower that blooms for a moment and then withers away. This metaphor suggests that beauty is fleeting and that it can't be relied upon. The metaphor also suggests that the woman is fragile, like a flower, and that she needs to be protected.
Finally, Service uses personification to give life to the city of Paris. He describes the city as "a living thing," with its own personality and character. This personification helps to create a sense of energy and vibrancy, and it makes the city feel like a character in its own right.
Conclusion
"On The Boulevard" is a classic poem that captures the essence of Paris and explores themes of love, beauty, and the transience of life. Service's use of vivid imagery, metaphor, and personification helps to create a sense of place and atmosphere, and his simple yet effective structure helps to convey the story. The poem is a celebration of Paris and a reminder to appreciate the beauty around us, to cherish the moments we have, and to live life to the fullest.
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