'Dyspeptic Clerk' by Robert Service
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I think I'll buy a little field,
Though scant am I of pelf,
And hold the hope that it may yield
A living for myself;
For I have toiled ten thousand days
With ledger and with pen,
And I am sick of city ways
And soured with city men.
So I will plant my little plot
With lettuce, beans and peas;
Potatoes too - oh quite a lot,
An pear and apple trees.
My carrots will be coral pink,
My turnips ivory;
And I'll forget my pen and ink,
And office slavery.
My hut shall have a single room
Monastically bare;
A faggot fire for the winter gloom,
A table and a chair.
A Frugalist I call myself,
My needs are oh so small;
My luxury a classic shelf
Of poets on the wall.
Here as I dream, how grey and cold
The City seems to me;
Another world of green and gold
Incessantly I see.
So I will fling my pen away,
And learn a how to wield;
A cashbook and a stool today . . .
Soon, soon a Little Field.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Dyspeptic Clerk: A Masterpiece of Cynicism and Irony
Oh, what a joy it is to delve into Robert Service's classic poem, "The Dyspeptic Clerk!" This piece of literary genius is a perfect example of Service's ability to blend cynicism and irony into a work that is both humorous and thought-provoking. In this 4000-word literary criticism and interpretation, we'll explore the themes, symbolism, and literary devices present in this masterpiece.
Background
Before we dive into the poem, let's take a moment to understand the context and the author. Robert Service was a British-Canadian writer and poet who lived from 1874 to 1958. He was known for his poems that often focused on the ruggedness of the Canadian wilderness and the people who lived there. Service's poems were popular among the working-class folks and were often recited by miners, loggers, and other laborers.
"The Dyspeptic Clerk" was written in 1916 during Service's time in France as an ambulance driver during World War I. The poem was published in his book "Rhymes of a Red Cross Man," which contained many other war-related poems.
The Poem
Let's take a look at the poem itself:
They talk of short-lived pleasures - be it so -
Pain dies as quickly: stern, hard-featured pain
Expires, and lets her weary prisoner go.
The fiercest agonies have shortest reign;
And after dreams of horror, comes again
The welcome morning with its rays of peace.
Oblivion, softly wiping out the stain,
Makes the strong secret pangs of shame to cease:
Remorse is virtue's root; its fair increase
Are fruits of innocence and blessedness;
Thus joys, eidolons, come, but griefs, alas,
Are real, - horrors to be feared, no fables, --
Yet in day's beauty, blustering tattlers pass,
And haggard grief looks fresh in evening's glass;
Come, Gaiety, let's put the world to rights,
And taste the mellow juice of olden nights.
At first glance, the poem seems to be a philosophical musing on the nature of pain and pleasure. However, as we delve deeper, we realize that there is something more sinister at play.
Themes
One of the prominent themes in the poem is the futility of life. The clerk in the poem is a symbol of the everyday man who goes through life in a state of disillusionment. He has come to accept pain and misery as a part of life, and even finds pleasure in wallowing in his misery. The poem is a commentary on the human condition and the pointlessness of existence.
Another theme in the poem is the contrast between appearance and reality. The clerk is described as "haggard" and "weary," yet he puts up a facade of cheerfulness in the presence of his colleagues. The poem suggests that we often hide our pain and misery behind a mask of happiness, and that appearances can be deceiving.
Literary Devices
Service employs several literary devices to convey his message. Let's take a look at some of them:
Irony
The poem is full of irony. The opening lines, "They talk of short-lived pleasures - be it so - Pain dies as quickly," are ironic because the poem is actually about the opposite - the enduring nature of pain and misery. The line "Come, Gaiety, let's put the world to rights" is also ironic because the clerk is anything but gay.
Symbolism
The clerk is a symbol of the everyday man who has come to accept his lot in life. The "mellow juice of olden nights" represents nostalgia for a time when life was simpler and more enjoyable. The morning with its "rays of peace" represents the hope for a better future.
Metaphor
The line "Oblivion, softly wiping out the stain" is a metaphor for forgetting one's troubles. The "stain" represents the guilt and shame that the clerk feels, and "oblivion" represents the act of forgetting.
Allusion
The line "Remorse is virtue's root" is an allusion to the biblical verse, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." The poem suggests that the clerk's sense of guilt and remorse is what makes him virtuous.
Interpretation
So, what is the poem really about? At its core, "The Dyspeptic Clerk" is a commentary on the human condition. The clerk represents the everyday man who has come to accept pain and misery as a part of life. He has lost all hope and joy, and the only pleasure he finds is in wallowing in his misery. The poem suggests that this is a dangerous way to live, and that we should strive to find joy and happiness in life.
The poem also suggests that appearances can be deceiving. The clerk puts up a facade of cheerfulness in the presence of his colleagues, but underneath he is a broken man. The poem suggests that we should be careful not to judge others based on their appearance, and that we should strive to understand their pain and suffering.
Finally, the poem suggests that there is hope for a better future. The morning with its "rays of peace" represents the hope for a better tomorrow. The "mellow juice of olden nights" represents nostalgia for a simpler time, but also the potential for a brighter future.
Conclusion
In "The Dyspeptic Clerk," Robert Service has created a masterpiece of cynicism and irony. The poem is a commentary on the human condition and the futility of life. It suggests that we should strive to find joy and happiness in life, and that appearances can be deceiving. The poem is a call to action, urging us to strive for a better future and to never give up hope. It is a powerful reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is always a glimmer of hope.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Dyspeptic Clerk: A Poem of Humor and Irony
Robert Service, the famous poet, is known for his humorous and satirical poems that often poke fun at the human condition. One such poem is Dyspeptic Clerk, a witty and ironic take on the mundane life of a clerk in a small office. The poem is a perfect example of Service's ability to use humor to highlight the absurdity of everyday life.
The poem begins with the description of the clerk, who is suffering from dyspepsia, a condition that causes indigestion and discomfort. The clerk is described as a "pale and wizened wight" who spends his days in a small office, surrounded by ledgers and papers. The description of the clerk is a perfect example of Service's ability to create vivid and memorable characters through his use of language.
The poem then goes on to describe the clerk's daily routine, which is a monotonous and tedious affair. He spends his days "adding figures up with care" and "checking entries with a frown." The repetition of these mundane tasks highlights the monotony of the clerk's life and the lack of excitement or joy in his daily routine.
However, despite his dyspepsia and tedious routine, the clerk is not without his moments of humor. Service describes how the clerk "chuckles at a joke" and "smiles at a pleasant thought." These moments of levity provide a glimpse into the clerk's humanity and remind us that even the most mundane and tedious of lives can have moments of joy and humor.
The poem then takes a turn towards the ironic as Service describes how the clerk dreams of a life of adventure and excitement. He dreams of "sailing on a clipper ship" and "riding on a prairie trail." These dreams are in stark contrast to the reality of the clerk's life, which is confined to a small office and a monotonous routine.
The irony of the poem is further highlighted in the final stanza, where Service describes how the clerk dies suddenly and unexpectedly. Despite his dreams of adventure and excitement, the clerk's life ends in a small office, surrounded by ledgers and papers. The final lines of the poem, "And so he passed, poor wizened wight, / A clerk with never a chance to fight," are a poignant reminder of the fragility of life and the importance of seizing the opportunities that come our way.
In conclusion, Dyspeptic Clerk is a poem that uses humor and irony to highlight the absurdity of everyday life. Through his vivid descriptions and memorable characters, Service reminds us that even the most mundane and tedious of lives can have moments of joy and humor. However, the poem also serves as a cautionary tale, reminding us of the importance of seizing the opportunities that come our way and living life to the fullest.
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