'Fleurette' by Robert Service
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(The Wounded Canadian Speaks)
My leg? It's off at the knee.
Do I miss it? Well, some. You see
I've had it since I was born;
And lately a devilish corn.
(I rather chuckle with glee
To think how I've fooled that corn.)
But I'll hobble around all right.
It isn't that, it's my face.
Oh I know I'm a hideous sight,
Hardly a thing in place;
Sort of gargoyle, you'd say.
Nurse won't give me a glass,
But I see the folks as they pass
Shudder and turn away;
Turn away in distress . . .
Mirror enough, I guess.
I'm gay! You bet I AM gay;
But I wasn't a while ago.
If you'd seen me even to-day,
The darndest picture of woe,
With this Caliban mug of mine,
So ravaged and raw and red,
Turned to the wall -- in fine,
Wishing that I was dead. . . .
What has happened since then,
Since I lay with my face to the wall,
The most despairing of men?
Listen! I'll tell you all.
That poilu across the way,
With the shrapnel wound in his head,
Has a sister: she came to-day
To sit awhile by his bed.
All morning I heard him fret:
"Oh, when will she come, Fleurette?"
Then sudden, a joyous cry;
The tripping of little feet,
The softest, tenderest sigh,
A voice so fresh and sweet;
Clear as a silver bell,
Fresh as the morning dews:
"C'est toi, c'est toi, Marcel!
Mon frère, comme je suis heureuse!"
So over the blanket's rim
I raised my terrible face,
And I saw -- how I envied him!
A girl of such delicate grace;
Sixteen, all laughter and love;
As gay as a linnet, and yet
As tenderly sweet as a dove;
Half woman, half child -- Fleurette.
Then I turned to the wall again.
(I was awfully blue, you see),
And I thought with a bitter pain:
"Such visions are not for me."
So there like a log I lay,
All hidden, I thought, from view,
When sudden I heard her say:
"Ah! Who is that malheureux?"
Then briefly I heard him tell
(However he came to know)
How I'd smothered a bomb that fell
Into the trench, and so
None of my men were hit,
Though it busted me up a bit.
Well, I didn't quiver an eye,
And he chattered and there she sat;
And I fancied I heard her sigh --
But I wouldn't just swear to that.
And maybe she wasn't so bright,
Though she talked in a merry strain,
And I closed my eyes ever so tight,
Yet I saw her ever so plain:
Her dear little tilted nose,
Her delicate, dimpled chin,
Her mouth like a budding rose,
And the glistening pearls within;
Her eyes like the violet:
Such a rare little queen -- Fleurette.
And at last when she rose to go,
The light was a little dim,
And I ventured to peep, and so
I saw her, graceful and slim,
And she kissed him and kissed him, and oh
How I envied and envied him!
So when she was gone I said
In rather a dreary voice
To him of the opposite bed:
"Ah, friend, how you must rejoice!
But me, I'm a thing of dread.
For me nevermore the bliss,
The thrill of a woman's kiss."
Then I stopped, for lo! she was there,
And a great light shone in her eyes;
And me! I could only stare,
I was taken so by surprise,
When gently she bent her head:
"May I kiss you, Sergeant?" she said.
Then she kissed my burning lips
With her mouth like a scented flower,
And I thrilled to the finger-tips,
And I hadn't even the power
To say: "God bless you, dear!"
And I felt such a precious tear
Fall on my withered cheek,
And darn it! I couldn't speak.
And so she went sadly away,
And I knew that my eyes were wet.
Ah, not to my dying day
Will I forget, forget!
Can you wonder now I am gay?
God bless her, that little Fleurette!
Editor 1 Interpretation
Fleurette: A Masterpiece by Robert Service
Oh, how can I explain the beauty of Fleurette written by Robert Service? This classic poem has so much depth and meaning that it can be interpreted in multiple ways. Is it a love poem? Is it a poem about life and death? Is it a story of hope and despair? The answer lies in the delicate words that Service has woven together to create a masterpiece.
Background
Before I dive into the analysis, let me give you a quick background about the poem. Robert Service was a Canadian poet who lived from 1874 to 1958. He was known for his narrative poems that celebrated the rugged beauty of the Canadian wilderness. Fleurette, published in 1913, is one of his most popular poems. It tells the story of a young French girl who falls in love with a soldier during the war. The poem is set against the backdrop of the First World War and explores the themes of love, loss, and hope.
Analysis
The poem begins with a description of Fleurette, a young French girl with "hair like spun gold" and "eyes like pansies." Service paints a vivid picture of her, making the reader fall in love with her just as the soldier did. The soldier is described as "tall and straight and true" and is immediately drawn towards Fleurette.
And the soldier saw her, and his heart Leapt up with love as a flame leaps up; And he said: "I will take thee, sweetheart, From this desolate land of war and woe."
The soldier's love for Fleurette is intense and passionate. He sees in her a ray of hope in the midst of war and despair. He wants to take her away from the war-torn country and start a new life with her.
"For I love thee, I love thee, Fleurette, More than tongue can tell or pen can write; And I swear by the cross, my sweet, That I'll make thee Queen of all delight."
The soldier's love for Fleurette is so strong that he swears by the cross to make her the Queen of all delight. This shows the depth of his commitment and how much he is willing to sacrifice for her.
As the poem progresses, we see the soldier and Fleurette spending time together, enjoying each other's company despite the war raging around them. They dance together, laugh together, and dream of a better life together. It is a beautiful picture of two people finding love in the midst of darkness.
And they danced in the light of the stars above, And they laughed and kissed in the soft moonshine; And she whispered to him: "My love, my love, I am thine, oh thine, forever thine."
However, their happiness is short-lived as the soldier is called back to the front lines. Fleurette is left behind, waiting for him to return. The poem takes a dark turn as we see Fleurette struggling to survive without the soldier. She is alone and scared, with no one to turn to.
And the days went by, and the weeks went by, And the war went on with a ceaseless roar; And she lived in dread lest the soldier die, And she prayed to God that her love come o'er.
The war takes a toll on Fleurette as she waits for her lover to return. She is consumed by fear and anxiety, not knowing whether he is alive or dead. Her love for the soldier is the only thing that keeps her going, giving her hope that he will return to her.
The poem ends on a bittersweet note as the soldier finally returns to Fleurette. He is wounded and broken, but his love for her remains strong. They embrace each other, grateful for the time they have together.
And the soldier came, but his face was wan, And he leaned on a stick as he walked with pain; But he smiled as he saw his Fleurette stand Like a rose in the doorway waiting again.
And he took her hand, and he held it tight, And he kissed her lips with a last long kiss; And he whispered: "Farewell, my heart's delight, For I go to the land of Eternal Bliss."
The soldier's final words are heartbreaking, but they also give a sense of hope. He may be leaving Fleurette, but he is going to a better place. Their love, though short-lived, was pure and true, and it will always be remembered.
Interpretation
Fleurette is a poem that can be interpreted in multiple ways, depending on the reader's perspective. Some may see it as a love poem, celebrating the beauty of two people finding each other in the midst of war. Others may see it as a commentary on the futility of war, showing how it destroys lives and makes it impossible for people to find happiness.
At its core, however, Fleurette is a poem about hope. It shows how even in the darkest of times, love can give us hope and the strength to carry on. The soldier's love for Fleurette gives him the courage to fight, even when he knows he may not come back. Fleurette's love for the soldier gives her the strength to survive, even when everything around her is falling apart.
The poem is also a reminder of the fragility of life. The soldier's death is a stark reminder that life can be taken away at any moment. It is a reminder to cherish the moments we have with the people we love and to never take them for granted.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Fleurette is a masterpiece by Robert Service that explores the themes of love, loss, and hope. It is a poem that can be interpreted in multiple ways, depending on the reader's perspective. However, at the heart of the poem is a message of hope, showing how love can give us the strength to carry on, even in the darkest of times. Fleurette is a timeless classic that will continue to inspire readers for generations to come.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Fleurette: A Poem of Love and Loss
Robert Service, the renowned poet, is known for his ability to capture the essence of human emotions in his works. One such masterpiece is the poem "Fleurette," which tells the story of a young woman's tragic love affair. The poem is a poignant reminder of the fragility of love and the pain of loss. In this article, we will analyze and explain the poem in detail.
The poem begins with the introduction of the protagonist, Fleurette. She is described as a beautiful young woman who is the object of many men's desires. However, she is not interested in any of them and remains aloof. The first stanza sets the tone for the rest of the poem, with its melancholic and wistful imagery. The lines "Her eyes were stars of twilight fair, Like twilight's, too, her dusky hair" evoke a sense of longing and sadness.
In the second stanza, we are introduced to the man who captures Fleurette's heart. He is described as a dashing young man who is a "knight of old romance." The imagery used to describe him is vivid and romantic, with lines such as "His hair was like the raven's wing, His eyes were blue as bluebell's ring." The contrast between Fleurette's dusky hair and the man's raven hair is striking and emphasizes their differences.
The third stanza is where the story takes a tragic turn. We learn that the man is a soldier who is called away to war. Fleurette is heartbroken but remains faithful to him. The lines "She vowed to wait till he returned, And watched the road where he had turned" show her unwavering love and devotion.
The fourth stanza is where the poem reaches its climax. Fleurette receives news that her lover has been killed in battle. The lines "She heard the news with tearless eyes, And in her heart a great love dies" are heartbreaking and convey the depth of her sorrow. The use of the word "tearless" is particularly poignant, as it suggests that Fleurette is in shock and unable to express her emotions.
The final stanza is a reflection on Fleurette's life after the loss of her lover. She becomes a recluse and is never seen in public again. The lines "She lived alone, and died unknown, And sleeps beneath a mossy stone" are a sad reminder of the toll that grief can take on a person's life.
The poem is a masterpiece of storytelling and emotion. Service's use of vivid imagery and powerful language creates a sense of empathy and understanding for Fleurette's plight. The poem is also a commentary on the nature of love and the pain of loss. It reminds us that love is fragile and that we should cherish it while we can.
In conclusion, "Fleurette" is a classic poem that captures the essence of human emotions. It tells the story of a young woman's tragic love affair and the pain of loss that follows. The poem is a reminder of the fragility of love and the importance of cherishing it while we can. Service's use of vivid imagery and powerful language creates a sense of empathy and understanding for Fleurette's plight. It is a masterpiece of storytelling and emotion that will continue to resonate with readers for generations to come.
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