'The Living Dead' by Robert Service
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Since I have come to years sedate
I see with more and more acumen
The bitter irony of Fate,
The vanity of all things human.
Why, just to-day some fellow said,
As I surveyed Fame's outer portal:
"By gad! I thought that you were dead."
Poor me, who dreamed to be immortal!
But that's the way with many men
Whose name one fancied time-defying;
We thought that they were dust and then
We found them living by their dying.
Like dogs we penmen have our day,
To brief best-sellerdom elected;
And then, "thumbs down," we slink away
And die forgotten and neglected.
Ah well, my lyric fling I've had;
A thousand bits of verse I've minted;
And some, alas! were very bad,
And some, alack! were best unprinted.
But if I've made my muse a bawd
(Since I am earthy as a ditch is),
I'll answer humbly to my God:
Most men at times have toyed with bitches.
Yes, I have played with Lady Rhyme,
And had a long and lovely innings;
And when the Umpire calls my time
I'll blandly quit and take my winnings.
I'll hie me to some Sleepydale,
And feed the ducks and pat the poodles,
And prime my paunch with cakes and ale,
And blether with the village noodles.
And then some day you'll idly scan
The Times obituary column,
And say: "Dear me, the poor old man!"
And for a moment you'll look solemn.
"So all this time he's been alive -
In realms of rhyme a second-rater . . .
But gad! to live to ninety-five:
Let's toast his ghost - a sherry, waiter!"
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Living Dead: A Haunting Poem by Robert Service
The Living Dead is a haunting and powerful poem by Robert Service, one of the most famous poets of the 20th century. Written in 1920, the poem tells the story of a soldier who has survived the horrors of World War I, only to return home and find that he is no longer truly alive. Instead, he is one of the "living dead," haunted by the memories of the war and unable to find peace in his own life.
The Structure of the Poem
The Living Dead is written in four stanzas, each containing four lines. The rhyme scheme is AABB, which gives the poem a sense of structure and rhythm. The first two stanzas describe the soldier's return home and his inability to adjust to civilian life. The third stanza describes his nightmares and the memories that keep him awake at night. The final stanza is a powerful statement on the toll that war takes on those who survive it.
The Tone of the Poem
The tone of The Living Dead is somber and melancholy. Service uses vivid and powerful imagery to describe the soldier's experiences, but there is a sense of resignation and hopelessness that runs throughout the poem. The soldier is trapped in his own mind, unable to escape the memories of the war that haunt him day and night.
The Soldier's Return Home
The first stanza of the poem describes the soldier's return home. He is greeted by his family and friends, who are happy to see him alive and well. However, the soldier cannot share in their joy. He is no longer the same person he was before the war, and he feels out of place in his own home. The lines "He hears their trivial tattle, and he sees their vacant grins" illustrate the soldier's sense of detachment from his loved ones.
The Soldier's Inability to Adjust
The second stanza of the poem describes the soldier's inability to adjust to civilian life. He longs for the camaraderie and sense of purpose that he had in the army, and he feels lost and alone without it. The lines "He cannot speak their language, he is deaf to what they say" highlight the soldier's sense of alienation from the world around him.
The Soldier's Nightmares
The third stanza of the poem describes the soldier's nightmares. He is haunted by the memories of the war, and he relives them every night in his dreams. The lines "He hears the shriek of shrapnel and the rattling of the guns" paint a vivid picture of the soldier's experiences on the battlefield. The repetition of the phrase "He does not sleep" emphasizes the soldier's inability to find rest or peace.
The Toll of War
The final stanza of the poem is a powerful statement on the toll that war takes on those who survive it. The soldier is no longer truly alive; he is one of the "living dead." The lines "He walks the streets like specter, he looks and sees and hears" illustrate the soldier's sense of detachment from the world around him. He is present, but not fully engaged or alive. The poem ends with the lines "Oh God! To crawl like this and know / That Death has not the power to kill" which emphasize the soldier's sense of hopelessness and despair.
Interpretation
The Living Dead is a powerful and haunting poem that speaks to the experiences of soldiers who return home from war. The poem is a commentary on the toll that war takes on those who survive it, and the difficulties that soldiers face when they try to adjust to civilian life. The soldier in the poem is trapped in his own mind, unable to escape the memories of the war that haunt him day and night.
The Living Dead is a poem that speaks to the human condition. It is a reminder that war has a profound impact on those who fight it, and that the scars of battle are not always visible. The soldier in the poem is one of the "living dead," a reminder that the true cost of war is not just in the lives that are lost, but in the lives that are forever changed.
Conclusion
In conclusion, The Living Dead is a haunting and powerful poem that speaks to the experiences of soldiers who return home from war. The poem is a commentary on the toll that war takes on those who survive it, and the difficulties that soldiers face when they try to adjust to civilian life. Robert Service's use of vivid and powerful imagery, combined with a somber and melancholy tone, creates a sense of hopelessness and despair that is both moving and haunting. The Living Dead is a reminder that war has a profound impact on those who fight it, and that the true cost of war is not just in the lives that are lost, but in the lives that are forever changed.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Living Dead: A Haunting Poem by Robert Service
If you're a fan of horror and the macabre, then you're in for a treat with Robert Service's poem, The Living Dead. This haunting piece of literature is a masterpiece that will send shivers down your spine and leave you with a sense of unease long after you've finished reading it. In this article, we'll take a closer look at The Living Dead, analyzing its themes, structure, and symbolism to uncover the true meaning behind this eerie poem.
The Living Dead is a poem that tells the story of a man who has died and been buried, only to rise from the grave as a zombie. The poem begins with the man's awakening, as he realizes that he is no longer alive but has become one of the living dead. The imagery in the opening lines is vivid and unsettling, as the man describes his surroundings:
"It's easy to fight when everything's right, And you're mad with the thrill and the glory; It's easy to cheer when victory's near, And wallow in fields that are gory. It's a different song when everything's wrong, When you're feeling infernally mortal; When it's ten against one, and hope there is none, Buck up, little soldier, and chortle!"
The man's tone is sarcastic and bitter, as he reflects on the futility of life and the inevitability of death. He is resigned to his fate as a zombie, and his words are a warning to the living that death is not the end, but merely the beginning of a new existence.
The poem is structured in four stanzas, each with a distinct theme and tone. The first stanza sets the scene and introduces the main character, while the second and third stanzas explore the man's thoughts and feelings as he comes to terms with his new existence. The final stanza is a warning to the living, as the man urges them to prepare for their own deaths and the possibility of becoming one of the living dead.
The symbolism in The Living Dead is rich and complex, with each image and metaphor contributing to the overall theme of the poem. The man's description of himself as a "living corpse" is particularly powerful, as it highlights the paradoxical nature of his existence. He is neither fully alive nor fully dead, but trapped in a limbo between the two states.
The imagery of the graveyard is also significant, as it represents the final resting place of the dead. However, in this poem, the graveyard is not a place of peace and rest, but a place of horror and terror. The man's description of the "grinning skulls" and "mouldy bones" is a reminder that death is not a gentle release from life, but a violent and gruesome process.
The Living Dead is also a commentary on the human condition, and the fear of death that is inherent in all of us. The man's bitterness and sarcasm are a reflection of his anger at the unfairness of life, and his fear of the unknown. He is a reminder that death is not something to be taken lightly, but a reality that we must all face.
In conclusion, The Living Dead is a haunting and powerful poem that explores the themes of death, fear, and the human condition. Robert Service's use of vivid imagery and powerful symbolism creates a sense of unease and horror that will stay with you long after you've finished reading. This poem is a warning to the living, a reminder that death is not the end, but merely the beginning of a new existence. So, if you're brave enough, read The Living Dead and confront your own fear of death. Who knows, you may even find a new appreciation for life in the process.
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