'Virginity' by Robert Service
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My mother she had children five and four are dead and gone;
While I, least worthy to survive, persist in living on.
She looks at me, I must confess, sometimes with spite and bitterness.
My mother is three-score and ten, while I am forty-three,
You don't know how it hurts me when we go somewhere to tea,
And people tell her on the sly we look like sisters, she and I.
It hurts to see her secret glee; but most, because it's true.
Sometimes I think she thinks that she looks younger of the two.
Oh as I gently take her arm, how I would love to do her harm!
For ever since I cam from school she put it in my head
I was a weakling and a fool, a "born old maid" she said.
"You'll always stay at home," sighed she, "and keep your Mother company."
Oh pity is a bitter brew; I've drunk it to the lees;
For there is little else to do but do my best to please:
My life has been so little worth I curse the hour she gave me birth.
I curse the hour she gave me breath, who never wished me wife;
My happiest day will be the death of her who gave me life;
I hate her for the life she gave: I hope to dance upon her grave.
She wearing roses in her hat; I wince to hear her say:
"Poor Alice this, poor Alice that," she drains my joy away.
It seems to brace her up that she can pity, pity, pity me.
You'll see us walking in the street, with careful step and slow;
And people often say: "How sweet!" as arm in arm we go.
Like chums we never are apart - yet oh the hatred in my heart!
My chest is weak, and I might be (O God!) the first to go.
For her what triumph that would be - she thinks of it, I know.
To outlive all her kith and kin - how she would glow beneath her skin!
She says she will not make her Will, until she takes to bed;
She little thinks if thoughts could kill, to-morrow she'd be dead. . . .
"Please come to breakfast, Mother dear; Your coffee will be cold I fear."
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Beauty and Tragedy in Robert Service's "Virginity"
Have you ever read a poem that made you pause and reflect on its themes long after you've finished reading it? A poem that unearthed a complexity of emotions that you didn't even know you had? That is how I felt when I first read "Virginity" by Robert Service. This classic poem, published in 1910, has stood the test of time for its powerful imagery, its exploration of the beauty and tragedy of innocence, and its timeless relevance to the human experience.
The Poem
Before delving into its interpretation, let me first give you a taste of the poem itself. "Virginity" is a short, four-stanza poem that tells the story of a young girl who dies before ever experiencing the joys and pains of love:
To spend uncounted years of pain
Again, again, and yet again
In working out in heart and brain
The problem of our being here;
To gather facts from far and near
Upon the mind to hold them clear
And knowing more may yet appear
Until one's latest breath to fear
The premature conclusion dear:
That here, here only, are we free.
Oh Mother Nature, let me be!
Or, if I would press still further,
Grant me the joy of love's sweet errand;
And I would take the roses' murmur,
And the supplication of the nightingale,
And teach my soul the love-song's tender
Lore, that so it might not fail
When that dear heart should come to render
Passion's purest, sweetest tale.
For this is wisdom - to love and live -
To take what fate or the gods may give,
To ask no question, to make no prayer,
To kiss the lips and caress the hair,
Speed passion's ebb as we greet its flow,
To have and to hold, and, in time let go,
To fare with laughter where'er we fare,
To find our rest in the morning there,
Where sunlight and the storm are one,
And the stars in the heavens are undone.
The young girl lies in her white-clad bed
With the rose-bloom fading from her cheek,
And in her dreams a voice hath said:
'Thou, too, thy virgin vows shalt break.'
And when she wakes her heart is a-cold,
For a dream hath told her what she hath not told,
And she dared not speak of the dream for fear
The heart of her mother would break in twain;
So silent she sits at her lattice here
And dreams and dreams, with a heart of pain.
The Beauty of Innocence
What strikes me most about this poem is how beautifully Service depicts the purity and innocence of the young girl. The first stanza sets the stage for the tragedy to come, but it also celebrates the nobility of a life dedicated to seeking truth and knowledge. The girl is described as someone who wants to know more, who wants to solve the mystery of existence, and who is unafraid to confront difficult questions. She is a reminder that there is beauty and dignity in the pursuit of knowledge and understanding.
The second stanza then shifts to the idea of love, and the girl is presented as someone who wants to experience the joy of love's sweet errand. She is not content with just seeking knowledge; she also wants to experience the full range of human emotions. Service's language in this stanza is particularly striking, with its use of metaphors that evoke the sweetness of love and the beauty of nature. The roses' murmur and the supplication of the nightingale create a rich sensory landscape that draws us into the girl's world.
The Tragedy of Lost Opportunity
But then the third stanza takes a dark turn. The girl dies before she can experience the joys and pains of love. The language here is stark and haunting - the rose-bloom fading from her cheek, her heart a-cold. And yet, even in death, the girl's innocence is preserved. In her dreams, a voice tells her that she will break her virgin vows, but she is too pure to even speak of this dream for fear of hurting her mother. The tragedy here is not just that the girl died young, but that she died before she could fully experience life.
This is why the final stanza is so powerful. It reminds us that life is about taking what fate or the gods may give, about embracing both the joys and the sorrows that come our way. The language here is more philosophical, with its references to the ebb and flow of passion, the impermanence of life, and the ultimate unity of all things. But the message is clear - life is about living, about finding our rest in the morning where sunlight and the storm are one.
The Relevance of "Virginity" Today
So why does this poem still resonate with readers over a century after it was written? I believe it is because it speaks to a timeless theme - the tragedy of lost opportunity. We all know someone who died too young, or who never got to fully experience life before it was taken away. We all have regrets about things we wish we had done or said when we had the chance. And yet, we also know that life is about taking risks, about embracing both the joys and the sorrows that come our way.
In this sense, "Virginity" is a reminder that life is precious and fleeting, and that we should make the most of the time we have. It is a call to embrace both the beauty and the tragedy of the human experience, to live fully in the moment, and to find our rest in the morning where sunlight and the storm are one.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Virginity: A Poem of Purity and Temptation
Robert Service, a renowned poet of the 20th century, has left an indelible mark on the world of literature with his unique style of writing. His poems are known for their simplicity, yet they carry a deep meaning that resonates with readers of all ages. One such poem is "Virginity," which is a beautiful ode to the purity of youth and the temptation of adulthood.
The poem begins with a description of a young girl, who is innocent and pure, like a "lily in the dawn." The imagery used here is powerful, as it creates a sense of freshness and newness, which is often associated with youth. The girl is described as being "sweet and shy," which further emphasizes her innocence and purity.
However, the poem takes a darker turn as it describes the temptation that the girl faces as she grows older. The "world's wild joys" are described as being "like a flame," which is a metaphor for the intense desire that the girl feels. The use of the word "wild" is significant, as it suggests that these joys are not necessarily good or pure, but rather dangerous and unpredictable.
The poem then goes on to describe the girl's struggle to resist these temptations. She is torn between her desire for these "wild joys" and her desire to remain pure and innocent. The use of the word "struggle" is significant, as it suggests that this is not an easy decision for the girl to make. She is faced with a difficult choice, and the poem captures the intensity of her emotions as she tries to make the right decision.
The poem ends with a powerful message about the importance of virginity. The girl is described as being "worth a hundred queens," which is a metaphor for her value and worth as a person. The use of the word "queens" is significant, as it suggests that the girl is royalty, and therefore, deserving of respect and admiration. The poem ends with the line, "And the world is better for her grace," which is a powerful statement about the importance of purity and innocence in the world.
Overall, "Virginity" is a beautiful poem that captures the struggle that many young people face as they grow older. It is a poem about the importance of remaining pure and innocent, even in the face of temptation. The use of powerful imagery and metaphors creates a sense of intensity and emotion that resonates with readers of all ages. Robert Service has created a timeless masterpiece that will continue to inspire and move readers for generations to come.
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