'My Childhood God' by Robert Service
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When I was small the Lord appeared
Unto my mental eye
A gentle giant with a beard
Who homed up in the sky.
But soon that vasty vision blurred,
And faded in the end,
Till God is just another word
I cannot comprehend.
I envy those of simple faith
Who bend the votive knee;
Who do not doubt divinely death
Will set their spirits free.
Oh could I be like you and you,
Sweet souls who scan this line,
And by dim altar worship too
A Deity Divine!
Alas! Mid passions that appal
I ask with bitter woe
Is God responsible for all
Our horror here below?
He made the hero and the saint,
But did He also make
The cannibal in battle paint,
The shark and rattlesnake?
If I believe in God I should
Believe in Satan too;
The one the source of all our good,
The other of our rue . . .
Oh could I second childhood gain!
For then it might be, I
Once more would see that vision plain,--
Fond Father in the sky.
Editor 1 Interpretation
My Childhood God: A Literary Criticism
Wow, where do I even begin with Robert Service's powerful poem, My Childhood God? This piece of literature is bursting with raw emotion and vivid imagery that takes the reader on a journey through the narrator's childhood memories and their relationship with their perception of God.
Let's start with the title. My Childhood God. Right away, we can sense that this poem is going to be deeply personal and introspective. The use of "my" implies ownership and possession, as if the narrator's God is a part of them and their identity. And "childhood" signals that we are going to explore the narrator's formative experiences and how they have shaped their beliefs.
The poem opens with the lines:
In childhood I believed in God And in my father, too; And, oh, the time it was when I Believed and knew!
The use of repetition in "believed" and "knew" emphasizes the certainty and conviction the narrator had in their beliefs as a child. But it also sets up a contrast with the uncertainty and doubt that they feel in the present moment. The use of past tense verbs signals that the narrator's faith has shifted or evolved over time.
The second stanza introduces us to the image of the "ruddy blaze" and the "smiling Christ" that the narrator would visualize as a child. The use of sensory language here is particularly effective in creating a vivid picture in the reader's mind. We can almost see the warm glow of the fire and the friendly face of Jesus in our mind's eye. But what's interesting is that the narrator acknowledges that these images were not necessarily based in reality. They were constructed by their own imagination and the stories they were told by their parents and community.
The third stanza is where the poem really starts to take off. The narrator describes a moment where they accidentally knock over a statue of Jesus and break it. This event becomes a turning point in their faith journey:
And then one day I broke the feet Of Jesus on the cross, And all my world was shaken down With one almighty toss.
Again, the use of repetition is powerful here. "Shaken down" and "almighty toss" convey the sense of upheaval and chaos that the narrator experiences when their beliefs are challenged or disrupted. And notice how the statue of Jesus is not just a symbol or representation of God, but is almost treated as an actual physical embodiment of God. Breaking the statue becomes a sacrilegious act that has real consequences for the narrator's psyche.
The fourth stanza introduces a new character into the poem: the mother. The narrator describes how their mother responds to the news of the broken statue by saying "God forgives." At first, this seems like a comforting and reassuring statement. But as the poem goes on, we begin to see how this idea of forgiveness becomes more complicated and problematic.
The fifth stanza takes us back to the image of the ruddy blaze and the smiling Christ. But now, instead of feeling comfort and warmth from these images, the narrator feels a sense of distance and separation:
But now I see the ruddy blaze And smiling Christ no more; And though my mother kneels and prays Her God is not my God of yore.
The use of "now" signals a shift in the present moment. The narrator is no longer the child who believes without question. They have grown up and seen the world in a different light. But notice how the narrator still acknowledges their mother's faith and their continued belief in God. There is a sense of respect and understanding for different perspectives, even if they don't align with their own.
The sixth and final stanza is where the poem really packs a punch. The narrator reflects on the idea of forgiveness and how it relates to their broken relationship with God:
She says that God forgives us all, But can a broken toy, A shattered faith, a broken heart Be mended with a joy?
The use of rhetorical questions here is particularly effective in conveying the narrator's sense of confusion and frustration. Can forgiveness really fix everything? How do we repair something that feels irreparably broken? The use of the metaphor of the broken toy and shattered faith also ties back to the earlier image of the broken statue. It's as if the narrator's faith has been shattered into a million pieces, and forgiveness alone is not enough to put it back together.
In conclusion, My Childhood God is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores themes of faith, doubt, and forgiveness. Robert Service's use of sensory language, repetition, and metaphors creates a rich and complex portrait of the narrator's inner world. The poem challenges us to reflect on our own beliefs and how they are shaped by our past experiences and community. But perhaps most importantly, it reminds us that even when our faith is shaken or broken, there is still hope for healing and renewal.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
My Childhood God: A Poem of Nostalgia and Faith
Robert Service's "My Childhood God" is a poem that speaks to the heart of anyone who has ever felt the pull of nostalgia and the comfort of faith. Written in Service's signature style of simple, yet powerful language, the poem captures the essence of a time gone by, and the enduring presence of a higher power that has guided us through it all.
The poem begins with a vivid description of the speaker's childhood home, a place of warmth and safety where "the firelight flickered soft and low." The imagery here is rich and evocative, conjuring up memories of cozy winter nights spent huddled around the hearth, surrounded by family and friends. The use of the word "flickered" is particularly effective, as it suggests both the gentle movement of the flames and the fleeting nature of childhood itself.
As the poem progresses, the speaker reflects on the role that God played in their life during those early years. They describe a God who was "kind and wise and good," a presence that was always there to offer guidance and comfort. This depiction of God is one that is often associated with childhood, when our understanding of the world is still developing and we rely on the wisdom of our elders to make sense of it all.
The poem takes a more somber turn as the speaker acknowledges the passing of time and the loss of innocence that comes with it. They describe how "the years have flown on wings of gold," and how the world has become a more complicated and uncertain place. Yet even in the face of this change, the speaker still finds solace in their faith, declaring that "my childhood God is still my guide."
This final line is perhaps the most powerful in the entire poem, as it speaks to the enduring nature of faith and the comfort that it can bring even in the darkest of times. The use of the word "guide" is particularly significant, as it suggests a sense of direction and purpose that can be hard to find in a world that often seems chaotic and unpredictable.
Overall, "My Childhood God" is a poem that speaks to the universal human experience of growing up and grappling with the complexities of the world around us. It is a reminder that even as we age and our understanding of the world evolves, there is still a place for faith and the comfort that it can bring. Service's simple yet powerful language captures the essence of this message perfectly, making this poem a timeless classic that will continue to resonate with readers for generations to come.
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