'Clancy Of The Mounted Police' by Robert Service
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In the little Crimson Manual it's written plain and clear
That who would wear the scarlet coat shall say good-bye to fear;
Shall be a guardian of the right, a sleuth-hound of the trail--
In the little Crimson Manual there's no such word as "fail"--
Shall follow on though heavens fall, or hell's top-turrets freeze,
Half round the world, if need there be, on bleeding hands and knees.
It's duty, duty, first and last, the Crimson Manual saith;
The Scarlet Rider makes reply: "It's duty--to the death."
And so they sweep the solitudes, free men from all the earth;
And so they sentinel the woods, the wilds that know their worth;
And so they scour the startled plains and mock at hurt and pain,
And read their Crimson Manual, and find their duty plain.
Knights of the lists of unrenown, born of the frontier's need,
Disdainful of the spoken word, exultant in the deed;
Unconscious heroes of the waste, proud players of the game,
Props of the power behind the throne, upholders of the name:
For thus the Great White Chief hath said, "In all my lands be peace",
And to maintain his word he gave his West the Scarlet Police.
Livid-lipped was the valley, still as the grave of God;
Misty shadows of mountain thinned into mists of cloud;
Corpselike and stark was the land, with a quiet that crushed and awed,
And the stars of the weird sub-arctic glimmered over its shroud.
Deep in the trench of the valley two men stationed the Post,
Seymour and Clancy the reckless, fresh from the long patrol;
Seymour, the sergeant, and Clancy--Clancy who made his boast
He could cinch like a bronco the Northland, and cling to the prongs of the Pole.
Two lone men on detachment, standing for law on the trail;
Undismayed in the vastness, wise with the wisdom of old--
Out of the night hailed a half-breed telling a pitiful tale,
"White man starving and crazy on the banks of the Nordenscold."
Up sprang the red-haired Clancy, lean and eager of eye;
Loaded the long toboggan, strapped each dog at its post;
Whirled his lash at the leader; then, with a whoop and a cry,
Into the Great White Silence faded away like a ghost.
The clouds were a misty shadow, the hills were a shadowy mist;
Sunless, voiceless and pulseless, the day was a dream of woe;
Through the ice-rifts the river smoked and bubbled and hissed;
Behind was a trail fresh broken, in front the untrodden snow.
Ahead of the dogs ploughed Clancy, haloed by steaming breath;
Through peril of open water, through ache of insensate cold;
Up rivers wantonly winding in a land affianced to death,
Till he came to a cowering cabin on the banks of the Nordenscold.
Then Clancy loosed his revolver, and he strode through the open door;
And there was the man he sought for, crouching beside the fire;
The hair of his beard was singeing, the frost on his back was hoar,
And ever he crooned and chanted as if he never would tire:--
"I panned and I panned in the shiny sand, and I sniped on the river bar;
But I know, I know, that it's down below that the golden treasures are;
So I'll wait and wait till the floods abate, and I'll sink a shaft once more,
And I'd like to bet that I'll go home yet with a brass band playing before."
He was nigh as thin as a sliver, and he whined like a Moose-hide cur;
So Clancy clothed him and nursed him as a mother nurses a child;
Lifted him on the toboggan, wrapped him in robes of fur,
Then with the dogs sore straining started to face the Wild.
Said the Wild, "I will crush this Clancy, so fearless and insolent;
For him will I loose my fury, and blind and buffet and beat;
Pile up my snows to stay him; then when his strength is spent,
Leap on him from my ambush and crush him under my feet.
"Him will I ring with my silence, compass him with my cold;
Closer and closer clutch him unto mine icy breast;
Buffet him with my blizzards, deep in my snows enfold,
Claiming his life as my tribute, giving my wolves the rest."
Clancy crawled through the vastness; o'er him the hate of the Wild;
Full on his face fell the blizzard; cheering his huskies he ran;
Fighting, fierce-hearted and tireless, snows that drifted and piled,
With ever and ever behind him singing the crazy man.
"Sing hey, sing ho, for the ice and snow,
And a heart that's ever merry;
Let us trim and square with a lover's care
(For why should a man be sorry?)
A grave deep, deep, with the moon a-peep,
A grave in the frozen mould.
Sing hey, sing ho, for the winds that blow,
And a grave deep down in the ice and snow,
A grave in the land of gold."
Day after day of darkness, the whirl of the seething snows;
Day after day of blindness, the swoop of the stinging blast;
On through a blur of fury the swing of staggering blows;
On through a world of turmoil, empty, inane and vast.
Night with its writhing storm-whirl, night despairingly black;
Night with its hours of terror, numb and endlessly long;
Night with its weary waiting, fighting the shadows back,
And ever the crouching madman singing his crazy song.
Cold with its creeping terror, cold with its sudden clinch;
Cold so utter you wonder if 'twill ever again be warm;
Clancy grinned as he shuddered, "Surely it isn't a cinch
Being wet-nurse to a looney in the teeth of an arctic storm.
"The blizzard passed and the dawn broke, knife-edged and crystal clear;
The sky was a blue-domed iceberg, sunshine outlawed away;
Ever by snowslide and ice-rip haunted and hovered the Fear;
Ever the Wild malignant poised and panted to slay.
The lead-dog freezes in harness--cut him out of the team!
The lung of the wheel-dog's bleeding--shoot him and let him lie!
On and on with the others--lash them until they scream!
"Pull for your lives, you devils! On! To halt is to die."
There in the frozen vastness Clancy fought with his foes;
The ache of the stiffened fingers, the cut of the snowshoe thong;
Cheeks black-raw through the hood-flap, eyes that tingled and closed,
And ever to urge and cheer him quavered the madman's song.
Colder it grew and colder, till the last heat left the earth,
And there in the great stark stillness the bale fires glinted and gleamed,
And the Wild all around exulted and shook with a devilish mirth,
And life was far and forgotten, the ghost of a joy once dreamed.
Death! And one who defied it, a man of the Mounted Police;
Fought it there to a standstill long after hope was gone;
Grinned through his bitter anguish, fought without let or cease,
Suffering, straining, striving, stumbling, struggling on.
Till the dogs lay down in their traces, and rose and staggered and fell;
Till the eyes of him dimmed with shadows, and the trail was so hard to see;
Till the Wild howled out triumphant, and the world was a frozen hell--
Then said Constable Clancy: "I guess that it's up to me."
Far down the trail they saw him, and his hands they were blanched like bone;
His face was a blackened horror, from his eyelids the salt rheum ran;
His feet he was lifting strangely, as if they were made of stone,
But safe in his arms and sleeping he carried the crazy man.
So Clancy got into Barracks, and the boys made rather a scene;
And the O. C. called him a hero, and was nice as a man could be;
But Clancy gazed down his trousers at the place where his toes had been,
And then he howled like a husky, and sang in a shaky key:
"When I go back to the old love that's true to the finger-tips,
I'll say: `Here's bushels of gold, love,' and I'll kiss my girl on the lips;
It's yours to have and to hold, love.' It's the proud, proud boy I'll be,
When I go back to the old love that's waited so long for me."
Editor 1 Interpretation
Clancy Of The Mounted Police: A Masterpiece of Adventure Poetry
I have always been a fan of adventure stories, especially those that involve chasing after elusive criminals and solving mysteries. That is why I was immediately drawn to Robert Service's classic poem, "Clancy Of The Mounted Police." This epic tale of a brave and determined Mountie who sets out to catch a dangerous outlaw is a masterpiece of adventure poetry that continues to captivate readers to this day. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I will examine the various elements of the poem and explore its themes, characters, and poetic techniques in detail.
The Plot
At its core, "Clancy Of The Mounted Police" is a story of heroism and adventure set against the backdrop of the Canadian wilderness. The poem begins with the introduction of Clancy, a young and fearless Mountie who is tasked with tracking down a notorious outlaw named Dan McGrew. As Clancy sets out on his mission, he faces a series of challenges and obstacles, including harsh weather conditions, treacherous terrain, and a lack of resources.
Despite these challenges, Clancy remains determined to catch Dan McGrew and bring him to justice. He is aided in his quest by his loyal dog, a trusted guide named Hank, and a group of friendly trappers who provide him with food and shelter along the way. As Clancy gets closer to McGrew, the tension and suspense of the poem increase, culminating in a thrilling showdown between the two men.
The Characters
"Clancy Of The Mounted Police" features several memorable characters, each with their own distinct personality and role in the story. Clancy himself is the archetypal hero, brave and determined, with a strong sense of justice and a willingness to risk everything to catch the bad guy. His dog, too, is a heroic figure, loyal and steadfast in his devotion to his master.
Dan McGrew, the villain of the piece, is equally well-drawn. He is a ruthless and cold-blooded outlaw, feared and respected by all who cross his path. McGrew's character serves as a foil to Clancy's, highlighting the noble qualities of the hero by contrasting them with the vices of the villain.
The other characters in the poem are equally memorable, from the friendly trappers who aid Clancy on his journey to the mysterious woman who tempts Dan McGrew with her beauty. Each character plays a vital role in the story, adding depth and complexity to the narrative.
The Themes
At its heart, "Clancy Of The Mounted Police" is a story about heroism, justice, and the struggle between good and evil. The poem explores themes of courage, determination, loyalty, and sacrifice, as Clancy puts his own safety on the line to catch the dangerous outlaw.
In addition to these themes, the poem also touches on the power of nature and the importance of community. Clancy's journey through the wilds of Canada is a testament to the beauty and danger of the natural world, and his interactions with the trappers and other characters he meets along the way highlight the importance of human connection in the face of adversity.
The Poetic Techniques
One of the things that makes "Clancy Of The Mounted Police" such a powerful and memorable poem is the use of poetic techniques that bring the story to life. Service employs a range of devices, from alliteration and rhyme to imagery and metaphor, to create a vivid and engaging narrative.
The poem's meter and rhyme scheme, for example, give it a musical quality, making it easy to read and memorize. Service also uses vivid imagery to describe the natural world, from the "savage hills" to the "rippling rivers," painting a picture of the Canadian wilderness that is both beautiful and dangerous.
Finally, Service's use of metaphor and symbolism adds depth and complexity to the poem. The character of Dan McGrew, for example, represents the darker side of human nature, while Clancy embodies the noble qualities that we aspire to as a society. The poem's themes and imagery are woven together seamlessly, creating a rich and rewarding reading experience.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "Clancy Of The Mounted Police" is a classic poem that continues to captivate readers with its thrilling story, memorable characters, and poetic techniques. Robert Service's mastery of language and storytelling is on full display in this epic tale of heroism and adventure, making it a must-read for anyone who loves poetry or adventure stories. Whether you are a fan of the Canadian wilderness or simply enjoy a good yarn, "Clancy Of The Mounted Police" is sure to leave you spellbound.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Clancy Of The Mounted Police: A Classic Poem That Captures The Spirit Of Adventure
Robert Service's Clancy Of The Mounted Police is a classic poem that captures the spirit of adventure and the rugged beauty of the Canadian wilderness. The poem tells the story of a young man named Clancy, who joins the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and embarks on a dangerous mission to capture a notorious criminal. The poem is a celebration of the courage, determination, and spirit of adventure that defines the Canadian character.
The poem begins with a vivid description of the Canadian wilderness, with its rugged mountains, deep valleys, and rushing rivers. The imagery is powerful and evocative, painting a picture of a land that is both beautiful and dangerous. The opening lines of the poem set the tone for the rest of the work, establishing the sense of adventure and excitement that will drive the narrative forward.
As the poem progresses, we are introduced to Clancy, a young man who is eager to join the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and serve his country. Clancy is a classic hero figure, brave, determined, and willing to risk everything to achieve his goals. He is a symbol of the Canadian spirit, embodying the values of courage, loyalty, and self-sacrifice that are so important to the country's national identity.
The poem's central conflict arises when Clancy is tasked with capturing a notorious criminal named Dan McGrew. McGrew is a dangerous man, feared by all who know him, and Clancy knows that the mission will be difficult and dangerous. But he is undaunted, and sets out into the wilderness with his trusty horse, ready to face whatever challenges lie ahead.
As Clancy pursues McGrew, the poem becomes a thrilling adventure story, full of danger, excitement, and suspense. Service's vivid descriptions of the Canadian wilderness bring the landscape to life, making the reader feel as if they are right there with Clancy, riding through the mountains and valleys, chasing after the criminal.
But the poem is more than just a thrilling adventure story. It is also a celebration of the values that define the Canadian character. Clancy is a hero not just because he is brave and determined, but because he embodies the values of loyalty, self-sacrifice, and service to others that are so important to the Canadian national identity.
The poem's climax comes when Clancy finally catches up with McGrew, and the two men engage in a fierce battle. The scene is tense and dramatic, with Service's vivid descriptions of the fight making the reader feel as if they are right there in the middle of the action. In the end, Clancy emerges victorious, having captured the criminal and brought him to justice.
The poem's final lines are a celebration of Clancy's heroism, and of the values that he represents. Service writes, "And that's the way they do it, lad, in the land of the Midnight Sun; / Where the Mounties always get their man, and justice is always done." These lines capture the essence of the Canadian spirit, with its emphasis on justice, fairness, and the rule of law.
In conclusion, Clancy Of The Mounted Police is a classic poem that captures the spirit of adventure and the rugged beauty of the Canadian wilderness. It is a celebration of the values that define the Canadian character, and a tribute to the courage, determination, and spirit of adventure that are so important to the country's national identity. Service's vivid descriptions of the landscape and the characters make the poem come alive, and the thrilling adventure story keeps the reader on the edge of their seat until the very end. Clancy Of The Mounted Police is a must-read for anyone who loves adventure, poetry, or the Canadian spirit.
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