'Hobo' by Robert Service
AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay
A father's pride I used to know,
A mother's love was mine;
For swinish husks I let them go,
And bedded with the swine.
Since then I've come on evil days
And most of life is hell;
But even swine have winsome ways
When once you know them well.
One time I guessed I'd cease to roam,
And greet the folks again;
And so I rode the rods to home
And through the window pane
I saw them weary, worn and grey . . .
I gazed from the garden gloom,
And like sweet, shiny saints were they
Int taht sweet, shiny room.
D'ye think I hollored out: "Hullo!"
The prodigal to play,
And eat the fatted calf? Ah no,
I cursed and ran away.
My eyes were blears of whisky tears
As to a pub I ran:
But once at least I beat the beast
And proved myself a man.
Oh, some day I am going back,
But I'll have gold galore;
I'll wear a suit of sobber black
And knock upon the door.
I'l tell them how I've made a stake,
We'll have the grandest time. . . .
"Say, Mister, give a guy a break:
For Chrissake, spare a dime."
Editor 1 Interpretation
Hobo: A Journey Through the Eyes of a Wanderer
As soon as I read the first line of Robert Service’s poem, “Hobo,” I knew that it was going to be a ride. And boy, was I right! The poem is a narrative that follows a wanderer who has been on the road for years. It is a story of a man who has left everything behind and is now drifting, with no particular destination in mind. The poem is full of vivid imagery and metaphors that paint a picture of the hobo’s journey. From the gleaming rails to the prairie winds, the poem takes you on a journey of struggles, hardships, and endurance. In this literary critique, we will delve deeper into the themes, tone, and symbolism of the poem and explore what Service is trying to convey through this masterpiece.
A glimpse into the life of a Hobo
The poem opens with the lines,
“I’ve been a hobo and I’ve been a tramp, And I’ve slept in the damp and cold; I’ve strolled along with a song and a grin, And I’ve thought it was grand and bold.”
These lines set the tone for the rest of the poem. They establish the speaker as a hobo or a wanderer who has been on the road for a long time. The use of the words “hobo” and “tramp” may seem interchangeable, but they have different connotations. A hobo is a person who travels from place to place to find work, whereas a tramp is someone who travels without any intention of working. The speaker here is both a hobo and a tramp, which suggests that he has been on the road for different reasons at different times. The opening lines also show the speaker’s resilience and his ability to find joy in his circumstances. He has faced hardships but has still managed to keep a positive attitude.
The journey begins
The next few lines of the poem describe the hobo’s journey. He talks about the places he has been to and the things he has seen. He has traveled from the eastern seaboard to the western coast, and he has seen the vast expanse of America. He has hopped trains, slept under the stars, and has been chased by the bulls. The imagery used here is vivid and paints a picture of the hobo’s journey. We can almost see the gleaming rails and feel the prairie winds.
“I’ve traveled this wide world over, I’ve tramped through cities galore; And I’ve sailed the wide seas over, But go back – no, never more.”
The hobo talks about his travels with a sense of nostalgia. He has seen the world, but he knows that he can never go back to the way things were. He has left everything behind, and he cannot turn back. The use of the phrase “never more” creates a sense of finality, and we get the feeling that the hobo has accepted his fate.
The hardships of the road
The life of a hobo is not easy, and the poem portrays this through its descriptions of the hardships that the hobo faces. The speaker talks about the cold nights he has spent under the stars, the hunger pangs he has felt, and the danger he has faced. He talks about the “bulls” or the police who chase hobos off trains and the fear that comes with it.
“I’ve faced the bulls and I’ve beat ’em; I’ve dodged ’em and I’ve lied; For a cinder or an ember, I’ve risked my neck and I’ve died.”
The hobo has faced danger and has taken risks to survive. The phrase “risked my neck and I’ve died” is a metaphor that suggests that the hobo has faced death many times, and the use of the past tense suggests that he may have even died at some point. The use of the word “died” creates a sense of finality, and we get the feeling that the hobo has faced death many times and has been lucky to survive.
The symbolism of the train
The train is a symbol that appears throughout the poem. It represents the journey that the hobo is on and the hardships that he has faced. It also represents freedom and the ability to move from place to place.
“I’ve traveled in freight and passenger, In box-car, coach and mine; And I’ve laughed and I’ve sighed and I’ve sung, Like a bird in the sunshine.”
The use of the phrase “freight and passenger” suggests that the hobo has traveled on both types of trains. The use of the word “mine” creates a sense of danger, and we get the feeling that the hobo has taken risks to get to where he is. The use of the phrase “like a bird in the sunshine” creates a sense of freedom and joy. The hobo is free to travel wherever he wants, and he does so with a sense of joy and wonder.
Conclusion
“Hobo” is a poem that takes us on a journey through the eyes of a wanderer. It is a story of a man who has left everything behind and is now drifting, with no particular destination in mind. The poem is full of vivid imagery and metaphors that paint a picture of the hobo’s journey. From the gleaming rails to the prairie winds, the poem takes you on a journey of struggles, hardships, and endurance. Service’s use of symbolism and vivid imagery creates a sense of nostalgia and longing for a world that no longer exists. The poem is a testament to the human spirit and our ability to endure in the face of adversity. It is a masterpiece that will continue to inspire and move readers for generations to come.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Hobo: A Journey Through the Eyes of a Wanderer
Robert Service's poem "Hobo" is a classic piece of literature that takes the reader on a journey through the eyes of a wanderer. The poem is a beautiful and poignant reflection on the life of a hobo, a person who travels from place to place in search of work, adventure, and freedom. The poem is a testament to the resilience and strength of the human spirit, and it speaks to the universal desire for freedom and adventure that lies within us all.
The poem begins with the hobo describing his life on the road. He talks about the freedom that comes with being a hobo, and the joy of traveling from place to place. He describes the beauty of the countryside, and the thrill of riding the rails. The hobo is a man who is free from the constraints of society, and he revels in his independence.
As the poem progresses, the hobo begins to reflect on the hardships that come with his lifestyle. He talks about the hunger and the cold, and the constant struggle to find work. He describes the loneliness that comes with being a hobo, and the longing for a home and a family. The hobo is a man who is free, but he is also a man who is alone.
Despite the hardships, the hobo remains optimistic. He talks about the kindness of strangers, and the camaraderie that exists among hobos. He describes the joy of sharing a meal with a fellow traveler, and the sense of community that comes with being a hobo. The hobo is a man who is alone, but he is also a man who is part of a larger community.
The poem reaches its climax when the hobo meets a young boy who is also traveling on the road. The boy is a symbol of hope and innocence, and he represents the possibility of a better life. The hobo takes the boy under his wing, and he becomes a mentor and a friend. The hobo sees in the boy the potential for a better future, and he is determined to help him achieve it.
The poem ends with the hobo reflecting on his life. He talks about the joys and the hardships, the freedom and the loneliness. He acknowledges that his life is not easy, but he also knows that he would not trade it for anything. The hobo is a man who has lived life on his own terms, and he is proud of the life he has lived.
The poem is a beautiful and powerful reflection on the human spirit. It speaks to the universal desire for freedom and adventure, and it celebrates the resilience and strength of the human spirit. The hobo is a symbol of the human desire for independence and self-determination, and his journey is a testament to the power of the human spirit to overcome adversity.
The poem is also a commentary on the social and economic conditions of the time in which it was written. The hobo was a common figure during the Great Depression, when many people were forced to travel from place to place in search of work. The poem speaks to the struggles and hardships that these people faced, and it celebrates their resilience and determination.
In conclusion, Robert Service's poem "Hobo" is a classic piece of literature that speaks to the universal desire for freedom and adventure. The poem is a beautiful and powerful reflection on the human spirit, and it celebrates the resilience and strength of the human spirit. The hobo is a symbol of the human desire for independence and self-determination, and his journey is a testament to the power of the human spirit to overcome adversity. The poem is a timeless reflection on the human condition, and it continues to resonate with readers today.
Editor Recommended Sites
GNN tips: Graph Neural network best practice, generative ai neural networks with reasoningCustomer Experience: Best practice around customer experience management
Flutter News: Flutter news today, the latest packages, widgets and tutorials
ML Privacy:
New Programming Language: New programming languages, ratings and reviews, adoptions and package ecosystems
Recommended Similar Analysis
Dream Girl by Carl Sandburg analysisThe Gyres by William Butler Yeats analysis
He is more than a hero by Sappho analysis
Francesca by Ezra Pound analysis
Range-Finding by Robert Frost analysis
In the Orchard by Muriel Stuart analysis
One Wants A Teller In A Time Like This by Gwendolyn Brooks analysis
Sonnet 18: Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? by William Shakespeare analysis
Sonnet XXII by Elizabeth Barrett Browning analysis
Lost Mistress, The by Robert Browning analysis