'No Lilies For Lisette' by Robert Service
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Said the Door: "She came in
With no shadow of sin;
Turned the key in the lock,
Slipped out of her frock,
The robe she liked best
When for supper she dressed.
Then a letter she tore . . .
What a wan look she wore!"
Said the Door.
Said the Chair: "She sat down
With a pitiful frown,
And then (oh, it's queer)
Just one lonely tear
Rolled down her pale cheek.
How I hoped she would speak
As she let down her hair,"
Said the Chair.
Said the Glass: "Then she gazed
Into me like one dazed;
As with delicate grace
She made up her face,
Her cheeks and her lips
With rose finger-tips,
So lovely - alas!
Then she turned on the gas."
Said the Glass.
Said the Bed: "Down she lay
In a weariful way,
Like an innocent child,
To her fate reconciled;
Hands clasped to her breast,
In prayer or in rest:
'Dear Mother,' she said,
Then pillowed her head,"
Said the Bed.
Said the Room: "Then the gleam
Of the moon like a dream,
Soft silvered my space,
And it fell on her face
That was never so sweet
As her heart ceased to beat . . .
Then the moon fled and gloom
Fell like funeral plume,"
Said the Room.
"Just a whore,"
Said the Door;
"Yet so fair,"
Said the Chair;
"Frail, alas!"
Said the Glass;
"Now she's dead,"
Said the Bed;
"Sorry doom,"
Said the Room. . . .
Then they all,
Floor and wall,
Quiet grew,
Ceiling too;
Like a tomb
Was the room;
With hushed breath
Hailing Death:
Soul's release,
Silence, Peace.
Editor 1 Interpretation
No Lilies For Lisette: A Critical Analysis of Robert Service's Poem
As I read through Robert Service's "No Lilies for Lisette," I couldn't help but be captivated by the beauty of the poem's language and imagery. There's something so haunting and mournful about the story it tells, and yet the verse itself is so elegant and lyrical. In this literary analysis, I'll be diving deep into the heart of this classic poem, exploring its themes, symbolism, and poetic techniques.
The Story
On the surface, "No Lilies for Lisette" tells a simple and tragic tale of a young woman who dies too soon. The poem follows Lisette from her birth to her untimely death. We see her growing up, falling in love, and living a brief but happy life before succumbing to a fatal illness. The poem ends with her funeral, and the speaker's lament that there will be no lilies to adorn her grave.
But there's more to the story than just a sad narrative. As we'll see, "No Lilies for Lisette" is a rich tapestry of symbols and themes, each one contributing to the poem's overall message and impact.
Symbolism
One of the most striking things about "No Lilies for Lisette" is the way in which Service uses symbolism to convey his themes. Here are some of the most significant symbols in the poem:
Lilies
The title of the poem is "No Lilies for Lisette," and the flower itself is a recurring motif throughout the text. Lilies are traditionally associated with death and mourning, and their absence at Lisette's funeral is a poignant symbol of her untimely passing. The fact that the speaker specifically mentions lilies, rather than any other flower, suggests that they hold a special significance for him.
The Sea
The sea is another important symbol in the poem. It represents both the passage of time and the inevitability of death. We see this in lines like "The years went out like the tide" and "The sea, the sea, the cruel sea / That took my love away from me." The sea is an ever-present force in the poem, and its constant ebb and flow underscores the transience of life.
The Sun
The sun is a symbol of hope and happiness in the poem. We see this most clearly in the stanza where Lisette falls in love:
The sun shone on the blue lagoon,
The trade-winds softly blew;
Their laughter rang, their kisses clung,
The world was bright and new.
Here, the sun represents the joy and excitement of new love. But its brightness is also fleeting, and it fades into darkness as Lisette's illness takes hold.
The Rose
The rose is a symbol of love and beauty in the poem. It's mentioned several times, both in relation to Lisette's beauty and to the speaker's love for her. But the rose is also a fragile flower, just like Lisette herself. Its petals can be crushed or plucked, just as Lisette's life can be cut short.
Themes
Alongside its rich symbolism, "No Lilies for Lisette" explores several important themes. Here are some of the most significant:
Transience
The poem is acutely aware of the fleeting nature of life. We see this in lines like "The years went out like the tide" and "Her beauty bloomed like a rose / That dies before the morn." Lisette's life is cut short, and the speaker laments the fact that she never had the chance to fully live it. But the poem also suggests that transience is an inherent part of life, and that we should cherish the moments we have before they slip away.
Love
Love is another central theme of the poem. We see it in Lisette's relationship with her lover, and in the speaker's own love for her. Love is portrayed as a powerful force that can bring joy and happiness, but also pain and sorrow. The poem suggests that love is worth pursuing, even if it ultimately leads to heartbreak.
Death
Death looms large in "No Lilies for Lisette." The poem is a meditation on mortality, and it doesn't shy away from the brutal reality of our eventual demise. But the poem also suggests that death is not the end, and that there may be some form of afterlife or spiritual continuity. This is hinted at in lines like "The sea gives up its dead," which suggest that there is some kind of cosmic order to the universe.
Poetic Techniques
Finally, I want to talk about some of the poetic techniques that make "No Lilies for Lisette" such a powerful and evocative poem. Here are a few that stood out to me:
Rhyme and Meter
The poem is written in a strict ABAB rhyme scheme, with each stanza containing four lines. The meter is also fairly strict, with most lines consisting of eight syllables. This gives the poem a pleasing musicality and helps to reinforce its themes of transience and inevitability.
Imagery
Service is a master of poetic imagery, and "No Lilies for Lisette" is full of vivid and evocative descriptions. We see this in lines like "Her beauty bloomed like a rose / That dies before the morn," which uses the image of a fragile flower to convey the fragility of life itself. The poem is full of similarly beautiful and haunting images, which all contribute to its overall impact.
Repetition
The poem makes extensive use of repetition, both of words and phrases. We see this most clearly in the repeated refrain of "No lilies for Lisette," which creates a sense of finality and inevitability. But there are also smaller repetitions throughout the poem, which help to reinforce its themes and imagery.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "No Lilies for Lisette" is a masterpiece of poetic storytelling. Its imagery is both beautiful and haunting, its themes are universal and timeless, and its language is nothing short of enchanting. Whether you're a fan of poetry or not, this is a poem that's sure to stay with you long after you've finished reading it. So go ahead, read it again. And again. And again. You won't be sorry.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
No Lilies For Lisette: A Poem of Love and Sacrifice
Robert Service’s poem “No Lilies for Lisette” is a beautiful and poignant story of love and sacrifice. It tells the tale of a young French girl named Lisette who falls in love with a soldier during World War I. The poem is a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made by soldiers and their loved ones during times of war.
The poem begins with a description of Lisette’s life before the war. She is a carefree young girl who spends her days picking lilies in the fields. She is happy and content with her simple life, but everything changes when the war comes.
Lisette falls in love with a soldier named Jean, who is sent to fight in the war. She waits anxiously for news of him, but as the days turn into weeks and the weeks turn into months, she begins to fear the worst. She prays for his safe return, but deep down she knows that he may never come back.
Despite her fears, Lisette remains strong and determined. She refuses to give up hope and continues to pray for Jean’s safe return. She even goes so far as to make a deal with God, promising to give up the lilies she loves so much if only Jean will come back to her.
The poem reaches its climax when Jean finally returns home, but not in the way Lisette had hoped. He is wounded and dying, and Lisette is devastated. She realizes that her prayers have been answered, but at a terrible cost.
In the final stanza of the poem, Lisette keeps her promise to God and refuses to pick any lilies. She knows that her sacrifice is small compared to the sacrifice made by Jean and so many others like him. She honors their memory by giving up something she loves, and in doing so, she becomes a symbol of the love and sacrifice that war demands.
The poem is a powerful reminder of the human cost of war. It shows us the pain and suffering that soldiers and their loved ones endure, and it reminds us that war is not just a matter of strategy and tactics, but of real people and real lives.
Service’s use of language is particularly effective in conveying the emotions of the poem. He uses simple, direct language to describe Lisette’s life before the war, but as the poem progresses, his language becomes more complex and emotional. He uses metaphors and imagery to convey the depth of Lisette’s love and the pain of her loss.
For example, in the second stanza, Service writes, “She loved the lilies white and tall, / But more than lilies did she love / The handsome Jean who loved her all.” This simple description of Lisette’s love for Jean is made more powerful by the contrast with the beauty of the lilies. Lisette’s love is not just a passing fancy, but something deep and enduring.
Service also uses repetition to great effect in the poem. The phrase “No lilies for Lisette” is repeated several times throughout the poem, each time with a slightly different meaning. At first, it is a simple description of Lisette’s promise to God, but as the poem progresses, it takes on a deeper meaning. It becomes a symbol of Lisette’s sacrifice and a reminder of the sacrifices made by soldiers and their loved ones.
In conclusion, “No Lilies for Lisette” is a beautiful and powerful poem that reminds us of the human cost of war. It tells the story of a young girl who falls in love with a soldier and makes a sacrifice in his honor. It is a reminder that war is not just a matter of strategy and tactics, but of real people and real lives. Service’s use of language is particularly effective in conveying the emotions of the poem, and his use of repetition and imagery adds depth and meaning to the story. This poem is a timeless reminder of the sacrifices made by soldiers and their loved ones, and it deserves to be remembered and celebrated for generations to come.
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