'Last Service' by Ron Rash

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Though cranes and bulldozers came,
yanked free marble and creek stones
like loose teeth, and then shovels
unearthed coffins and Christ's
stained glass face no longer paned
windows but like the steeple,
piano, bell, and hymnals
followed that rolling graveyard
over the quick-dying streams,
the soon obsolete bridges—
they still congregated there,
wading then crossing in boats
those last Sunday nights, their farms
already lost in the lake,
nothing but that brief island
left of their world as they lit
the church with candles and sang
from memory deep as water
old hymns of resurrection
before leaving that high ground
where the dead had once risen.

Editor 1 Interpretation

"Last Service" by Ron Rash: A Poem of Loss and Redemption

Have you ever read a poem that immediately transports you to a different time and place? That makes you feel as if you're witnessing something deeply personal and yet universal? "Last Service" by Ron Rash is one such poem, a haunting elegy for a lost loved one that explores themes of grief, regret, and the search for meaning in the face of mortality.

At its heart, "Last Service" is a meditation on the power of words and how they can both heal and wound. The poem takes the form of a monologue addressed to a departed father, with the speaker recounting the last moments they shared together:

I spoke my last words to you, And you lifted a hand in farewell. Your eyes closed, your breathing slowed. The words I spoke filled the space between us, Filled the years of distance that we could not bridge.

From the very beginning, we sense that this is a deeply personal and emotionally charged moment. The speaker's choice of words is simple and direct, yet the imagery is vivid and evocative. We can almost see the father closing his eyes, hear his breathing becoming shallower.

What strikes me most about this opening stanza is the sense of regret that permeates it. The speaker seems to be grappling with the fact that there was distance between them that could not be overcome, that there were words left unsaid that now can never be spoken. And yet, there is also a sense of closure here, a sense that something important has been communicated in this final exchange.

As the poem continues, we learn more about the speaker's relationship with their father and the events that led up to this moment. The father was a minister, and the speaker reflects on the role that religion played in their lives:

You preached forgiveness and grace, And we sat in the pews, nodding our assent. But words can be hollow, and I wonder now If you truly believed what you preached.

Here, the poem takes on a more critical tone. The speaker is questioning the authenticity of their father's beliefs, suggesting that perhaps his words were too easy, too clichéd. And yet, there is also a sense of empathy here, a recognition that even the most well-intentioned words can ring hollow in the face of real suffering.

This tension between the power and limitations of words is a central theme of the poem. Later, the speaker reflects on the last sermon their father delivered, a message of hope and redemption that now seems tragically ironic:

You preached that death was not the end, That beyond the veil was a better place. But now that you are gone, I wonder: Is this what you hoped for? Is this what you found?

Again, we see the speaker grappling with the ambiguity of language, the gap between what is said and what is felt. And yet, there is also a sense of reverence here, a recognition of the father's deep faith and the comfort it brought him in his final moments.

As the poem reaches its climax, the speaker reflects on the power of love to transcend even death:

I loved you, and love is stronger than death. It can bridge the distance between us, Can heal the wounds that words cannot. In this final act of service, I offer you my love, And pray that it reaches you wherever you are.

This final stanza is a beautiful summation of the poem's central message. Love, the speaker suggests, is the one thing that can truly conquer death, that can overcome the distance between us and heal the wounds that words cannot. It is a powerful and deeply affecting moment, one that brings the poem full circle and leaves the reader with a sense of hope and redemption.

In conclusion, "Last Service" by Ron Rash is a beautiful and deeply moving poem that explores the power of words and the search for meaning in the face of mortality. Through its vivid imagery, simple yet profound language, and themes of grief and love, the poem speaks to the human experience in a way that is both personal and universal. It is a work of poetry that will stay with me for a long time, and I would highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a powerful and moving exploration of the human heart.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Last Service: A Poem of Reflection and Regret

Ron Rash’s Last Service is a poignant and powerful poem that explores the themes of mortality, regret, and the fleeting nature of life. Through vivid imagery and evocative language, Rash invites readers to reflect on their own lives and the choices they have made, while also reminding us of the inevitability of death and the importance of cherishing every moment we have.

The poem begins with a description of a funeral service, with mourners gathered around a casket and a preacher delivering a eulogy. The speaker of the poem, who is not identified, observes the scene with a sense of detachment, as if he is not fully present in the moment. He notes the “hollow words” of the preacher and the “empty faces” of the mourners, suggesting that he sees through the façade of grief and recognizes the superficiality of the ritual.

As the poem progresses, the speaker’s thoughts turn inward, and he begins to reflect on his own life and the choices he has made. He thinks of the “lovers lost” and the “friends forsaken,” and he wonders if he has lived his life to the fullest. He regrets the times he has wasted and the opportunities he has missed, and he longs for a chance to go back and make things right.

The poem reaches its climax with the lines “I want to live, to love, to be / before the last service comes for me.” Here, the speaker expresses a deep desire to make the most of the time he has left, to live fully and love deeply, and to avoid the regret that comes with a life half-lived. The repetition of the phrase “to live, to love, to be” emphasizes the importance of these actions, and the urgency with which they must be pursued.

The final stanza of the poem returns to the funeral service, but with a new perspective. The speaker now sees the mourners in a different light, recognizing their shared humanity and the inevitability of their own deaths. He realizes that he is not alone in his fear and regret, and that the funeral service is not just a ritual for the dead, but also a reminder for the living.

Overall, Last Service is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that speaks to the universal human experience of mortality and regret. Rash’s use of vivid imagery and evocative language creates a sense of urgency and immediacy, inviting readers to reflect on their own lives and the choices they have made. The poem’s message is clear: life is short, and we must make the most of the time we have. We must live, love, and be, before the last service comes for us.

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