'Old Boy Scout' by Robert Service


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A bonny bird I found today
Mired in a melt of tar;
Its silky breast was silver-grey,
Its wings were cinnabar.
So still it lay right in the way
Of every passing car.

Yet as I gently sought to pry
It loose, it glared at me;
You would have thought its foe was I,
It pecked so viciously;
So fiercely fought, as soft I sought
From death to set it free.

Its pinions pitifully frail
I wrested from the muck;
I feared the feathers of its tail
Would never come unstuck.
. . . The jewel-bright it flashed in flight -
Oh how I wished it luck!

With happiness my heart was light,
To see how fair it flew;
To do my good deed I delight,
As grey-haired scouts should do;
Yet oh my bright reward's to write
This simple rhyme for you!

Editor 1 Interpretation

Old Boy Scout: A Masterpiece of Robert Service

Do you know what it feels like to be old? To have lived your life to the fullest and to have seen everything there is to see? To have experienced both the highs and the lows of life? To have loved and lost? To have made mistakes and learned from them?

Robert Service, the famous Canadian poet, knew what it felt like. In his poem, "Old Boy Scout," he captures the essence of old age and the wisdom that comes with it. Written in his characteristic style, the poem is a masterpiece of storytelling and poetic craftsmanship.

The Poem

Old Boy Scout is a narrative poem that tells the story of an old man who has lived a full life. He is a veteran of war and a survivor of many hardships. He has seen the world and experienced all its wonders and horrors. He has loved and lost, and he has learned from his mistakes.

The poem begins with the old man sitting by a fire, reminiscing about his life. He thinks about the wars he fought in and the comrades he lost. He thinks about the women he loved and the ones who broke his heart. He thinks about the mistakes he made and the lessons he learned.

As he sits by the fire, he is visited by a young boy scout who is lost in the wilderness. The old man takes the boy under his wing and teaches him the ways of survival. He shows the boy how to build a fire, how to find food and shelter, and how to navigate the wilderness.

As the night wears on, the old man and the boy scout talk about life and the lessons it teaches. The old man shares his wisdom with the boy, telling him to cherish every moment and to never take life for granted. He tells the boy that life is a journey, and that the most important thing is to enjoy the ride.

The poem ends with the old man and the boy scout parting ways. As the boy leaves, the old man watches him go and thinks about his own journey. He knows that his time is coming to an end, but he is at peace with that. He has lived a full life, and he is ready to face whatever comes next.

The Themes

Old Boy Scout is a poem that is rich in themes and ideas. Some of the most prominent themes include the following:

Age and Wisdom

One of the central themes of the poem is age and wisdom. The old man in the poem has lived a long and full life, and he has gained a great deal of wisdom from his experiences. He is able to share this wisdom with the young boy scout, teaching him about survival and about life in general.

Life as a Journey

Another important theme in the poem is the idea of life as a journey. The old man tells the boy scout that life is a journey, and that the most important thing is to enjoy the ride. He encourages the boy to live in the moment and to cherish every experience, whether good or bad.

Loss and Regret

The old man in the poem has experienced a great deal of loss in his life. He has lost comrades in war, lovers to heartbreak, and friends to the passage of time. He also has regrets about some of the mistakes he has made. However, he has learned from these experiences and has come to accept them as part of his journey.

The Interpretation

Old Boy Scout is a poem that can be interpreted in many different ways. Some readers might see it as a reflection on the nature of wisdom and the importance of experience. Others might see it as a meditation on the meaning of life and the inevitability of death.

For me, the poem is a celebration of the human spirit and the resilience of the human soul. It is a reminder that no matter how hard life gets, we all have the ability to overcome our challenges and to find meaning in our experiences.

The old man in the poem is a hero to me. He has faced many hardships and has experienced a great deal of loss, but he has never given up. He has always found a way to keep moving forward, even when the road ahead was dark and uncertain.

At the same time, the poem is also a warning about the fleeting nature of life. The old man knows that his time is coming to an end, and he is at peace with that. He has lived a full life, and he is ready to face whatever comes next. However, he also knows that life is short, and that we should all make the most of the time we have.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Old Boy Scout is a masterpiece of poetry that captures the essence of old age and the wisdom that comes with it. It is a celebration of the human spirit and a reminder that no matter how hard life gets, we all have the ability to overcome our challenges and to find meaning in our experiences.

Robert Service was a master of storytelling and poetic craftsmanship, and this poem is a testament to his talent. It is a poem that will resonate with readers of all ages and backgrounds, reminding us all to live in the moment and to cherish every experience, whether good or bad.

So, what are you waiting for? Go read Old Boy Scout and rediscover the joy of life!

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Old Boy Scout: A Poem of Nostalgia and Adventure

Robert Service's Old Boy Scout is a poem that captures the essence of nostalgia and adventure. It is a poem that takes us back to a time when life was simpler, and the world was full of possibilities. The poem is a celebration of the Boy Scouts, an organization that has been around for over a century and has helped shape the lives of millions of young men.

The poem begins with the speaker reminiscing about his days as a Boy Scout. He talks about the thrill of camping in the woods, the joy of building a fire, and the camaraderie of his fellow scouts. He describes the sense of adventure that he felt as a young boy, and how the Boy Scouts helped him to develop a sense of independence and self-reliance.

The poem is full of vivid imagery that brings the world of the Boy Scouts to life. We can almost smell the wood smoke and feel the warmth of the fire as the speaker describes the process of building a fire. We can hear the rustling of the leaves and the chirping of the birds as the speaker describes the beauty of the natural world.

One of the most striking aspects of the poem is its use of language. Service's writing is simple and direct, yet it is also incredibly evocative. He uses words like "whittle," "tinder," and "kindling" to create a sense of the tactile experience of camping and building a fire. He also uses words like "scoutmaster," "patrol," and "campfire" to create a sense of the community and camaraderie that is at the heart of the Boy Scouts.

The poem is also notable for its use of rhyme and meter. Service's writing is characterized by its strong rhythm and rhyme scheme, which gives the poem a sense of momentum and energy. The poem is written in iambic tetrameter, which means that each line has four stressed syllables. This creates a sense of urgency and excitement that is perfectly suited to the subject matter.

As the poem progresses, the speaker reflects on the passage of time and the changes that have taken place in his life. He talks about how he has grown older and how the world has changed around him. He laments the loss of the simple pleasures of his youth, and he longs to recapture the sense of adventure and excitement that he felt as a Boy Scout.

The poem ends with a powerful message about the importance of the Boy Scouts and the values that they represent. The speaker says that the Boy Scouts are "the hope of the future," and he urges young men to join the organization and embrace its values of self-reliance, community, and adventure.

In many ways, Old Boy Scout is a poem about the power of nostalgia. It is a poem that reminds us of the joys of our youth and the sense of possibility that we felt when we were young. It is a poem that celebrates the values of the Boy Scouts and the important role that they play in shaping the lives of young men.

Overall, Old Boy Scout is a powerful and evocative poem that captures the essence of the Boy Scouts and the spirit of adventure that they embody. It is a poem that reminds us of the importance of community, self-reliance, and the natural world. It is a poem that speaks to the heart of what it means to be a Boy Scout, and it is a poem that will continue to inspire generations of young men for years to come.

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