'Expectation' by Robert Service


AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay


My flask of wine was ruby red
And swift I ran my sweet to see;
With eyes that snapped delight I said:
"How mad with love a lad can be!"
The moon was laughing overhead;
I danced as nimbly as a flea.

Thought I: In two weeks time we'll wed;
No more a lonesome widow she;
For I have bought a double bed
And I will father children three.
So singing like a lark I sped
To her who ne'er expected me.

And then I went with wary tread,
Her sweet surprise to greet with glee;
To where her lamplit lattice shed
A rosy radiance on the lea:
. . . And then my heart sank low like lead,
Two shadows on the blind to see.

A man was sitting on the bed,
And she was nudely on his knee. . . .
I saw her face drain white with dread,
I saw her lover madly flee. . . .
Oh how her blood is ruby red,
And I await the gallows tree

Editor 1 Interpretation

Expectation: A Classic Poem by Robert Service

Are you ready for a poem that takes you on a journey through the human experience of anticipation? Look no further than Robert Service's Expectation. This classic poem, published in 1916, explores the emotional rollercoaster of waiting for something to happen. Through its vivid imagery and powerful language, Expectation captures the universal feeling of hope, longing and anxiety that we all experience when we anticipate something.

Form and Structure

At only 16 lines, Expectation is a compact poem, but it packs a punch. It is written in quatrains, with an ABAB rhyme scheme. This gives the poem a sense of rhythm and harmony, which is fitting given the poem's focus on the cycles of anticipation and disappointment. The structure of Expectation is simple, but it allows the poem to convey its message in a clear and effective way.

Imagery

What sets Expectation apart from other poems about anticipation is its use of vivid imagery. Service paints a picture of a landscape that is both beautiful and foreboding. He describes the "purple peaks" and the "golden sea," which evoke a sense of awe and wonder. At the same time, he also describes the "gloomy gorge" and the "wind that whines," which create a sense of unease and uncertainty. This contrast between light and dark, beauty and terror, perfectly captures the emotional complexity of anticipation.

Language

But what really makes Expectation stand out is its language. Service's use of metaphor and personification is masterful. He describes the "mountain's foot" as "hungry as the sea," which gives the landscape a sense of agency and power. He also describes the "whining wind" as though it were a living creature, which adds to the sense of unease. This use of language elevates the poem beyond a simple description of anticipation, and instead makes it a powerful exploration of human emotion.

Interpretation

So what is the poem about, exactly? At its core, Expectation is about the human experience of waiting for something to happen. The poem captures the sense of excitement and hope that comes with anticipating something, as well as the disappointment and frustration that comes when it doesn't happen.

The landscape Service describes can be read as a metaphor for life itself. The "golden sea" and "purple peaks" represent the beauty and wonder of the world, while the "gloomy gorge" and "whining wind" represent the obstacles and challenges we face. The "mountain's foot" can be read as a metaphor for our own desires and ambitions, while the "hungry sea" represents the world's indifference to our hopes and dreams.

But the poem is not just about the negative aspects of anticipation. Service also captures the joy and excitement that comes with anticipating something. The line "The world was mine for expectation" perfectly captures the sense of optimism and possibility that comes with waiting for something.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Robert Service's Expectation is a powerful poem that captures the emotional complexity of anticipation. Through its use of vivid imagery and powerful language, the poem explores the universal experience of waiting for something to happen, and the joy and disappointment that comes with it. Its simple structure and rhyme scheme make it accessible and easy to read, while its deep insights into human emotion make it a timeless classic. If you haven't read Expectation yet, do yourself a favor and give it a read. You won't be disappointed.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Expectation: A Poem of Anticipation and Hope

Robert Service's poem "Expectation" is a classic piece of literature that captures the essence of anticipation and hope. The poem is a beautiful portrayal of the human spirit, which is always looking forward to something better, something brighter, and something more fulfilling. In this article, we will analyze and explain the poem in detail, exploring its themes, imagery, and symbolism.

The poem begins with the speaker describing the setting of the poem. He talks about a "silvered city" that is bathed in moonlight. The city is still and quiet, and there is a sense of anticipation in the air. The speaker then goes on to describe the people of the city, who are all waiting for something. They are waiting for the dawn, which will bring with it a new day, new opportunities, and new hope.

The imagery in the poem is stunning. The silvered city, bathed in moonlight, creates a sense of magic and wonder. The stillness and quietness of the city add to the anticipation and hope that the speaker is describing. The imagery is so vivid that the reader can almost see the city and feel the anticipation in the air.

The poem then takes a turn, and the speaker talks about his own anticipation. He talks about how he is waiting for someone, someone who will bring him joy and happiness. He is waiting for this person with bated breath, and he can feel his heart beating faster as he waits.

The theme of anticipation is central to the poem. The speaker is not the only one who is waiting for something. The people of the city are also waiting for the dawn, which will bring with it a new day and new hope. The poem captures the universal human experience of waiting for something better, something more fulfilling.

The poem then takes another turn, and the speaker talks about the person he is waiting for. He describes her as a "queen of queens," someone who is beautiful, kind, and loving. He talks about how he has been waiting for her for a long time, and how he knows that she will bring him happiness.

The symbolism in the poem is powerful. The queen of queens represents the speaker's hope and anticipation. She is the embodiment of everything that he is waiting for. The fact that he has been waiting for her for a long time suggests that he has been waiting for something more than just a fleeting moment of happiness. He has been waiting for something that will bring him lasting joy and fulfillment.

The poem then reaches its climax, and the speaker sees the person he has been waiting for. He describes her as "radiant" and "divine," and he is filled with joy and happiness. He talks about how he has found what he has been looking for, and how he knows that he will be happy with her forever.

The ending of the poem is beautiful. The speaker has found what he has been looking for, and he is filled with joy and happiness. The poem captures the essence of hope and anticipation, and it shows that sometimes, our hopes and dreams do come true.

In conclusion, Robert Service's poem "Expectation" is a beautiful portrayal of the human spirit. The poem captures the universal experience of waiting for something better, something more fulfilling. The imagery and symbolism in the poem are powerful, and they add to the overall beauty of the poem. The poem is a reminder that sometimes, our hopes and dreams do come true, and that we should never give up on them.

Editor Recommended Sites

Knowledge Graph: Reasoning graph databases for large taxonomy and ontology models, LLM graph database interfaces
State Machine: State machine events management across clouds. AWS step functions GCP workflow
Open Models: Open source models for large language model fine tuning, and machine learning classification
Learn Beam: Learn data streaming with apache beam and dataflow on GCP and AWS cloud
Learn Go: Learn programming in Go programming language by Google. A complete course. Tutorials on packages

Recommended Similar Analysis

Problems by Langston Hughes analysis
Leaves Of Grass. A Carol Of Harvest For 1867 by Walt Whitman analysis
Hurt Hawks by Robinson Jeffers analysis
The Road And The End by Carl Sandburg analysis
Futility by Wilfred Owen analysis
Little Brown Baby by Paul Laurence Dunbar analysis
President Lincoln's Burial Hymn by Walt Whitman analysis
Preludes by T.S. Eliot analysis
Nutting by William Wordsworth analysis
Question Answered, The by William Blake analysis