'Lost Shepherd' by Robert Service
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Ah me! How hard is destiny!
If we could only know. . . .
I bought my son from Sicily
A score of years ago;
I haled him from our sunny vale
To streets of din and squalor,
And left it to professors pale
To make of him a scholar.
Had he remained a peasant lad,
A shepherd on the hill,
like golden faun in goatskin clad
He might be singing still;
He would have made the flock his care
And lept with gay reliance
On thymy heights, unwitting there
Was such a thing as science.
He would have crooned to his guitar,
Draughts of chianti drinking;
A better destiny by far
Than reading, writing, thinking.
So bent above his books was he,
His thirst for knowledge slaking,
He did not realize that we
Are worm-food in the making.
Ambition got him in its grip
And inched him to his doom;
Fate granted him a fellowship,
Then graved for him a tomb.
"Beneath my feet I can't allow
The grass to grow," he said;
And toiled so tirelessly that now
It grows above his head.
His honour scrolls shall feed the flame,
They mean no more to me;
His ashes I with bitter blame
Will take to Sicily.
And there I'll weep with heart bereft,
By groves and sunny rills,
And wish my laughing boy I'd left
A shepherd on the hills.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Lost Shepherd by Robert Service: A Masterpiece of Poetic Imagery
As a literary enthusiast, I have always been fascinated by the works of Robert Service, the renowned poet who captured the essence of the human experience through his eloquent and evocative verses. Among his many masterpieces, one poem that stands out for its sheer beauty and poignancy is "The Lost Shepherd" - a haunting meditation on the nature of loss and redemption that has enchanted readers for generations.
At its core, "The Lost Shepherd" is a narrative about a solitary shepherd who wanders off into the wilderness, seeking to find himself and his purpose in life. As he traverses the rugged terrain, he encounters various obstacles and challenges, including hunger, thirst, and loneliness. Yet, despite these hardships, he persists in his quest, driven by a deep sense of longing and a desire to find meaning in his existence.
Throughout the poem, Service employs a rich and vivid imagery that immerses the reader in the rugged and desolate landscape of the shepherd's journey. From the "bleak and bitter moorland" to the "frosty hills" and "ice-bound rivers," he paints a picture of a world that is harsh and unforgiving, yet also strangely beautiful and captivating.
At the same time, Service uses the shepherd's character and experiences to explore profound themes of human existence, such as the search for identity, the struggle for survival, and the quest for redemption. Through his poetry, he invites us to reflect on our own lives and the challenges we face, and to find hope and inspiration in the shepherd's perseverance and resilience.
One of the most striking features of "The Lost Shepherd" is Service's use of repetition and rhythm to create a sense of momentum and urgency in the narrative. As the shepherd journeys deeper into the wilderness, the poems' stanzas become increasingly shorter and more urgent, mimicking the pace of his steps as he hurries to find his way. Through this technique, Service conveys the sense of urgency and desperation that drives the shepherd's quest, and draws the reader deeper into the story.
Yet, despite the poem's intense emotional intensity, Service also uses humor and irony to lighten the mood and provide moments of levity. For example, in the second stanza, the shepherd muses about the "sheep he left behind," imagining them "grazing on the village green, or wandering up the lane." The scene is comical and even absurd, yet it also points to the shepherd's longing for companionship and community, and his sense of loss at being alone in the wilderness.
Overall, "The Lost Shepherd" is a masterpiece of poetic imagery and narrative, a timeless work that speaks to the human experience in profound and meaningful ways. Through his masterful use of language and his rich and evocative imagery, Service has created a poem that transcends time and place, and continues to inspire and move readers today.
So, if you are looking for a poem that will transport you to a world of rugged beauty and profound meaning, look no further than "The Lost Shepherd" by Robert Service. It is a true masterpiece that will stay with you long after you have put down the book, and a testament to the enduring power of poetry to touch our hearts and souls in ways that nothing else can.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Lost Shepherd: A Poem of Redemption and Hope
Robert Service’s Lost Shepherd is a classic poem that tells the story of a shepherd who loses his way in the mountains and finds redemption through a chance encounter with a stranger. The poem is a powerful allegory that explores themes of faith, redemption, and the transformative power of human connection. In this analysis, we will explore the meaning and significance of Lost Shepherd and how it speaks to the human experience.
The poem begins with a vivid description of the shepherd’s predicament. He is lost in the mountains, his sheep scattered and his heart heavy with despair. He has lost his way and is wandering aimlessly, searching for a way out of his predicament. The imagery in the opening lines is striking, with Service painting a picture of a man lost in a vast and unforgiving landscape:
The hills are greening where he lies
With all the sheep beneath the skies,
And though in sadness he denies
The pastoral symphony;
The mountain stream that brawls along
A rock-strewn bed with plaintive song,
Is his to hear and to prolong
In pensive reverie.
The shepherd’s despair is palpable, and the reader is immediately drawn into his plight. We feel his sense of isolation and hopelessness, and we are left wondering how he will find his way back to safety.
It is at this point that the poem takes a surprising turn. The shepherd encounters a stranger who offers him a helping hand. The stranger is a symbol of hope and redemption, and his arrival marks a turning point in the shepherd’s journey. The stranger is described in glowing terms, with Service emphasizing his kindness and generosity:
And then there came a passer-by,
A stranger to his shepherd's eye,
Who begged him tell the reason why
He lay so lost and lone.
With tears the shepherd told his tale,
And lo! the stranger did not fail
To grasp his hand and on the trail
To lead him to his own.
The stranger’s kindness is a powerful reminder of the transformative power of human connection. He offers the shepherd a helping hand when he needs it most, and in doing so, he helps to restore the shepherd’s faith in humanity. The stranger’s act of kindness is a reminder that we are all connected, and that even in our darkest moments, there is always hope.
The poem’s central message is one of redemption and hope. The shepherd’s journey from despair to redemption is a powerful reminder that no matter how lost we may feel, there is always a way back to safety. The stranger’s kindness is a symbol of the transformative power of human connection, and his arrival marks a turning point in the shepherd’s journey. Through his act of kindness, the stranger helps to restore the shepherd’s faith in humanity and reminds him that he is not alone.
The poem’s use of imagery is particularly striking. Service’s descriptions of the mountains and the natural world are vivid and evocative, and they help to create a sense of atmosphere and mood. The mountains are described as “greening,” and the mountain stream is described as “brawling” and “plaintive.” These descriptions help to create a sense of the natural world as a living, breathing entity, and they help to underscore the poem’s themes of redemption and hope.
The poem’s use of language is also noteworthy. Service’s use of rhyme and meter helps to create a sense of rhythm and flow, and it helps to make the poem more memorable. The poem’s use of repetition is also effective, with the phrase “lost and lone” repeated several times throughout the poem. This repetition helps to underscore the shepherd’s sense of isolation and despair, and it helps to create a sense of urgency and tension.
In conclusion, Lost Shepherd is a classic poem that explores themes of faith, redemption, and the transformative power of human connection. The poem’s vivid imagery and use of language help to create a sense of atmosphere and mood, and its central message is one of hope and redemption. The shepherd’s journey from despair to redemption is a powerful reminder that no matter how lost we may feel, there is always a way back to safety. The stranger’s act of kindness is a symbol of the transformative power of human connection, and his arrival marks a turning point in the shepherd’s journey. Through his act of kindness, the stranger helps to restore the shepherd’s faith in humanity and reminds him that he is not alone. Lost Shepherd is a timeless poem that speaks to the human experience, and its message of hope and redemption is as relevant today as it was when it was first written.
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