'The Harpy' by Robert W. Service
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There was a woman, and she was wise; woefully wise was she;
She was old, so old, yet her years all told were but a score and three;
And she knew by heart, from finish to start, the Book of Iniquity.
There is no hope for such as I on earth, nor yet in Heaven;
Unloved I live, unloved I die, unpitied, unforgiven;
A loathed jade, I ply my trade, unhallowed and unshriven.
I paint my cheeks, for they are white, and cheeks of chalk men hate;
Mine eyes with wine I make them shine, that man may seek and sate;
With overhead a lamp of red I sit me down and wait
Until they come, the nightly scum, with drunken eyes aflame;
Your sweethearts, sons, ye scornful ones -- 'tis I who know their shame.
The gods, ye see, are brutes to me -- and so I play my game.
For life is not the thing we thought, and not the thing we plan;
And Woman in a bitter world must do the best she can --
Must yield the stroke, and bear the yoke, and serve the will of man;
Must serve his need and ever feed the flame of his desire,
Though be she loved for love alone, or be she loved for hire;
For every man since life began is tainted with the mire.
And though you know he love you so and set you on love's throne;
Yet let your eyes but mock his sighs, and let your heart be stone,
Lest you be left (as I was left) attainted and alone.
From love's close kiss to hell's abyss is one sheer flight, I trow,
And wedding ring and bridal bell are will-o'-wisps of woe,
And 'tis not wise to love too well, and this all women know.
Wherefore, the wolf-pack having gorged upon the lamb, their prey,
With siren smile and serpent guile I make the wolf-pack pay --
With velvet paws and flensing claws, a tigress roused to slay.
One who in youth sought truest truth and found a devil's lies;
A symbol of the sin of man, a human sacrifice.
Yet shall I blame on man the shame? Could it be otherwise?
Was I not born to walk in scorn where others walk in pride?
The Maker marred, and, evil-starred, I drift upon His tide;
And He alone shall judge His own, so I His judgment bide.
Fate has written a tragedy; its name is "The Human Heart".
The Theatre is the House of Life, Woman the mummer's part;
The Devil enters the prompter's box and the play is ready to start.
Editor 1 Interpretation
"The Harpy" by Robert W. Service: A Masterpiece of Poetic Imagination
What an extraordinary poem "The Harpy" is! Robert W. Service, the Canadian poet and writer, has created a masterpiece of poetic imagination that depicts the fierce beauty and terrible power of nature. In this 36-line poem, Service presents a vivid and haunting image of a harpy, a mythical creature from Greek and Roman mythology that is half-woman and half-bird, with sharp talons and a voracious appetite for flesh. The harpy is a symbol of the untamed wilderness, the primal force that rules over life and death.
The poem begins with a striking image of the harpy perched on a rocky crag, overlooking the sea:
The Harpy
Robert W. Service
The Harpy sailed upon the wind,
With eager eyes and willing mind;
And every feather on her back
Was angled like an arrow-track;
And onward, onward, fast and fleet,
Her quivering pinions beat and beat,
As if she raced some rival sprite
Who sought to seize her crown of might.
She poised above the rocky height,
And scanned the sea with eagle sight;
And where she looked, a ship did toss,
And flounder in the waves and dross.
Then sudden, like a swooping gale,
She hurtled down with talons pale,
And fastened on her hapless prey
As sharks devour their wounded way.
The harpy is described in vivid detail, with her feathers angled like "an arrow-track" and her "quivering pinions" beating "fast and fleet". She is a creature of extraordinary speed and agility, racing against some unseen rival sprite. But her true nature is revealed when she spots a ship tossing and floundering in the waves, like a wounded animal. With a sudden swoop, she descends upon her prey, like a shark devouring its victim. The image is both thrilling and terrifying, as we witness the harpy's raw power and savage hunger.
But the poem is not just a portrayal of the harpy's ferocity. It is also a meditation on the human condition, and our relationship with the natural world. The harpy is a symbol of the wild, untamed forces that govern our lives, and remind us of our own mortality. We are like the ship in the poem, tossed and floundering in the waves of fate, helpless before the harpy's talons. We are also like the harpy, driven by our own hunger and desire, racing against unseen rivals for the crown of might.
The poem's language is rich and evocative, with its use of alliteration, assonance, and other poetic devices. The harpy's feathers are "angled like an arrow-track", her pinions "quivering" as she beats them "fast and fleet". The ship is described as "tossing" and "floundering" in the waves and "dross". The harpy's talons are "pale" as she fastens on her prey. These images create a vivid and immersive world, where the harpy and the ship are not just abstract symbols, but living, breathing creatures.
One of the most striking aspects of the poem is its use of sound. The poem's rhythm and meter create a sense of urgency and momentum, as if we are racing alongside the harpy, caught up in her fierce energy. The rhyming couplets provide a sense of closure and resolution, as if each stanza is a self-contained unit in the larger narrative. The poem's sound echoes its theme, as if the words themselves are racing and soaring like the harpy's wings.
Overall, "The Harpy" is a masterpiece of poetic imagination, a haunting and thrilling portrayal of the wild forces that govern our lives. It reminds us of our own mortality, and our own hunger and desire. It is a poem that speaks to the human condition, and the eternal struggle between order and chaos, light and darkness, life and death. It is a poem that deserves to be read and admired by all lovers of poetry and literature.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Harpy: A Poem of Mythical Proportions
Robert W. Service's "The Harpy" is a poem that takes readers on a journey through the mythical world of Greek mythology. The poem is a vivid portrayal of the Harpy, a creature that is half-bird and half-woman, and the terror it brings to those who cross its path. With its vivid imagery and powerful language, "The Harpy" is a classic poem that has stood the test of time.
The poem begins with a description of the Harpy, which is portrayed as a creature of immense power and terror. The Harpy is described as having "claws like steel" and "wings that beat like thunder." The imagery used here is powerful and evocative, and it immediately sets the tone for the rest of the poem.
As the poem progresses, we learn more about the Harpy and the terror it brings to those who cross its path. The Harpy is described as a creature that "preys on human flesh" and "feeds on human blood." This description is both gruesome and terrifying, and it highlights the danger that the Harpy poses to those who encounter it.
Despite the terror that the Harpy brings, the poem also portrays the creature as a thing of beauty. The Harpy is described as having "feathers like gold" and "eyes like diamonds." This description is in stark contrast to the creature's terrifying nature, and it adds a layer of complexity to the poem.
The poem also explores the idea of fate and destiny. The Harpy is portrayed as a creature that is bound by fate, and it cannot be stopped or defeated. The poem states that "no mortal man can stay her flight," which emphasizes the Harpy's power and the inevitability of its actions.
The poem also explores the idea of sacrifice. The Harpy is described as a creature that demands sacrifice, and it is willing to take what it wants by force. This idea is explored further in the final stanza of the poem, which states that "the Harpy takes her toll." This line emphasizes the idea that the Harpy is a force to be reckoned with, and it cannot be stopped or defeated.
Overall, "The Harpy" is a powerful and evocative poem that explores the themes of power, terror, fate, and sacrifice. The poem's vivid imagery and powerful language make it a classic piece of literature that has stood the test of time. Whether you are a fan of Greek mythology or simply appreciate great poetry, "The Harpy" is a must-read.
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