'Lord Let Me Live' by Robert Service
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Lord, let me live, that more and more
Your wonder world I may adore;
With every dawn to grow and grow
Alive to graciousness aglow;
And every eve in beauty see
Reason for rhapsody.
Lord, let me bide, that I may prove
The buoyant brightness of my love
For sapphire sea and lyric sky
And buttercup and butterfly;
And glory in the golden thought
Of rapture You have wrought.
Lord, let me linger, just for this,--
To win to utterness of bliss;
To see in every dawn design
Proof of Your Providence divine;
With night to find ablaze above,
Assurance of Your love.
Lord, for Your praise my days prolong,
That I may sing in sunny sort,
And prove with my exultant song
The longest life is all to short:
Aye, even in a bead of dew
To shrine in beauty--YOU.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Lord Let Me Live: A Literary Analysis
Oh, the power of poetry! It captures the essence of human emotions, tells stories of love, loss, and hope, and gives voice to our innermost thoughts. Robert Service's "Lord Let Me Live" is one of those poems that seizes your heart and takes you on a journey of self-discovery.
Background
Robert Service was a Scottish-Canadian poet and novelist popular in the early 20th century. He is known for his narrative poems that depict the rugged life of the Yukon and Alaska, where he worked as a bank clerk and a gold miner. Service's poems are characterized by their simple language, vivid descriptions, and catchy rhythms.
"Lord Let Me Live" was first published in Service's collection of poems, "The Spell of the Yukon and Other Verses" in 1907. The poem is a meditation on the meaning of life and the fear of death. It is written in the first person and has a deeply personal tone.
Summary
The poem begins with the speaker asking for a favor from God. He wants to live and experience all that life has to offer. He wants to see the beauty of the world, hear the music of nature, and feel the touch of love. He is afraid of death and the unknown.
The speaker then reflects on the transience of life. He realizes that everything in this world is temporary and fleeting. He wonders if anything in life has any lasting value. He questions the purpose of his existence.
In the end, the speaker comes to a realization. He acknowledges that life is not perfect, but it is still worth living. He accepts the inevitability of death and finds solace in the fact that he has lived a full life. He asks God to let him die when his time comes, not before.
Analysis
Service's "Lord Let Me Live" is a poem that explores the fundamental questions of human existence. It is a philosophical contemplation on the nature of life and death. The poem can be divided into three main parts: the speaker's plea for life, his reflection on the transience of life, and his acceptance of death.
Plea for Life
The first part of the poem is an impassioned plea for life. The speaker asks God to let him live and experience all that life has to offer. He wants to see the beauty of the world, hear the music of nature, and feel the touch of love. The speaker is afraid of death and the unknown. He wants to cling to life and all its joys.
The language of the poem is simple and straightforward. Service uses common words and phrases that resonate with the reader. The poem is written in the first person, which makes it more personal and relatable.
The use of repetition in the first stanza emphasizes the speaker's desperation. He repeats the phrase "Lord let me live" three times, as if begging for mercy. The repetition also creates a sense of rhythm and melody, which is characteristic of Service's poetry.
Reflection on the Transience of Life
The second part of the poem is a reflection on the transience of life. The speaker realizes that everything in this world is temporary and fleeting. He wonders if anything in life has any lasting value. He questions the purpose of his existence.
The language in this part of the poem is more reflective and introspective. The speaker uses metaphors and imagery to express his thoughts. He compares life to a "fleeting gleam" and a "bubble on a stream." He wonders if life is nothing more than a "vain pursuit."
The use of rhetorical questions in this part of the poem is particularly effective. The speaker asks, "What are we but a wind-blown feather?" and "What are we but a flickering flame?" These questions highlight the fleeting nature of life and the insignificance of human existence.
Acceptance of Death
The final part of the poem is a acceptance of death. The speaker acknowledges that life is not perfect, but it is still worth living. He accepts the inevitability of death and finds solace in the fact that he has lived a full life. He asks God to let him die when his time comes, not before.
The language in this part of the poem is more peaceful and accepting. The speaker uses words like "serene," "calm," and "repose" to describe his state of mind. He no longer fears death, but rather sees it as a natural part of life.
The use of the metaphor of the sunset in the final stanza is particularly poignant. The speaker compares his life to a "sunset glow." He acknowledges that his life will eventually come to an end, but he finds beauty and peace in the thought.
Interpretation
Service's "Lord Let Me Live" is a poem that speaks to the universal human experience. It is a meditation on the meaning of life and the fear of death. The poem can be interpreted in many ways, depending on the reader's own experiences and beliefs.
One interpretation of the poem is that it is a reflection on the fragility of life. The speaker is aware of the fleeting nature of life and the inevitability of death. He realizes that everything in this world is temporary and that nothing lasts forever. This realization leads him to question the purpose of his existence and the value of his life.
Another interpretation of the poem is that it is a meditation on the beauty of life. The speaker is grateful for the chance to live and experience all that life has to offer. He wants to see the beauty of the world, hear the music of nature, and feel the touch of love. His plea for life is a celebration of the joy and wonder of being alive.
A third interpretation of the poem is that it is a reflection on the human condition. The speaker acknowledges that life is not perfect, but it is still worth living. He accepts the inevitability of death and finds solace in the fact that he has lived a full life. This acceptance of death is a sign of maturity and wisdom.
Conclusion
Service's "Lord Let Me Live" is a poem that captures the essence of the human experience. It is a meditation on the meaning of life and the fear of death. The poem is written in simple language, but it speaks to the most fundamental questions of human existence. The poem is a celebration of life, but it is also a recognition of its transience. It is a reminder to live every moment to its fullest and to accept the inevitable.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Lord Let Me Live: A Poem of Life and Death
Robert Service’s poem “Lord Let Me Live” is a powerful meditation on the fragility of life and the inevitability of death. Written in Service’s signature style of simple, direct language and vivid imagery, the poem speaks to the universal human experience of grappling with mortality and the desire to make the most of the time we have.
The poem begins with a plea to the Lord to let the speaker live, even though he knows that death is inevitable. The speaker acknowledges that he has lived a full life, but he is not ready to let go just yet. He wants to experience more of the joys and sorrows of life, to feel the sun on his face and the wind in his hair, to taste the sweetness of love and the bitterness of loss.
The second stanza of the poem is a vivid description of the beauty of the natural world, which the speaker longs to experience more fully. He describes the mountains, the rivers, and the forests, and he marvels at the wonder of it all. He wants to see more of this beauty, to explore it and revel in it, before he must leave it behind.
The third stanza of the poem is a reflection on the brevity of life and the inevitability of death. The speaker acknowledges that he has lived a long life, but he knows that it is only a brief moment in the grand scheme of things. He wonders what comes after death, and he hopes that there is something beyond this life.
The fourth stanza of the poem is a plea to the Lord to let the speaker live a little longer, to experience more of the joys and sorrows of life. The speaker acknowledges that he has made mistakes in his life, but he hopes that he has also done some good. He wants to continue to make a difference in the world, to leave a positive legacy behind.
The final stanza of the poem is a reflection on the inevitability of death and the acceptance of it. The speaker acknowledges that he cannot escape death, no matter how much he may want to. He knows that he must face it with courage and grace, and he hopes that he will be remembered fondly by those he leaves behind.
Overall, “Lord Let Me Live” is a powerful and moving poem that speaks to the universal human experience of grappling with mortality. Through vivid imagery and simple, direct language, Robert Service captures the beauty and fragility of life, and the desire to make the most of the time we have. Whether we are young or old, rich or poor, we all must face the inevitability of death. But as this poem reminds us, we can choose to live our lives with courage, grace, and a deep appreciation for the beauty of the world around us.
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