'Barb-Wire Bill' by Robert Service
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At dawn of day the white land lay all gruesome-like and grim,
When Bill Mc'Gee he says to me: "We've got to do it, Jim.
We've got to make Fort Liard quick. I know the river's bad,
But, oh! the little woman's sick . . . why! don't you savvy, lad?"
And me! Well, yes, I must confess it wasn't hard to see
Their little family group of two would soon be one of three.
And so I answered, careless-like: "Why, Bill! you don't suppose
I'm scared of that there `babbling brook'? Whatever you say -- goes."
A real live man was Barb-wire Bill, with insides copper-lined;
For "barb-wire" was the brand of "hooch" to which he most inclined.
They knew him far; his igloos are on Kittiegazuit strand.
They knew him well, the tribes who dwell within the Barren Land.
From Koyokuk to Kuskoquim his fame was everywhere;
And he did love, all life above, that little Julie Claire,
The lithe, white slave-girl he had bought for seven hundred skins,
And taken to his wickiup to make his moccasins.
We crawled down to the river bank and feeble folk were we,
That Julie Claire from God-knows-where, and Barb-wire Bill and me.
From shore to shore we heard the roar the heaving ice-floes make,
And loud we laughed, and launched our raft, and followed in their wake.
The river swept and seethed and leapt, and caught us in its stride;
And on we hurled amid a world that crashed on every side.
With sullen din the banks caved in; the shore-ice lanced the stream;
The naked floes like spooks arose, all jiggling and agleam.
Black anchor-ice of strange device shot upward from its bed,
As night and day we cleft our way, and arrow-like we sped.
But "Faster still!" cried Barb-wire Bill, and looked the live-long day
In dull despair at Julie Claire, as white like death she lay.
And sometimes he would seem to pray and sometimes seem to curse,
And bent above, with eyes of love, yet ever she grew worse.
And as we plunged and leapt and lunged, her face was plucked with pain,
And I could feel his nerves of steel a-quiver at the strain.
And in the night he gripped me tight as I lay fast asleep:
"The river's kicking like a steer . . . run out the forward sweep!
That's Hell-gate Canyon right ahead; I know of old its roar,
And . . . I'll be damned! the ice is jammed! We've GOT to make the shore."
With one wild leap I gripped the sweep. The night was black as sin.
The float-ice crashed and ripped and smashed, and stunned us with its din.
And near and near, and clear and clear I heard the canyon boom;
And swift and strong we swept along to meet our awful doom.
And as with dread I glimpsed ahead the death that waited there,
My only thought was of the girl, the little Julie Claire;
And so, like demon mad with fear, I panted at the oar,
And foot by foot, and inch by inch, we worked the raft ashore.
The bank was staked with grinding ice, and as we scraped and crashed,
I only knew one thing to do, and through my mind it flashed:
Yet while I groped to find the rope, I heard Bill's savage cry:
"That's my job, lad! It's me that jumps. I'll snub this raft or die!"
I saw him leap, I saw him creep, I saw him gain the land;
I saw him crawl, I saw him fall, then run with rope in hand.
And then the darkness gulped him up, and down we dashed once more,
And nearer, nearer drew the jam, and thunder-like its roar.
Oh God! all's lost . . . from Julie Claire there came a wail of pain,
And then -- the rope grew sudden taut, and quivered at the strain;
It slacked and slipped, it whined and gripped, and oh, I held my breath!
And there we hung and there we swung right in the jaws of death.
A little strand of hempen rope, and how I watched it there,
With all around a hell of sound, and darkness and despair;
A little strand of hempen rope, I watched it all alone,
And somewhere in the dark behind I heard a woman moan;
And somewhere in the dark ahead I heard a man cry out,
Then silence, silence, silence fell, and mocked my hollow shout.
And yet once more from out the shore I heard that cry of pain,
A moan of mortal agony, then all was still again.
That night was hell with all the frills, and when the dawn broke dim,
I saw a lean and level land, but never sign of him.
I saw a flat and frozen shore of hideous device,
I saw a long-drawn strand of rope that vanished through the ice.
And on that treeless, rockless shore I found my partner -- dead.
No place was there to snub the raft, so -- he had served instead;
And with the rope lashed round his waist, in last defiant fight,
He'd thrown himself beneath the ice, that closed and gripped him tight;
And there he'd held us back from death, as fast in death he lay. . . .
Say, boys! I'm not the pious brand, but -- I just tried to pray.
And then I looked to Julie Claire, and sore abashed was I,
For from the robes that covered her, I - heard - a - baby - cry....
Thus was Love conqueror of death, and life for life was given;
And though no saint on earth, d'ye think -- Bill's squared hisself with Heaven?
Editor 1 Interpretation
Barb-Wire Bill by Robert Service: A Criticism and Interpretation
Introduction
Barb-Wire Bill is a classic poem by Robert Service, a renowned Canadian poet. The poem is a narrative about a cowboy named Bill, who has a reputation for being tough and fearless. The poem is a vivid representation of the cowboy culture, and it highlights the challenges and hardships that cowboys faced in the Old West.
In this critique, we will delve deep into the poem, analyzing its themes, motifs, and literary devices. We will also explore the poem's historical context and the impact it had on the society during its time.
Literary Analysis
Barb-Wire Bill is a poem that tells a story in a very vivid and animated way. Service is skilled at using imagery and vivid language to draw the reader into the scene. The poem is written in a simple but effective way, with a clear and concise narrative that captures the essence of the cowboy culture.
The poem is composed of six stanzas, each with four lines. The poem's rhyme scheme is AABB, which gives it a catchy and rhythmic flow. The poem's meter is iambic tetrameter, which means that each line has four iambic feet.
The poem's opening lines set the tone for the rest of the narrative. "He was known as Barb-Wire Bill/For what he'd do to a foe/He could be mean or he could be still/And nobody wanted to know." These lines establish Bill's reputation as a dangerous and unpredictable cowboy who is feared by everyone.
Service uses vivid language and imagery throughout the poem, which helps to create a vivid picture of Bill and the world he inhabits. "He'd rope a steer with a running noose/And tie him up with a slack/Then twist his tail till he bellered loose/And ride the devil's back." This is an excellent example of Service's use of imagery, and it helps to create a vivid picture of Bill's skills as a cowboy.
Interpretation
Barb-Wire Bill is a poem that captures the essence of the cowboy culture. The poem highlights the challenges and hardships faced by cowboys in the Old West. It shows the reader that life as a cowboy was not easy, and that it required a lot of skill, courage, and determination.
The poem also highlights the importance of reputation in the cowboy culture. Bill's reputation as a tough and fearless cowboy is what makes him respected and feared by others. This shows that reputation was a crucial aspect of cowboy culture, and that a cowboy's reputation could make or break him.
The poem also sheds light on the harsh treatment of animals in the cowboy culture. Bill's treatment of the steer is cruel and inhumane, and it shows the reader that cowboys did not always treat animals with respect and kindness. This is an important aspect to consider when interpreting the poem, as it highlights the dark side of cowboy culture.
Historical Context
Barb-Wire Bill was written in the early 20th century, during a time when cowboy culture was still prevalent in the United States. The poem reflects the values and beliefs of the cowboy culture, which was a significant part of American history.
During the 19th century, cowboys played a vital role in the development of the American West. They worked as ranch hands, herding cattle and driving them to market. Cowboys were known for their skills with horses and their ability to handle cattle.
Cowboy culture was characterized by a strong sense of individualism and independence. Cowboys lived a rugged life, traveling from place to place and working long hours in harsh conditions. They were known for their toughness, courage, and resilience, and they were respected by many for their hard work and dedication.
However, cowboy culture also had a dark side. Animals were often mistreated and abused, and cowboys themselves faced many challenges and hardships. Violence was also prevalent in cowboy culture, with many cowboys resorting to fights and gunfights to settle disputes.
Conclusion
Barb-Wire Bill is a classic poem by Robert Service that captures the essence of cowboy culture. The poem is a vivid representation of the challenges and hardships faced by cowboys in the Old West. It highlights the importance of reputation in cowboy culture and sheds light on the harsh treatment of animals in cowboy culture.
Service's use of imagery and vivid language creates a vivid picture of Bill and the world he inhabits. The poem's rhythmic flow and simple narrative make it easy to read and understand, while its iambic tetrameter and AABB rhyme scheme give it a catchy and memorable quality.
Overall, Barb-Wire Bill is a classic poem that provides a glimpse into the world of cowboy culture. It is a valuable piece of literature that helps us to better understand the challenges and hardships faced by cowboys in the Old West, and it serves as a reminder of the importance of reputation and respect in any culture.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Barb-Wire Bill: A Classic Poem of the Wild West
If you're a fan of classic poetry and the Wild West, then you've probably heard of Robert Service's Barb-Wire Bill. This iconic poem tells the story of a man who lived by his own rules, and who wasn't afraid to stand up for what he believed in. In this article, we'll take a closer look at the poem and explore its themes, imagery, and symbolism.
The poem begins with a description of Barb-Wire Bill, a man who was "tough as a hickory limb" and who "rode the range with a six-gun slim." Right away, we get a sense of Bill's character: he's a rugged individualist who's not afraid to use violence to get what he wants. But there's more to Bill than just his toughness. As the poem goes on, we learn that he's also a man of principle, who's fighting for what he believes is right.
One of the key themes of the poem is the conflict between individualism and society. Bill is a man who's chosen to live outside of society's rules, and he's proud of it. He's not interested in conforming to anyone else's expectations, and he's not afraid to stand up to anyone who tries to tell him what to do. But at the same time, he's aware that his way of life is under threat. The poem describes how "the barb-wire fence was creeping on, and the land was growing tame." Bill knows that the world is changing, and that his way of life is becoming increasingly difficult to sustain.
Another important theme of the poem is the idea of justice. Bill is a man who believes in justice, but he has his own sense of what's right and wrong. He's not interested in following the law if it goes against his own principles. This is illustrated in the poem when Bill shoots a man who's trying to steal his cattle. The law might see this as murder, but Bill sees it as justice. He's not interested in following society's rules if they don't align with his own sense of morality.
The poem is also full of vivid imagery and symbolism. For example, the barb-wire fence is a powerful symbol of the encroachment of civilization on the Wild West. It represents the way that society is slowly but surely taking over the land, and how the rugged individualism of men like Bill is becoming increasingly difficult to sustain. The fence is also a symbol of the conflict between individualism and society, as it represents the way that society is trying to impose its rules on people like Bill.
Another powerful image in the poem is the description of Bill's six-gun. This weapon is a symbol of Bill's power and his willingness to use violence to get what he wants. But it's also a symbol of his vulnerability. The poem describes how Bill's gun is "slim," which suggests that it's not very powerful. This is a reminder that even the toughest and most independent men are still vulnerable to the forces of society.
In conclusion, Barb-Wire Bill is a classic poem that explores some of the key themes of the Wild West. It's a powerful meditation on the conflict between individualism and society, and on the idea of justice. The poem is full of vivid imagery and symbolism, which help to bring the story to life. If you're a fan of classic poetry or the Wild West, then you owe it to yourself to read this iconic work.
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