'Quatrains' by Robert W. Service
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One said: Thy life is thine to make or mar,
To flicker feebly, or to soar, a star;
It lies with thee -- the choice is thine, is thine,
To hit the ties or drive thy auto-car.
I answered Her: The choice is mine -- ah, no!
We all were made or marred long, long ago.
The parts are written; hear the super wail:
"Who is stage-managing this cosmic show?"
Blind fools of fate and slaves of circumstance,
Life is a fiddler, and we all must dance.
From gloom where mocks that will-o'-wisp, Free-will
I heard a voice cry: "Say, give us a chance."
Chance! Oh, there is no chance! The scene is set,
Up with the curtain! Man, the marionette,
Resumes his part. The gods will work the wires.
They've got it all down fine, you bet, you bet!
It's all decreed -- the mighty earthquake crash,
The countless constellations' wheel and flash;
The rise and fall of empires, war's red tide;
The composition of your dinner hash.
There's no haphazard in this world of ours.
Cause and effect are grim, relentless powers.
They rule the world. (A king was shot last night;
Last night I held the joker and both bowers.)
From out the mesh of fate our heads we thrust.
We can't do what we would, but what we must.
Heredity has got us in a cinch --
(Consoling thought when you've been on a "bust".)
Hark to the song where spheral voices blend:
"There's no beginning, never will be end."
It makes us nutty; hang the astral chimes!
The tables spread; come, let us dine, my friend.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Mesmerizing Quatrains of Robert W. Service
Have you ever read something so captivating that it makes you feel as if you're being transported to another world? Something that's so beautifully written that it leaves you feeling breathless and in awe? That's exactly what Robert W. Service's Quatrains do. These poetic gems are a true masterpiece, both in their simplicity and in their profoundness.
The Poet
First, let's take a moment to admire the poet himself. Robert W. Service was a Canadian poet and writer who lived from 1874 to 1958. His work has been compared to that of Rudyard Kipling, and he's often referred to as the "Bard of the Yukon" due to his vivid descriptions of life in the Canadian wilderness. Service's poetry is characterized by its clear and concise language, its use of rhyme and meter, and its ability to paint vivid pictures in the reader's mind.
The Quatrains
Now, let's dive into the Quatrains themselves. A Quatrain is a poem that consists of four lines, and Robert W. Service's Quatrains are some of the most mesmerizing examples of this form of poetry. Each Quatrain is like a little snapshot, a moment frozen in time, that captures the essence of life in all its raw beauty.
The Power of Nature
One of the most striking things about Service's Quatrains is his ability to convey the power and wonder of nature. In "The Call of the Wild", he writes:
Have you gazed on naked grandeur where there's nothing else to gaze on,
Set pieces and drop-curtain scenes galore,
Big mountains heaved to heaven, which the blinding sunsets blazon,
Black canyons where the rapids rip and roar?
These lines paint a vivid picture of the awe-inspiring beauty of the natural world. Service's use of language is incredibly powerful - "naked grandeur", "big mountains heaved to heaven", "rapids rip and roar" - all of these phrases evoke a sense of majesty and power that is both humbling and inspiring.
The Human Experience
But it's not just nature that Service captures so beautifully in his Quatrains - he also captures the human experience in all its complexity. In "The Men That Don't Fit In", he writes:
There's a race of men that don't fit in,
A race that can't stay still;
So they break the hearts of kith and kin,
And they roam the world at will.
These lines speak to the restlessness that many of us feel, the sense that we don't quite belong in the world we've been given. Service captures this feeling with a clarity and simplicity that is nothing short of breathtaking.
The Power of Words
Another theme that runs through many of Service's Quatrains is the power of words. In "The Quitter", he writes:
When you're lost in the Wild, and you're scared as a child,
And Death looks you bang in the eye,
And you're sore as a boil, it's according to Hoyle
To cock your revolver and . . . die.
But the Code of a Man says: "Fight all you can,"
And self-dissolution is barred.
In hunger and woe, oh, it's easy to blow . . .
It's the hell-served-for-breakfast that's hard.
These lines speak to the power of words to inspire and motivate us, even in the darkest moments of our lives. Service's use of language is nothing short of masterful - the way he contrasts the bleakness of the situation with the strength of the human spirit is truly awe-inspiring.
The Joy of Life
But it's not all darkness and despair in Service's Quatrains - far from it. One of the things that makes his poetry so compelling is his ability to capture the joy and beauty of life. In "The Joy of Little Things", he writes:
It isn't the great big pleasures that count the most in life;
It's the little, little pleasures that make the heart so glad.
It's the little things that linger in the memory and crowd the heart with joy.
These lines are a celebration of the small, everyday moments that make life so rich and rewarding. Service's use of language here is incredibly evocative - you can almost feel the warmth of the sun on your face, the softness of the grass beneath your feet.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Robert W. Service's Quatrains are a true masterpiece of poetry. They capture the power and wonder of nature, the complexity of the human experience, the power of words, and the joy of life with a clarity and simplicity that is nothing short of breathtaking. If you haven't yet experienced the magic of these poetic gems, I highly recommend you do so - they're sure to leave you feeling breathless and in awe.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Robert W. Service is a name that is synonymous with classic poetry. His works have been celebrated for their simplicity, yet profoundness. One of his most famous works is the Poetry Quatrains. This poem is a masterpiece that has stood the test of time and continues to inspire generations of poets and readers alike. In this article, we will take a closer look at the Poetry Quatrains and analyze its structure, themes, and literary devices.
Structure
The Poetry Quatrains is a poem that is composed of four-line stanzas, also known as quatrains. Each quatrain has a rhyme scheme of ABAB, which means that the first and third lines rhyme, as do the second and fourth lines. This rhyme scheme gives the poem a musical quality and makes it easy to read and remember.
The poem is also written in iambic tetrameter, which means that each line has four iambs. An iamb is a metrical foot that consists of two syllables, with the first syllable being unstressed and the second syllable being stressed. This meter gives the poem a rhythmic flow and adds to its musicality.
Themes
The Poetry Quatrains is a poem that explores the themes of life, death, and the human condition. The poem begins with the line, "Life is a journey that must be traveled," which sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The speaker of the poem acknowledges that life is not always easy, but it is a journey that we must all take.
The poem also explores the theme of death. The speaker acknowledges that death is a part of life and that we must all face it at some point. However, the speaker also suggests that death is not the end, but rather a new beginning. The line, "Death is a destination that we all share," suggests that death is a common experience that we all must go through.
The poem also touches on the theme of the human condition. The speaker acknowledges that we are all flawed and that we all make mistakes. However, the speaker suggests that it is through our mistakes that we learn and grow. The line, "Mistakes are the lessons of wisdom," suggests that our mistakes are not failures, but rather opportunities for growth and learning.
Literary Devices
The Poetry Quatrains is a poem that is rich in literary devices. One of the most prominent literary devices used in the poem is metaphor. The speaker uses metaphor to compare life to a journey and death to a destination. These metaphors help to create a vivid image in the reader's mind and add to the poem's overall meaning.
Another literary device used in the poem is personification. The speaker personifies life and death, giving them human-like qualities. For example, the line, "Life has its ups and downs," suggests that life is a living entity that can experience emotions.
The poem also uses repetition to emphasize certain ideas. The line, "Life is a journey that must be traveled," is repeated throughout the poem, emphasizing the idea that life is a journey that we must all take. The repetition of this line also helps to create a sense of unity and coherence throughout the poem.
Conclusion
The Poetry Quatrains is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. Its simple yet profound message has resonated with readers for generations. The poem's structure, themes, and literary devices all work together to create a powerful and memorable piece of poetry. Robert W. Service's legacy as a poet is secure, and the Poetry Quatrains is a shining example of his talent and skill.
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