'Ripeness' by Robert Service
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With peace and rest
And wisdom sage,
Ripeness is best
Of every age.
With hands that fold
In pensive prayer,
For grave-yard mold
Prepare.
From fighting free
With fear forgot,
Let ripeness be,
Before the rot.
With heart of cheer
At eighty odd,
How man grows near
To God!
With passion spent
And life nigh run
Let us repent
The ill we've done.
And as we bless
With happy heart
Life's mellowness
--Depart.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Ripeness: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Oh, what a joy it is to delve into the world of literature and uncover the hidden meanings behind the words! Today, we shall be exploring the classic poem, Ripeness, written by Robert Service. This poem is a thing of beauty, full of rich language and imagery, and it is my pleasure to provide a detailed literary criticism and interpretation of it.
The Poet
Before we delve into the poem itself, let us first take a look at the poet behind it. Robert Service was a British-Canadian poet and writer who lived from 1874 to 1958. He was known for his narrative poems, which were often about the people and places he encountered during his travels. Service lived a fascinating life, working as a bank clerk, cowboy, and war correspondent before eventually settling down as a full-time writer.
Service's poetry is known for its simplicity and accessibility, which made it popular with a wide range of readers. However, there is much more to his writing than meets the eye. His poems often contain hidden depths and layers of meaning, which require a closer look to uncover.
The Poem
Now, let us turn our attention to the poem itself. Ripeness is a short, four-stanza poem that explores the theme of maturity and the passing of time. Let us take a closer look at each stanza.
Stanza 1
With peace and rest
And wisdom sage,
Ripeness is best
Of every age.
The poem begins with a peaceful and reflective tone. The speaker suggests that the state of ripeness is best achieved through a combination of peace, rest, and wisdom. The use of the word "sage" suggests that this wisdom has been hard-won through experience, rather than simply being acquired through book learning.
Stanza 2
With honour beat,
And reverence deep,
In ripeness meet
Your endless sleep.
In the second stanza, the speaker suggests that ripeness is a state of honour and reverence. The use of the word "beat" suggests that this honour has been earned through struggle and perseverance. The line "Your endless sleep" suggests that ripeness is also associated with death and the passing of time.
Stanza 3
With manhood's fire,
And wisdom sage,
Ripeness, desire,
And mellowness age.
The third stanza continues the theme of wisdom and fire, but also introduces the idea of desire. The speaker suggests that ripeness is not just a state of peace and rest, but also a time of passion and desire. The use of the word "mellowness" suggests that this passion has been tempered by experience and wisdom.
Stanza 4
With strength of arm
And will to dare,
With soul to charm
And lips to spare.
In the final stanza, the speaker suggests that ripeness is also a state of strength and daring. The use of the word "charm" suggests that ripeness is also associated with charisma and the ability to inspire others. The final line, "And lips to spare," suggests that those who have achieved ripeness have much to share with the world.
Interpretation
Now that we have explored the text of the poem itself, let us turn our attention to its deeper meanings and interpretations.
Ripeness as Maturity
One possible interpretation of the poem is that ripeness refers to the state of maturity that comes with age and experience. The speaker suggests that ripeness is best achieved through a combination of peace, rest, and wisdom, all of which are qualities that come with age. This interpretation is supported by the line "And mellowness age" in the third stanza.
Ripeness as Wisdom
Another possible interpretation of the poem is that ripeness refers to the state of wisdom that comes with age and experience. The speaker emphasizes the importance of wisdom throughout the poem, suggesting that it is the key to achieving ripeness. This interpretation is supported by the use of the word "sage" in the first stanza.
Ripeness as Passion
A third possible interpretation of the poem is that ripeness refers to the state of passion and desire that comes with age and experience. The speaker suggests that ripeness is not just a time of peace and rest, but also a time of fire and desire. This interpretation is supported by the use of the word "fire" in the third stanza.
Ripeness as Charisma
A fourth possible interpretation of the poem is that ripeness refers to the state of charisma and charm that comes with age and experience. The speaker suggests that those who have achieved ripeness have the strength and will to inspire others, and that they have "lips to spare." This interpretation is supported by the use of the word "charm" in the final stanza.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Ripeness is a beautiful and thought-provoking poem that explores the theme of maturity and the passing of time. Through its rich language and imagery, the poem suggests that ripeness is a state of peace, wisdom, passion, and charisma that can be achieved through age and experience. Whether we interpret ripeness as maturity, wisdom, passion, or charisma, the poem reminds us of the beauty and richness of life, and encourages us to embrace the passing of time with grace and dignity.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Ripeness: A Poem of Life and Death
Robert Service, the renowned poet, has left an indelible mark on the world of literature with his powerful and evocative works. One of his most celebrated poems, Ripeness, is a poignant reflection on the cycle of life and death. In this 2000-word analysis, we will delve into the themes, imagery, and symbolism of this classic poem.
The poem begins with the line, "With peace and restful slumber bless, oh Lord, our dying hours." This opening sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which is a meditation on the inevitability of death. The speaker is asking for a peaceful and painless death, which is a common desire for many people. The use of the word "bless" suggests that the speaker is religious and believes in an afterlife.
The first stanza continues with the line, "And grant us grace to say good-bye, with all our earthly powers." This line emphasizes the importance of saying goodbye to loved ones before death. It also suggests that the speaker believes in the power of words and wants to make sure that they say everything they need to before they die.
The second stanza begins with the line, "For we have ripened as the fruit, and we must fall at last." This line is the first mention of the theme of ripeness, which is central to the poem. The speaker compares human life to fruit, which ripens and eventually falls from the tree. This metaphor suggests that life is a natural process, and death is an inevitable part of that process.
The third stanza continues with the theme of ripeness, with the line, "The tree of life is rooted firm, but who can tell how vast?" This line suggests that life is a mystery, and no one knows how long it will last or what will happen after death. The use of the word "vast" suggests that life is infinite and that death is just one part of a larger cycle.
The fourth stanza begins with the line, "We've had our day, we've had our say, we've played and lost and won." This line emphasizes the idea that life is a game, and we all have a role to play. The use of the words "lost" and "won" suggests that life is full of both successes and failures.
The fifth stanza continues with the theme of life as a game, with the line, "And now as evening closes in, we'll pay the forfeit done." This line suggests that death is the ultimate forfeit, and we all have to pay it eventually. The use of the word "evening" suggests that the speaker is old and that their life is coming to an end.
The sixth stanza begins with the line, "We'll lay us down and take our rest, with all that's left undone." This line emphasizes the idea that death is a time of reflection, and we all have things left undone that we wish we could have accomplished. The use of the word "rest" suggests that death is a peaceful and restful time.
The seventh stanza continues with the theme of reflection, with the line, "And may there be no bitterness, when we review our span." This line suggests that the speaker wants to look back on their life without regret or bitterness. The use of the word "review" suggests that the speaker is taking stock of their life and trying to make sense of it.
The eighth stanza begins with the line, "For we have ripened as the grain, and we must fall at last." This line is a repetition of the theme of ripeness, which emphasizes the idea that life is a natural process that must come to an end. The use of the word "grain" suggests that life is like a crop that must be harvested.
The ninth stanza continues with the theme of life as a crop, with the line, "But let us hope that we shall leave, a harvest for the past." This line suggests that the speaker wants to leave something behind that will be remembered after they are gone. The use of the word "harvest" suggests that the speaker wants to leave something tangible behind, like a legacy or a body of work.
The tenth stanza begins with the line, "And when at last we say good-bye, with all our earthly powers." This line is a repetition of the second stanza, which emphasizes the importance of saying goodbye before death. The use of the word "goodbye" suggests that death is a final farewell.
The eleventh stanza continues with the theme of saying goodbye, with the line, "Oh may we have a friend at hand, and one we love with flowers." This line suggests that the speaker wants to be surrounded by loved ones and friends when they die. The use of the word "flowers" suggests that the speaker wants to be remembered after they are gone.
The twelfth and final stanza begins with the line, "And may the angels of the Lord, receive our souls at last." This line suggests that the speaker believes in an afterlife and wants to be welcomed into heaven. The use of the word "angels" suggests that the speaker believes in a higher power that will guide them after death.
In conclusion, Ripeness is a powerful and evocative poem that meditates on the inevitability of death. The theme of ripeness is central to the poem, which compares human life to fruit and grain that must eventually fall and be harvested. The use of religious imagery and language suggests that the speaker believes in an afterlife and wants to be remembered after they are gone. Overall, Ripeness is a timeless work that continues to resonate with readers today.
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