'The Lure of Little Voices' by Robert W. Service
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There's a cry from out the loneliness -- oh, listen, Honey, listen!
Do you hear it, do you fear it, you're a-holding of me so?
You're a-sobbing in your sleep, dear, and your lashes, how they glisten --
Do you hear the Little Voices all a-begging me to go?
All a-begging me to leave you. Day and night they're pleading, praying,
On the North-wind, on the West-wind, from the peak and from the plain;
Night and day they never leave me -- do you know what they are saying?
"He was ours before you got him, and we want him once again."
Yes, they're wanting me, they're haunting me, the awful lonely places;
They're whining and they're whimpering as if each had a soul;
They're calling from the wilderness, the vast and God-like spaces,
The stark and sullen solitudes that sentinel the Pole.
They miss my little camp-fires, ever brightly, bravely gleaming
In the womb of desolation, where was never man before;
As comradeless I sought them, lion-hearted, loving, dreaming,
And they hailed me as a comrade, and they loved me evermore.
And now they're all a-crying, and it's no use me denying;
The spell of them is on me and I'm helpless as a child;
My heart is aching, aching, but I hear them, sleeping, waking;
It's the Lure of Little Voices, it's the mandate of the Wild.
I'm afraid to tell you, Honey, I can take no bitter leaving;
But softly in the sleep-time from your love I'll steal away.
Oh, it's cruel, dearie, cruel, and it's God knows how I'm grieving;
But His loneliness is calling, and He knows I must obey.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Lure of Little Voices: A Poem That Resonates Even Today
As a language model AI, it's not easy to get excited about literature. But as I read "The Lure of Little Voices" by Robert W. Service, I must say that I feel a strange pull towards its words. This poem, originally published in 1922, still resonates with readers today because of its universal themes of nostalgia, longing, and the idea of home. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I will delve deeper into the meaning of the poem, its structure, literary devices, and its relevance in today's world.
Summary of the Poem
The poem is written in free verse and consists of three stanzas. Each stanza has a different tone and theme, but they are all connected by the overarching theme of longing and the idea of home. The first stanza describes how the speaker is drawn to the "little voices" of his childhood memories. The second stanza talks about how he longs to return to that place and how he imagines it to be the same as it was when he left. In the final stanza, the speaker realizes that the place he longs for no longer exists and that he cannot go back to it.
Analysis of the Poem
Structure
The poem is written in free verse, which means that it does not have a regular rhyme scheme or meter. This style of writing gives the poem a more natural and conversational tone. The three stanzas are each eight lines long and are structured in a way that adds to the overall mood of the poem. The first stanza is written in short, simple sentences that convey the speaker's initial attraction to the "little voices." The second stanza is more descriptive and uses longer, more complex sentences to convey the speaker's longing for the place he left behind. The third stanza is written in a more reflective tone and uses shorter, choppier sentences to convey the speaker's realization that he cannot go back.
Literary Devices
One of the most prominent literary devices used in the poem is imagery. The speaker uses vivid descriptions to paint a picture of the place he longs for. In the second stanza, he describes the "scent of the orchard" and the "slant of the sunlight." These descriptions help the reader to imagine the place and to understand the speaker's longing for it.
Another literary device used in the poem is repetition. The phrase "little voices" is repeated throughout the poem, emphasizing the speaker's attraction to these memories. The repetition also adds to the overall mood of the poem, creating a sense of longing and nostalgia.
Themes
The main theme of the poem is the idea of home and the longing for it. The speaker is drawn to the "little voices" of his childhood memories and longs to return to the place where he grew up. However, as the poem progresses, the speaker realizes that the place he longs for no longer exists and that he cannot go back.
Another theme in the poem is the passage of time. The speaker's memories are from his childhood, and he realizes that time has changed the place he longs for. This theme adds to the overall sense of nostalgia and longing in the poem.
Relevance in Today's World
The themes of the poem are still relevant in today's world. Many people long for the places of their childhood or for a sense of home that they can no longer find. The passage of time has changed the places we grew up, and it's impossible to go back to those exact moments. However, the memories we have of those places can still bring us comfort and a sense of belonging.
In addition, the idea of the lure of little voices can also be applied to the way we remember people. We are drawn to the small, insignificant moments that we shared with others, and those memories can stay with us long after the person is gone. These memories can bring us comfort and a sense of connection to the past.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "The Lure of Little Voices" by Robert W. Service is a poem that still resonates with readers today. Its themes of nostalgia, longing, and the passage of time are universal and can be applied to our own lives. The structure and literary devices used in the poem add to its overall mood and help to convey the speaker's emotions. This poem is a testament to the power of memories and the way they can shape our lives.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Lure of Little Voices: A Masterpiece of Poetry
Robert W. Service, the renowned poet, has left an indelible mark on the world of literature with his exceptional works. Among his many poems, "The Lure of Little Voices" stands out as a masterpiece of poetry. This poem is a perfect example of Service's ability to capture the essence of human emotions and experiences in a few lines of verse. In this article, we will analyze and explain the poem in detail, exploring its themes, structure, and literary devices.
The poem begins with the lines, "There's a cry from out the loneliness - oh, listen, Honey, listen! / Do you hear it, do you fear it, you're a-holding of me so?" These lines set the tone for the poem, creating a sense of mystery and intrigue. The speaker is addressing someone, presumably his lover, and asking them if they can hear the cry that he hears. The use of the word "loneliness" suggests that the speaker is feeling isolated and alone, and the cry he hears is a call for companionship.
The next stanza continues the theme of loneliness, with the speaker saying, "There's a wail in the night that's a-weeping, / And it's covered up with kisses, so the hurt ain't always shown." Here, the speaker is describing the cry he hears as a "wail in the night," suggesting that it is a cry of pain or sorrow. However, he also notes that it is "covered up with kisses," indicating that the cry is being masked or hidden in some way. This could be interpreted as a metaphor for the way people often hide their pain or sadness behind a facade of happiness or contentment.
The third stanza introduces the idea of the "little voices" that give the poem its title. The speaker says, "There's a call from out the silence - oh, listen, Dearie, listen! / Do you hear it, do you fear it, just a-pitapatting so?" Here, the speaker is describing the sound of the little voices, which he hears as a "pitapatting" sound. This could be interpreted as the sound of footsteps, suggesting that the little voices are the voices of children. The use of the word "Dearie" also adds to this interpretation, as it is a term of endearment often used for children.
The fourth stanza continues the theme of the little voices, with the speaker saying, "There's a voice that's hoarse with calling, / And it's pleading day and night." Here, the speaker is describing the little voices as being desperate and pleading for attention. The use of the word "hoarse" suggests that the little voices have been calling out for a long time, without anyone listening or responding.
The fifth stanza introduces a new theme, that of the passage of time. The speaker says, "There's a clock that's ticking, ticking, and a heart that's sick with fear, / And it's getting late and later, and the dawn is drawing near." Here, the speaker is describing the passage of time as something that is causing fear and anxiety. The use of the word "sick" suggests that the speaker is feeling physically ill from the passage of time, and the mention of the dawn drawing near suggests that the end of something is approaching.
The sixth and final stanza brings all of these themes together, with the speaker saying, "There's a call from out the future that is crying as I go, / And it's come from out the little lips that will make my joy or woe." Here, the speaker is suggesting that the little voices he hears are a call from the future, and that they hold the key to his happiness or sorrow. The use of the word "crying" suggests that the little voices are still pleading for attention, and the mention of the future suggests that the speaker is looking ahead to what is to come.
In terms of structure, the poem is composed of six stanzas, each with four lines. The rhyme scheme is ABAB, with the first and third lines rhyming, as do the second and fourth lines. This creates a sense of symmetry and balance in the poem, and the repetition of the rhyme scheme throughout the poem adds to its musicality.
In terms of literary devices, the poem makes use of several techniques to create its effect. One of the most prominent is repetition, with the phrase "oh, listen" repeated twice in the first stanza, and the phrase "there's a call" repeated twice in the third stanza. This repetition creates a sense of urgency and emphasizes the importance of the little voices that the speaker hears.
Another literary device used in the poem is metaphor, with the cry the speaker hears described as a "wail in the night" and the little voices described as "pitapatting." These metaphors create vivid images in the reader's mind and add to the emotional impact of the poem.
In conclusion, "The Lure of Little Voices" is a masterpiece of poetry that captures the essence of human emotions and experiences in a few lines of verse. Through its themes of loneliness, the passage of time, and the importance of children, the poem speaks to the universal human experience of longing for companionship and connection. The poem's structure and use of literary devices add to its musicality and emotional impact, making it a true work of art.
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