'The Logger' by Robert Service

AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay


In the moonless, misty night, with my little pipe alight,
I am sitting by the camp-fire's fading cheer;
Oh, the dew is falling chill on the dim, deer-haunted hill,
And the breakers in the bay are moaning drear.
The toilful hours are sped, the boys are long abed,
And I alone a weary vigil keep;
In the sightless, sullen sky I can hear the night-hawk cry,
And the frogs in frenzied chorus from the creek.

And somehow the embers' glow brings me back the long ago,
The days of merry laughter and light song;
When I sped the hours away with the gayest of the gay
In the giddy whirl of fashion's festal throng.
Oh, I ran a grilling race and I little recked the pace,
For the lust of youth ran riot in my blood;
But at last I made a stand in this God-forsaken land
Of the pine-tree and the mountain and the flood.

And now I've got to stay, with an overdraft to pay,
For pleasure in the past with future pain;
And I'm not the chap to whine, for if the chance were mine
I know I'd choose the old life once again.
With its woman's eyes a-shine, and its flood of golden wine;
Its fever and its frolic and its fun;
The old life with its din, its laughter and its sin --
And chuck me in the gutter when it's done.

Ah, well! it's past and gone, and the memory is wan,
That conjures up each old familiar face;
And here by fortune hurled, I am dead to all the world,
And I've learned to lose my pride and keep my place.
My ways are hard and rough, and my arms are strong and tough,
And I hew the dizzy pine till darkness falls;
And sometimes I take a dive, just to keep my heart alive,
Among the gay saloons and dancing halls.

In the distant, dinful town just a little drink to drown
The cares that crowd and canker in my brain;
Just a little joy to still set my pulses all a-thrill,
Then back to brutish labour once again.
And things will go on so until one day I shall know
That Death has got me cinched beyond a doubt;
Then I'll crawl away from sight, and morosely in the night
My weary, wasted life will peter out.

Then the boys will gather round, and they'll launch me in the ground,
And pile the stones the timber wolf to foil;
And the moaning pine will wave overhead a nameless grave,
Where the black snake in the sunshine loves to coil.
And they'll leave me there alone, and perhaps with softened tone
Speak of me sometimes in the camp-fire's glow,
As a played-out, broken chum, who has gone to Kingdom Come,
And who went the pace in England long ago.

Editor 1 Interpretation

The Logger: A Masterpiece of Poetic Artistry

The Logger, a classic poem written by Robert Service, is a highly evocative and emotionally powerful piece of literature that captures the raw energy and rugged beauty of the Canadian wilderness. With its vivid imagery, resonant themes, and masterful use of language, The Logger stands as a testament to the enduring power of poetry to move, inspire, and transform readers.

At its heart, The Logger is a celebration of the rough and tumble world of logging, a trade that was once a vital part of Canada's economy and culture. Through the eyes of the protagonist, the poem takes us on a journey into the heart of the forest, where we witness the awe-inspiring spectacle of trees being felled and hauled away by a team of hardy men.

Right from the opening stanza, the poem establishes a tone of gritty determination and unyielding resilience. The protagonist is depicted as a man of steely resolve, who is unafraid of danger and willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done:

As the dawn was breaking the ranger stood
On a hilltop high and alone.
And watched the camp of the logging crew
That huddled below in the gloam.
And the ranger sighed, for his heart was sore,
And his eyes were deep with care.

The imagery here is powerful and evocative, conveying a sense of isolation, solitude, and foreboding. The ranger is positioned as a solitary figure, standing atop a hill, looking down upon the camp of the logging crew. This creates a sense of distance and separation, as if the protagonist is somehow removed from the action, observing it from a safe distance.

However, as the poem progresses, we begin to see that the ranger is not just an observer, but an active participant in the world of logging. He is a man of action, who is willing to put himself in harm's way to achieve his goals. This is reflected in the following lines:

For he knew by the trail of the fallen trees
Where the crew had been at work,
And he knew that their hearts were high and free
With the joy of their labor's perk.
For he loved them all, from the boss to the cook,
And he watched them with wistful eyes.

Here, the ranger is depicted as a man who is intimately familiar with the world of logging, who has a deep understanding and appreciation for the hard work and sacrifices of the crew. He is not simply a detached observer, but a passionate participant in the life of the forest, who feels a genuine kinship with his fellow loggers.

The poem's central theme is one of struggle and survival in the face of adversity. The loggers are depicted as tough, resilient men who are willing to risk their lives to make a living. They face a constant battle against the elements, and must use their wits and strength to overcome the challenges they encounter.

This theme is captured in one of the most powerful passages of the poem:

And the hoarse command of the boss rings out,
And the saws go screaming again,
And the big trees rock and reel and shout
As they crash to the earth in twain.
And high in air in the soughing tops
The wind is a-wailing by,
And the lonely hawk, as he circles and stops,
Looks down with a curious eye.

Here, we see the loggers in action, cutting down giant trees with their saws and axes. The imagery is dramatic and intense, conveying a sense of raw power and adrenaline. The trees are depicted as living entities, screaming and shouting as they fall to the ground, while the wind and the hawk look on with a mixture of awe and bewilderment.

Throughout the poem, Service displays his mastery of language and poetic form. He uses a wide range of techniques to create a rich, textured tapestry of words and images, from alliteration and repetition to metaphor and simile. This gives the poem a sense of depth and complexity, inviting readers to engage with it on multiple levels.

One particularly effective technique used by Service is his use of rhyme and meter. The poem has a strong, regular rhythm that lends it a sense of momentum and drive. This is complemented by the use of rhyme, which gives the poem a sense of cohesion and unity. The rhyme scheme is simple and straightforward, with each stanza following an ABAB pattern. This simplicity helps to reinforce the poem's central themes of struggle and survival, as it reflects the stoic, no-nonsense attitude of the loggers themselves.

In conclusion, The Logger is a masterpiece of poetic artistry, a timeless piece of literature that speaks to the enduring power of human resilience and determination. Through its vivid imagery, resonant themes, and masterful use of language, the poem captures the raw energy and rugged beauty of the Canadian wilderness, inviting readers to join in the struggle and triumph of the loggers themselves. It is a work of enduring significance, one that will continue to inspire and move readers for generations to come.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

The Logger: A Classic Poem by Robert Service

If you're looking for a poem that captures the rugged, adventurous spirit of the early 20th century, look no further than "The Logger" by Robert Service. This classic poem tells the story of a logger who braves the dangers of the forest to provide for his family, and it does so with a vividness and energy that will leave you breathless.

At its heart, "The Logger" is a celebration of the hardworking men who built America's logging industry. Service's poem is set in the Pacific Northwest, where towering trees and treacherous terrain made logging a dangerous and difficult profession. But for the men who worked in the forests, it was also a way of life, a chance to prove their mettle and provide for their families.

The poem begins with a description of the logger himself, a man who is "tough as hickory" and "grizzled as a bear." He's a man who knows his way around the forest, who can "read the signs of nature" and "smell a storm a-brewing." In short, he's a man who is perfectly suited to the life he leads.

But life in the forest is not without its dangers, and Service doesn't shy away from describing them. The logger faces "snags that tear like razors" and "swamps that suck like quicksand." He must be constantly on guard against falling trees and shifting terrain. And yet, despite all these hazards, he persists, driven by his love for his family and his determination to provide for them.

One of the most striking things about "The Logger" is the way Service uses language to convey the power and majesty of the forest. He describes the trees as "monarchs of the wood" and "giants of the ages," and he captures the way the wind moves through the branches with lines like "the wind that sings in the treetops." Through his words, we can almost feel the cool, damp air of the forest and hear the creaking of the trees as they sway in the breeze.

But for all its beauty, the forest is also a place of danger and death. Service doesn't shy away from this fact, either. He describes the logger's friend who was "crushed by a falling fir" and the "widow's wail" that followed. He reminds us that every day in the forest is a gamble, and that the logger's life is always on the line.

And yet, despite all these dangers, the logger persists. He works hard, day in and day out, felling trees and hauling them to the mill. He does it all for his family, for the "wife and kids that wait at home" and the "little ones that climb his knee." He knows that his work is dangerous, but he also knows that it's necessary, that it's the only way he can provide for those he loves.

In the end, "The Logger" is a poem about the human spirit, about the way we persevere in the face of adversity. It's a tribute to the men who built America's logging industry, and to all those who work hard every day to provide for their families. Service's words are powerful and evocative, and they remind us of the beauty and danger that can be found in the natural world. If you haven't read "The Logger" before, do yourself a favor and give it a try. You won't be disappointed.

Editor Recommended Sites

NFT Bundle: Crypto digital collectible bundle sites from around the internet
Tech Deals: Deals on laptops, computers, apple, tablets, smart watches
Flutter Guide: Learn to program in flutter to make mobile applications quickly
Kubernetes Tools: Tools for k8s clusters, third party high rated github software. Little known kubernetes tools
Model Shop: Buy and sell machine learning models

Recommended Similar Analysis

Love Letter by Sylvia Plath analysis
My Galley, Charged with Forgetfulness by Sir Thomas Wyatt analysis
I'm ceded-I've stopped being Theirs by Emily Dickinson analysis
For Annie by Edgar Allan Poe analysis
Philomela by Sir Philip Sidney analysis
i carry your heart with me(i carry it in... (92) by e.e. cummings analysis
Paradise Lost: Book 02 by John Milton analysis
The Romantic Adventures of a Milkmaid by Thomas Hardy analysis
One Art by Elizabeth Bishop analysis
Vanitas Vanitatum, Omnia Vanitas by Anne Brontë analysis