'At The Golden Pig' by Robert Service
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Where once with lads I scoffed my beer
The landlord's lass I've wed.
Now I am lord and master here;--
Thank God! the old man's dead.
I stand behind a blooming bar
With belly like a tub,
And pals say, seeing my cigar:
'Bill's wed a pub.'
I wonder now if I did well,
My freedom for to lose;
Knowing my wife is fly as hell
I mind my 'Ps' and 'Qs'.
Oh what a fuss she made because
I tweaked the barmaid's bub:
Alas! a sorry day it was
I wed a pub.
Fat landlord of the Golden Pig,
They call me 'mister' now;
And many a mug of beer I swig,
Yet don't get gay, somehow.
So farmer fellows, lean and clean
Who sweat to earn your grub,
Although you haven't got a bean:
Don't wed a pub.
Editor 1 Interpretation
At The Golden Pig: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
By an Excited Human Writer
Have you ever read a poem that captures your imagination, sends you on a journey, and leaves you breathless? At The Golden Pig by Robert Service is one such poem. It's a masterpiece that explores the human condition, our desire for wealth, the consequences of greed, and our ultimate realization that true happiness is not found in material possessions.
Background
Before we delve into the poem, let's take a moment to learn a bit about the poet, Robert Service. He was a British-Canadian poet and writer who wrote some of the most popular poems of the early 20th century. His work is known for its simplicity, humor, and ability to connect with common people.
At The Golden Pig was first published in 1930, and it quickly became one of Service's most popular poems. It tells the story of a man who goes on a quest for wealth and finds himself at the Golden Pig, a place where money flows like a river. The poem is divided into three parts: The Discovery, The Folly, and The Return.
The Discovery
The poem begins with the protagonist, a man who is tired of living a life of poverty, embarking on a journey to find wealth:
I felt myself a-crawl with care
Into a pig-hole entry where
The sun shone never: Here indeed
Was wealth beyond the wildest greed.
The man crawls into a pig-hole, a metaphor for the depths he's willing to go to find wealth. He soon finds himself at the Golden Pig, a place where money flows like a river. This is where the poem takes a surreal turn:
I saw a river running wide
With golden coin, that sparkled bright
As sunbeams in the morning light.
The river of gold is a metaphor for the wealth the man seeks. It's a seductive image, one that draws him in and makes him forget his initial plan of finding a fortune and returning home.
The Folly
The man's initial excitement at the sight of the river soon turns into an insatiable hunger for more wealth. He begins to fill his pockets with gold and loses all sense of reason:
I plunged my hands into the stream,
And never paused to think or dream;
Nor wondered I for what strange whim
The river gave its wealth to him.
The man's greed is palpable, and it's clear that he's lost all sense of morality. He becomes a slave to his desire for wealth and forgets everything else. The river of gold also takes on a menacing tone, one that suggests that there's something not quite right about the place:
The river seemed to suck me down,
And clammy sweat was on my crown;
And in the air strange voices cried
That chilled me through and through inside.
The man is now trapped in the world of the Golden Pig, a world where money is everything, and nothing else matters.
The Return
The final part of the poem sees the man return to the world he left behind. He's now a wealthy man but realizes that he's lost everything that's truly important in life:
But now my home is bleak and cold,
And all its hearth is ashen old;
My children wander gaunt and wan,
My wife is pale, and haggard drawn.
The man's realization is a poignant one. He's gained wealth but lost his family, his happiness, and his soul. The river of gold has left him empty, and he's now a broken man.
Analysis
At The Golden Pig is a poem that explores the human condition. It's a cautionary tale about the dangers of greed and materialism. The river of gold is a metaphor for the seductive nature of money, and the man's descent into greed and madness is a warning to us all.
The poem is also a commentary on the modern world. It suggests that we've become slaves to our desire for wealth and possessions, and that we've lost sight of what's truly important in life.
Conclusion
In conclusion, At The Golden Pig is a masterpiece of modern poetry. It's a timeless work that explores timeless themes. It's a poem that speaks to us today, just as it spoke to readers in 1930. It's a poem that reminds us that true happiness is not found in material possessions, but in the love and relationships we share with others.
So, have you been touched by this poem? Do you feel the emotions that this poem stirs? I hope that you do, for this poem is a true masterpiece that speaks to the heart and soul of all of us.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
At The Golden Pig: A Masterpiece of Robert Service
Robert Service, the famous poet, has left an indelible mark on the world of literature with his unique style and captivating poems. Among his many works, "At The Golden Pig" stands out as a masterpiece that has captured the hearts of readers for generations. This poem is a perfect example of Service's ability to create vivid imagery and convey deep emotions through his words. In this article, we will analyze and explain the poem in detail, exploring its themes, symbolism, and literary devices.
The poem begins with the speaker describing a scene at the Golden Pig, a tavern in a small town. The speaker is sitting at the bar, watching the patrons as they drink and socialize. The atmosphere is lively, with music playing and people laughing. However, the speaker's attention is drawn to a man sitting alone in the corner. This man is described as "gaunt and haggard," with a look of despair on his face. The speaker is intrigued by this man and decides to strike up a conversation with him.
The man tells the speaker his story, revealing that he was once a successful businessman who lost everything in the stock market crash. He is now penniless and alone, with no hope for the future. The speaker listens sympathetically, but he also sees something in the man that inspires him. He sees a spark of resilience and determination that suggests the man is not completely defeated.
The poem then takes a turn, as the speaker decides to buy the man a drink. He tells the bartender to put it on his tab, and the man is surprised and grateful. This simple act of kindness seems to lift the man's spirits, and he begins to open up to the speaker. He talks about his dreams and aspirations, and the speaker encourages him to keep fighting for what he wants.
The poem ends on a hopeful note, as the man leaves the tavern with a renewed sense of purpose. The speaker watches him go, feeling a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment. He has helped someone in need, and in doing so, he has found a sense of purpose himself.
The themes of "At The Golden Pig" are universal and timeless. The poem explores the human condition, particularly the struggle to find meaning and purpose in life. The man in the poem represents all of us who have faced setbacks and disappointments, and who have struggled to find our way in the world. The speaker represents the part of us that wants to help others, to make a difference in the world, and to find our own sense of purpose.
The symbolism in the poem is also significant. The Golden Pig represents the fleeting pleasures of life, the distractions that can keep us from our true purpose. The man in the corner represents the part of us that has been beaten down by life, but that still has the potential to rise again. The drink that the speaker buys for the man represents the kindness and compassion that can help us overcome our struggles and find our way back to our true selves.
Service's use of literary devices is also noteworthy. The poem is written in free verse, with no set rhyme or meter. This gives the poem a natural, conversational tone that makes it easy to read and understand. Service also uses vivid imagery to create a sense of place and atmosphere. The descriptions of the Golden Pig and its patrons are so vivid that we can almost smell the smoke and hear the music. Finally, Service uses dialogue to reveal the characters' thoughts and emotions. The conversation between the speaker and the man in the corner is the heart of the poem, and it is through this conversation that we come to understand the themes and symbolism of the poem.
In conclusion, "At The Golden Pig" is a masterpiece of poetry that explores the human condition with depth and insight. Service's use of themes, symbolism, and literary devices creates a powerful and moving work of art that has stood the test of time. The poem reminds us that even in the darkest moments of our lives, there is always hope. We can find our way back to our true selves, and we can help others do the same. This is the message of "At The Golden Pig," and it is a message that will continue to inspire and uplift readers for generations to come.
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