'The Law of the Yukon' by Robert W. Service
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This is the law of the Yukon, and ever she makes it plain:
"Send not your foolish and feeble; send me your strong and your sane--
Strong for the red rage of battle; sane, for I harry them sore;
Send me men girt for the combat, men who are grit to the core;
Swift as the panther in triumph, fierce as the bear in defeat,
Sired of a bulldog parent, steeled in the furnace heat.
Send me the best of your breeding, lend me your chosen ones;
Them will I take to my bosom, them will I call my sons;
Them will I gild with my treasure, them will I glut with my meat;
But the others--the misfits, the failures--I trample under my feet.
Dissolute, damned and despairful, crippled and palsied and slain,
Ye would send me the spawn of your gutters--Go! take back your spawn again.
"Wild and wide are my borders, stern as death is my sway;
From my ruthless throne I have ruled alone for a million years and a day;
Hugging my mighty treasure, waiting for man to come,
Till he swept like a turbid torrent, after him swept--the scum.
The pallid pimp of the dead-line, the enervate of the pen,
One by one I weeded them out, for all that I sought was--Men.
One by one I dismayed them, frighting them sore with my glooms;
One by one I betrayed them unto my manifold dooms.
Drowned them like rats in my rivers, starved them like curs on my plains,
Rotted the flesh that was left, poisoned the blood in their veins;
Burst with my winter upon them, searing forever their sight,
Lashed them with fungus-white faces, whimpering wild in the night;
"Staggering blind through the storm-whirl, stumbling mad through the snow,
Frozen stiff in the ice-pack, brittle and bent like a bow;
Featureless, formless, forsaken, scented by wolves in their flight,
Left for the wind to make music through ribs that are glittering white;
Gnawing the black crust of failure, searching the pit of despair,
Going outside with an escort, raving with lips all afoam,
Writing a cheque for a million, driveling feebly of home;
Lost like a louse in the burning...or else in the tented town
Seeking a drunkard's solace, sinking and sinking down;
Steeped in the slime at the bottom, dead to a decent world,
Lost 'mid the human flotsam, far on the frontier hurled;
In the camp at the bend of the river, with its dozen saloons aglare,
Its gambling dens ariot, its gramophones all ablare;
Crimped with the crimes of a city, sin-ridden and bridled with lies,
In the hush of my mountained vastness, in the flush of my midnight skies.
Plague-spots, yet tools of my purpose, so natheless I suffer them thrive,
Crushing my Weak in their cluthces, that only my Strong may survive.
"But the others, the men of my mettle, them who would 'stablish my fame
Unto its ultimate issue, winning me honor, not shame;
Searching my uttermost valleys, fighting each step as they go,
Shooting the wrath of my rapids, scaling my ramparts of snow;
Ripping the guts of my mountains, looting the beds of my creeks,
Them will I take to my bosom, and speak as a mother speaks.
I am the land that listens, I am the land that broods;
Steeped in eternal beauty, crystalline waters and woods.
Long have I waited lonely, shunned as a thing accurst,
Monstrous, moody, pathetic, the last of the land and first;
Visioning camp-fires at twilight, sad with longing forlorn,
Feeling my womb o'er-pregnant with the seed of cities unborn.
Wild and wide are my borders, stern as death is my sway,
And I wait for the men who will win me--and I will not be won in a day;
And I will not be won by weaklings, subtle, suave and mild,
But by men with the hearts of vikings, and simple faith of a child;
Desperate, strong and resistless, unthrottled by fear or defeat,
Them will I gild with my treasure, them will I glut with my meat.
"Lofty I stand from each sister land, patient and wearily wise,
With the weight of a world of sadness in my quiet, passionless eyes;
Dreaming alone of a people, dreaming alone of a day,
When men shall not rape my riches, and curse me and go away;
Making a bawd of my bounty, fouling the hand that gave--
Till I rise in my wrath and I sweep on their path and I stamp them into a grave.
Dreaming of men who will bless me, of women esteeming me good,
Of children born in my borders of radiant motherhood,
Of cities leaping to stature, of fame like a flag unfurled,
As I pour the tide of my riches in the eager lap of the world."
This is the Law of the Yukon, that only the Strong shall thrive;
That surely the Weak shall perish, and only the Fit survive.
Dissolute, damned and despairful, crippled and palsied and slain,
This is the Will of the Yukon,--Lo, how she makes it plain!
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Law of the Yukon: A Masterpiece of Poetry
Robert W. Service's poem "The Law of the Yukon" is a masterpiece of poetry, capturing the spirit of the Yukon and the people who lived there during the Klondike gold rush. With its vivid imagery, powerful language, and evocative storytelling, the poem brings to life the harsh landscape and the rugged individuals who struggled to survive in it.
The Setting
The poem is set in the Yukon, a region in northwestern Canada known for its harsh climate and rugged terrain. The Yukon was the site of a gold rush in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, which drew thousands of prospectors to the region in search of wealth and adventure. The poem reflects this history, and it paints a vivid picture of the landscape and the people who inhabited it.
The Language
One of the most striking aspects of the poem is the power of its language. The poem is written in a simple, straightforward style that belies its emotional impact. Service uses vivid imagery and powerful metaphors to bring his words to life, and he skillfully weaves these elements together to create a sense of depth and richness that is rarely seen in poetry.
For example, in the opening stanza, Service writes:
This is the law of the Yukon, and ever she makes it plain: "Send not your foolish and feeble; send me your strong and your sane. Strong for the red rage of battle; sane for I harry them sore; Send me men who are girt for the fray, send me the men who are grit to the core; Swift as the panther in triumph, fierce as the bear in defeat, Sired of a bulldog parent, steeled in the furnace heat."
The language here is powerful and evocative, with Service using metaphors like "red rage of battle," "panther in triumph," and "furnace heat" to convey the harshness of the Yukon and the strength of the people who lived there. The repetition of the phrase "send me" also creates a sense of urgency and desperation, as if the Yukon itself is calling out for strong and capable individuals to come and face its challenges.
The Story
The poem tells a story of hardship and survival in the Yukon, focusing on the struggle of a group of men who are trying to cross a frozen river. The men are depicted as strong and capable, embodying the qualities that the Yukon demands of its inhabitants. They face numerous challenges along the way, including treacherous ice, bitter cold, and the ever-present threat of death.
Throughout the poem, Service uses the river as a metaphor for life, with its twists and turns representing the unpredictable nature of existence. The men are forced to navigate this river, facing danger at every turn. Yet they press on, driven by their determination to survive and their refusal to give up.
The Themes
At its core, "The Law of the Yukon" is a poem about survival and perseverance in the face of extreme adversity. The poem celebrates the qualities of strength, courage, and determination that are required to survive in the harsh environment of the Yukon. It also reflects on the fragility of human life, and the fact that even the strongest and most capable individuals can be brought down by the forces of nature.
Another theme that emerges in the poem is the idea of community and camaraderie. The men in the poem are united by their common struggle, and they rely on each other for support and encouragement. They are also bound together by their shared experiences, and their memories of their time in the Yukon will stay with them forever.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "The Law of the Yukon" is a powerful and evocative poem that captures the spirit of the Yukon and the people who lived there. With its vivid imagery, powerful language, and evocative storytelling, the poem immerses the reader in the harsh landscape of the Yukon and the struggles of its inhabitants. It is a testament to the strength and determination of the human spirit, and a reminder that even in the face of extreme adversity, there is always hope.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Law of the Yukon: A Poetic Journey through the Wild North
Robert W. Service's "The Law of the Yukon" is a classic poem that captures the spirit of the wild north and the rugged individuals who call it home. With its vivid imagery, powerful language, and evocative themes, this poem has become a beloved piece of literature that continues to inspire readers today.
At its core, "The Law of the Yukon" is a celebration of the human spirit and the resilience of those who live in the harsh and unforgiving wilderness of the north. The poem begins with a description of the Yukon River, which is portrayed as a powerful and unstoppable force that dominates the landscape. Service writes:
"This is the law of the Yukon, and ever she makes it plain: 'Send not your foolish and feeble; send me your strong and your sane.'"
These lines set the tone for the rest of the poem, which is a tribute to the strength and courage of those who are able to survive in this harsh environment. The poem goes on to describe the various challenges that these individuals face, from the bitter cold of the winter to the dangerous wildlife that roams the land.
One of the most striking aspects of "The Law of the Yukon" is its use of vivid imagery to bring the landscape to life. Service's descriptions of the frozen tundra, the icy rivers, and the towering mountains are so vivid that they transport the reader to this remote and rugged corner of the world. For example, he writes:
"Where the rapids churn and boil, and the river roars and raves; Where the frozen trail is lost, and the hungry huskies bay; Where the moose-horn sounds afar, and the wolves make night hideous day."
These lines paint a picture of a wild and untamed landscape that is both beautiful and dangerous. The use of sensory language, such as the sound of the rapids and the howling of the wolves, adds to the immersive quality of the poem and helps to bring the reader into the world that Service is describing.
Another notable aspect of "The Law of the Yukon" is its use of powerful language to convey its themes. The poem is filled with strong, declarative statements that emphasize the importance of strength, courage, and resilience in the face of adversity. For example, Service writes:
"Strength to force the fighting, when the foe is fierce and bold; Courage to climb the mountain, to ford the rushing stream, Perseverance, justice, mercy, love, and trust supreme."
These lines are a call to action, urging the reader to embrace these virtues and to strive to embody them in their own lives. The poem is not just a celebration of the rugged individuals who inhabit the north, but also a reminder of the qualities that make us human and that allow us to overcome the challenges that life throws our way.
In addition to its celebration of strength and resilience, "The Law of the Yukon" also touches on themes of community and camaraderie. The poem describes the close bonds that exist between those who live in the north, and the importance of working together to survive in this harsh environment. Service writes:
"Helpful hands are few, you'll find, bid him strive and you'll be kind; Food and fire and roof and rest, to him who knocks at your door."
These lines emphasize the importance of generosity and compassion, and the idea that we are all in this together. In a world that often seems divided and fragmented, "The Law of the Yukon" is a reminder of the power of community and the importance of looking out for one another.
In conclusion, "The Law of the Yukon" is a timeless poem that continues to resonate with readers today. Its celebration of strength, resilience, and community is as relevant now as it was when it was first written, and its vivid imagery and powerful language make it a joy to read. Whether you are a fan of poetry or simply someone who appreciates a good story, "The Law of the Yukon" is a must-read that will transport you to a world of adventure and excitement.
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