'At Thirty-Five' by Robert Service
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Three score and ten, the psalmist saith,
And half my course is well-nigh run;
I've had my flout at dusty death,
I've had my whack of feast and fun.
I've mocked at those who prate and preach;
I've laughed with any man alive;
But now with sobered heart I reach
The Great Divide of Thirty-five.
And looking back I must confess
I've little cause to feel elate.
I've played the mummer more or less;
I fumbled fortune, flouted fate.
I've vastly dreamed and little done;
I've idly watched my brothers strive:
Oh, I have loitered in the sun
By primrose paths to Thirty-five!
And those who matched me in the race,
Well, some are out and trampled down;
The others jog with sober pace;
Yet one wins delicate renown.
O midnight feast and famished dawn!
O gay, hard life, with hope alive!
O golden youth, forever gone,
How sweet you seem at Thirty-five!
Each of our lives is just a book
As absolute as Holy Writ;
We humbly read, and may not look
Ahead, nor change one word of it.
And here are joys and here are pains;
And here we fail and here we thrive;
O wondrous volume! what remains
When we reach chapter Thirty-five?
The very best, I dare to hope,
Ere Fate writes Finis to the tome;
A wiser head, a wider scope,
And for the gipsy heart, a home;
A songful home, with loved ones near,
With joy, with sunshine all alive:
Watch me grow younger every year --
Old Age! thy name is Thirty-five!
Editor 1 Interpretation
At Thirty-Five: A Poem of Reflection and Regret
Robert Service's poem, "At Thirty-Five," is a poignant examination of the human experience at a critical juncture in life. The speaker in the poem reflects on his life as he approaches middle age, contemplating his successes and failures, his dreams and disappointments, and his hopes and fears for the future. Through his powerful imagery and evocative language, Service captures the complex emotions and conflicting desires that define the human condition. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the meaning and significance of this classic poem in depth, examining its themes, imagery, and structure.
Setting the Scene: Introducing the Poem
"At Thirty-Five" was published in Robert Service's 1912 collection "Rhymes of a Rolling Stone." The poem is written in the first person, and the speaker is a man who has reached the age of thirty-five. He is reflecting on his life, his accomplishments, and his failures, and he is struggling to come to terms with the fact that he is no longer young and carefree. In the opening stanza, the speaker sets the scene:
"At thirty-five, when life's fierce strife Repels the strong, attracts the weak, When, tired of men, we've almost ceased To dream, yet still must strive to seek, When, in the swim, we sink or strive, It's hard to keep our hopes alive."
This stanza establishes the central theme of the poem: the struggle to maintain hope and optimism in the face of life's challenges. The speaker is at a point in his life where he is tired of the struggle, but he knows that he must continue to strive if he is to achieve his goals.
The Themes of "At Thirty-Five"
The theme of hope and optimism is just one of the many themes that run through "At Thirty-Five." Another important theme is the tension between the past and the present. The speaker is looking back on his life, remembering the joys and sorrows of his youth, and comparing them to his current situation. He is struggling to reconcile his memories of the past with the reality of the present, and he is finding it difficult to accept that he can never go back to the way things were.
Another theme that is central to the poem is the search for meaning and purpose. The speaker is at a crossroads in his life, and he is questioning the choices he has made and the direction his life is taking. He is searching for a sense of purpose and fulfillment, and he is struggling to find it.
Yet another theme that runs through "At Thirty-Five" is the inevitability of change. The speaker is acutely aware that he is getting older, and he is struggling to come to terms with the fact that his life will never be the same again. He is nostalgic for the past, but he knows that he must embrace the present if he is to move forward.
Imagery and Symbolism in "At Thirty-Five"
One of the most striking features of "At Thirty-Five" is its vivid imagery and powerful symbolism. Service uses a variety of metaphors and symbols to convey the speaker's emotions and experiences, creating a rich and multi-layered text that rewards careful analysis and interpretation.
One of the most powerful images in the poem is the metaphor of the swim. The speaker compares life to a swim, and he describes the struggle to stay afloat and avoid sinking. This metaphor captures the sense of struggle and competition that is central to the human experience, and it also conveys the importance of perseverance and determination in the face of adversity.
Another important image in the poem is the symbol of the rose. The speaker describes a rose that he has picked, and he marvels at its beauty and fragility. The rose symbolizes the fleeting nature of life, and it also represents the beauty and joy that can be found in the midst of struggle and adversity.
The use of color imagery is also important in "At Thirty-Five." The speaker describes the sky as "gray and blue," and he uses these colors to convey a sense of melancholy and nostalgia. The gray represents the speaker's sense of sadness and loss, while the blue represents his hope and optimism.
Structure and Style in "At Thirty-Five"
The structure and style of "At Thirty-Five" are also worthy of note. Service uses a simple and straightforward rhyme scheme, with each stanza consisting of four lines that follow an ABAB pattern. This simple structure allows the poem's themes and imagery to shine through, and it also creates a sense of unity and coherence.
Service's use of language is also notable. He employs simple and direct language, using short and punchy sentences that convey the speaker's emotions and experiences in a powerful and direct manner. The language is also highly evocative, using vivid imagery and powerful symbolism to create a rich and complex text that rewards careful analysis and interpretation.
Conclusion: The Significance of "At Thirty-Five"
In conclusion, "At Thirty-Five" is a powerful and poignant examination of the human experience at a critical juncture in life. Through its themes, imagery, and structure, the poem captures the complex emotions and conflicting desires that define the human condition, and it offers a powerful reflection on the struggle to maintain hope and optimism in the face of life's challenges. As such, it remains an enduring and important work of literature, one that continues to resonate with readers today.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
At Thirty-Five: A Poem of Reflection and Regret
Robert Service's poem "At Thirty-Five" is a powerful and poignant reflection on the passage of time and the regrets that can come with it. Written in Service's signature style of simple, direct language and vivid imagery, the poem captures the feelings of a man who has reached a turning point in his life and is looking back on what might have been.
The poem begins with the speaker describing himself as "a man who's spent his prime / In half a hundred huts and dives." This opening line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as the speaker immediately establishes himself as someone who has not lived a conventional or successful life. He goes on to describe his experiences in vivid detail, painting a picture of a life filled with hard work, adventure, and danger.
The speaker describes himself as a "wanderer" who has traveled the world, from "the Arctic to the tropic zone." He has worked in mines and on ships, and has seen "the cities of the world aglow." He has lived a life of excitement and adventure, but now, at the age of thirty-five, he is beginning to feel the weight of his choices.
The poem's central theme is regret, and the speaker expresses this regret in a number of ways. He regrets the time he has wasted, the opportunities he has missed, and the people he has left behind. He laments the fact that he has "no wife, no child, no home," and wonders if he has "missed the boat" when it comes to finding love and settling down.
The speaker also expresses regret for the risks he has taken and the dangers he has faced. He describes himself as "scarred and battered" and wonders if it was all worth it. He asks himself if he has "been a fool to roam," and if he has "wasted youth and health and strength."
Despite these regrets, however, the speaker does not seem entirely unhappy with his life. He acknowledges that he has "had my fling," and that he has "seen the world and had my fill." He seems to take pride in the fact that he has lived life on his own terms, and that he has not been tied down by convention or expectation.
The poem's final stanza is perhaps its most powerful. The speaker describes himself as "a man who's lived his life," and acknowledges that he is "not afraid to die." He expresses a sense of peace and acceptance, and seems to suggest that, despite his regrets, he has no desire to change the course of his life.
Overall, "At Thirty-Five" is a powerful and moving poem that captures the complex emotions of a man who has lived a life of adventure and risk, but who now finds himself looking back with regret. Through vivid imagery and simple, direct language, Robert Service creates a portrait of a man who has lived life on his own terms, but who is now grappling with the consequences of his choices. The poem is a reminder that, no matter how exciting or fulfilling our lives may seem in the moment, we will all eventually face the regrets that come with the passage of time.
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