'The Three Voices' by Robert W. Service
AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay
The waves have a story to tell me,
As I lie on the lonely beach;
Chanting aloft in the pine-tops,
The wind has a lesson to teach;
But the stars sing an anthem of glory
I cannot put into speech.
The waves tell of ocean spaces,
Of hearts that are wild and brave,
Of populous city places,
Of desolate shores they lave,
Of men who sally in quest of gold
To sink in an ocean grave.
The wind is a mighty roamer;
He bids me keep me free,
Clean from the taint of the gold-lust,
Hardy and pure as he;
Cling with my love to nature,
As a child to the mother-knee.
But the stars throng out in their glory,
And they sing of the God in man;
They sing of the Mighty Master,
Of the loom his fingers span,
Where a star or a soul is a part of the whole,
And weft in the wondrous plan.
Here by the camp-fire's flicker,
Deep in my blanket curled,
I long for the peace of the pine-gloom,
When the scroll of the Lord is unfurled,
And the wind and the wave are silent,
And world is singing to world.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Three Voices: A Masterpiece of Poetic Storytelling
Robert W. Service, a renowned Canadian poet, wrote "The Three Voices" in 1907. This piece is one of his most popular and critically acclaimed works. In a mere 32 lines, Service tells a gripping story that captures the essence of human nature.
The Poem's Structure
"The Three Voices" is a ballad, a popular form of narrative poetry. The poem consists of eight stanzas, each containing four lines. The rhyme scheme is ABAB, and the meter is mostly iambic with some variations. The poem's brevity and structural simplicity are deceptive, as Service manages to pack a lot of meaning and emotions into every line.
The Three Voices and Their Significance
The poem's title refers to the three voices that speak to the protagonist: the voice of the tempter, the voice of the preacher, and the voice of the poet. The first voice represents the worldly desires and pleasures that entice us. The second voice represents the morality and ethics that guide us. The third voice represents the artistic and creative impulses that inspire us.
The protagonist hears the voices while standing at the crossroads of life, faced with a difficult decision. The tempter and the preacher offer opposite advice, pulling the protagonist in different directions. The poet's voice, however, provides a third option, an alternative perspective that transcends the duality of right and wrong, good and evil.
The Symbolism and Imagery
Service uses a range of symbols and images to convey the poem's themes and the voices' influence. The crossroads represent the point of decision, the moment of choice that determines the course of one's life. The fork in the road suggests that there are multiple paths, and one must choose the one that resonates with their inner voice.
The devil symbolizes temptation, sin, and the allure of the material world. The preacher symbolizes faith, morality, and the fear of eternal damnation. The poet symbolizes creativity, imagination, and the power of beauty to transcend the mundane.
The images of the silver moon, the stars, the winding road, and the distant hills create a sense of mystery, wonder, and longing. They evoke the beauty and vastness of nature, the grandeur of the universe, and the sense of awe that humans feel in the face of the unknown.
The Hidden Meanings and Interpretations
"The Three Voices" is a poem that invites multiple interpretations and meanings. On the surface, it tells a story of a person facing a dilemma and trying to choose between two opposing options. However, the poem has deeper layers of meaning that touch on the fundamental questions of human existence.
The tempter's voice represents the ego, the selfish desires, and the attachment to material things. The preacher's voice represents the superego, the social norms, and the fear of punishment. The poet's voice represents the id, the unconscious desires, and the creative impulses. The poem suggests that true wisdom comes from balancing these conflicting forces and finding a middle way that integrates them.
The poem can also be read as a critique of organized religion and its dogmatic approach to morality. The preacher's voice offers a rigid and judgmental view of the world, while the tempter's voice offers a hedonistic and nihilistic view. The poet's voice, on the other hand, offers a more nuanced and compassionate view that embraces both the light and the dark aspects of life.
Finally, the poem can be seen as a celebration of creativity and imagination. The poet's voice inspires the protagonist to look beyond the dichotomy of right and wrong, and to see the beauty and wonder of the world. The poem suggests that art has the power to heal, to transcend, and to transform.
The Poem's Relevance Today
"The Three Voices" remains relevant today, more than a century after its publication. It speaks to the universal themes of human nature, the struggle between good and evil, and the search for meaning and purpose. It reminds us that we are all faced with choices, and that our decisions have consequences.
Moreover, the poem speaks to the current state of the world, where we are bombarded by conflicting voices and ideologies. The poem invites us to listen to our inner voice, to trust our intuition, and to seek a path that aligns with our deepest values and aspirations.
In conclusion, "The Three Voices" is a masterpiece of poetic storytelling that captures the essence of human nature with its rich symbolism, vivid imagery, and profound insights. It is a timeless work of art that continues to inspire and resonate with readers of all ages and backgrounds.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Three Voices: An Analysis of Robert W. Service's Classic Poetry
Robert W. Service's "The Three Voices" is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. It is a powerful and thought-provoking piece that explores the different voices that exist within us. The poem is divided into three parts, each representing a different voice. In this analysis, we will explore the meaning behind each voice and the message that Service is trying to convey.
The first voice in the poem is the voice of the "I." This voice represents the ego, the self, and the individual. The "I" is the voice that speaks to us when we are alone, when we are faced with difficult decisions, and when we are trying to make sense of the world around us. The "I" is the voice that tells us who we are and what we want.
Service uses vivid imagery to describe the "I" voice. He writes, "I am the voice of the past that will always be, / Filled with my sorrow and blood in the strife." This line suggests that the "I" voice is rooted in the past, in our experiences and memories. The "I" voice is also associated with pain and struggle, as indicated by the reference to "blood in the strife." This suggests that the "I" voice is often driven by our past traumas and struggles.
The second voice in the poem is the voice of the "You." This voice represents the other, the outside world, and the people around us. The "You" voice is the voice that speaks to us when we are in the company of others, when we are trying to understand their perspectives, and when we are trying to connect with them. The "You" voice is the voice that tells us who others are and what they want.
Service describes the "You" voice as "the voice of the present, the voice of the Now." This suggests that the "You" voice is rooted in the present moment, in our interactions with others. The "You" voice is also associated with joy and love, as indicated by the reference to "laughter and tears." This suggests that the "You" voice is often driven by our relationships and connections with others.
The third voice in the poem is the voice of the "They." This voice represents the collective, the society, and the culture. The "They" voice is the voice that speaks to us when we are trying to understand the norms and values of our society, when we are trying to fit in, and when we are trying to make sense of the world around us. The "They" voice is the voice that tells us what is right and wrong, what is acceptable and unacceptable.
Service describes the "They" voice as "the voice of the future, the voice of the Hereafter." This suggests that the "They" voice is rooted in the future, in our aspirations and hopes for the world. The "They" voice is also associated with wisdom and guidance, as indicated by the reference to "the wise and the brave." This suggests that the "They" voice is often driven by our collective values and beliefs.
The poem is structured in a way that suggests that the three voices are in conflict with each other. The "I" voice is described as "the voice of the dead," while the "You" voice is described as "the voice of the living." This suggests that the "I" and "You" voices are in opposition to each other, with the "I" voice representing the past and the "You" voice representing the present.
Similarly, the "They" voice is described as "the voice of the unborn," suggesting that it is in opposition to both the "I" and "You" voices. This conflict between the three voices is further emphasized by the repetition of the phrase "I said to You," which is followed by the voice of the "They" contradicting what was said.
However, despite this conflict, the poem ultimately suggests that the three voices are interconnected and interdependent. The final stanza of the poem reads:
"Threefold the heart within me burns, And in each heart there are three urns. A sacred fire that never dies, A fountain that forever cries, A line that never can be drawn, A voice that speaks when I am gone."
This stanza suggests that the three voices are not separate entities, but rather different aspects of the same heart. The "sacred fire" represents the passion and drive that exists within us, while the "fountain" represents the emotions and feelings that we experience. The "line" represents the boundaries that we create between ourselves and others, while the "voice" represents the legacy that we leave behind.
In conclusion, Robert W. Service's "The Three Voices" is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores the different voices that exist within us. The poem suggests that the "I," "You," and "They" voices are interconnected and interdependent, and that they all play a role in shaping who we are and what we want. The poem encourages us to embrace all three voices and to recognize the importance of each one in our lives.
Editor Recommended Sites
Labaled Machine Learning Data: Pre-labeled machine learning data resources for Machine Learning engineers and generative modelsRun Knative: Knative tutorial, best practice and learning resources
ML Startups: Machine learning startups. The most exciting promising Machine Learning Startups and what they do
Cloud Zero Trust Security: Cloud Zero Trust security online courses, tutorials, guides, best practice
Data Lineage: Cloud governance lineage and metadata catalog tooling for business and enterprise
Recommended Similar Analysis
Hyla Brook by Robert Frost analysisQuiet Night Thoughts by Li Po analysis
The Falling Of The Leaves by William Butler Yeats analysis
Her-"last Poems" by Emily Dickinson analysis
THE WHITE ISLAND:OR PLACE OF THE BLEST by Robert Herrick analysis
Mowing by Robert Lee Frost analysis
Epitaphs by Anne Bradstreet analysis
I dreaded that first Robin, so by Emily Dickinson analysis
Oil And Blood by William Butler Yeats analysis
The Highwayman by Alfred Noyes analysis