'The Ballad Of Touch-The-Button Nell' by Robert Service
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Beyond the Rocking Bridge it lies, the burg of evil fame,
The huts where hive and swarm and thrive the sisterhood of shame.
Through all the night each cabin light goes out and then goes in,
A blood-red heliograph of lust, a semaphore of sin.
From Dawson Town, soft skulking down, each lewdster seeks his mate;
And glad and bad, kimono clad, the wanton women wait.
The Klondike gossips to the moon, and sinners o'er its bars;
Each silent hill is dark and chill, and chill the patient stars.
Yet hark! upon the Rocking Bridge a bacchanalian step;
A whispered: "Come," the skirl of some hell-raking demirep...
* * * * * * * * * * *
They gave a dance in Lousetown, and the Tenderloin was there,
The girls were fresh and frolicsome, and nearly all were fair.
They flaunted on their back the spoil of half-a-dozen towns;
And some they blazed in gems of price, and some wore Paris gowns.
The voting was divided as to who might be the belle;
But all opined, the winsomest was Touch-the-Button Nell.
Among the merry mob of men was one who did not dance,
But watched the "light fantastic" with a sour sullen glance.
They saw his white teeth gleam, they saw his thick lips twitch;
They knew him for the giant Slav, one Riley Dooleyvitch.
"Oh Riley Dooleyvitch, come forth," quoth Touch-the-Button Nell,
"And dance a step or two with me - the music's simply swell,"
He crushed her in his mighty arms, a meek, beguiling witch,
"With you, oh Nell, I'd dance to hell," said Riley Dooleyvitch.
He waltzed her up, he waltzed her down, he waltzed her round the hall;
His heart was putty in her hands, his very soul was thrall.
As Antony of old succumbed to Cleopatra's spell,
So Riley Dooleyvitch bowed down to Touch-the-Button Nell.
"And do you love me true?" she cried. "I love you as my life."
"How can you prove your love?" she sighed. "I beg you be my wife.
I stake big pay up Hunker way; some day I be so rich;
I make you shine in satins fine," said Riley Dooleyvitch.
"Some day you'll be so rich," she mocked; "that old pipe-dream don't go.
Who gets an option on this kid must have some coin to show.
You work your ground. When Spring comes round, our wedding bells will ring.
I'm on the square, and I'll take care of all the gold you bring."
So Riley Dooleyvitch went back and worked upon his claim;
He ditched and drifted, sunk and stoped, with one unswerving aim;
And when his poke of raw moose-hide with dust began to swell,
He bought and laid it at the feet of Touch-the-Button Nell.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Now like all others of her ilk, the lady had a friend,
And what she made my way of trade, she gave to him to spend;
To stake him in a poker game, or pay his bar-room score;
He was a pimp from Paris. and his name was Lew Lamore.
And so as Dooleyvitch went forth and worked as he was bid,
And wrested from the frozen muck the yellow stuff it hid,
And brought it to his Lady Nell, she gave him love galore -
But handed over all her gains to festive Lew Lamore.
* * * * * * * * * * *
A year had gone, a weary year of strain and bloody sweat;
Of pain and hurt in dark and dirt, of fear that she forget.
He sought once more her cabin door: "I've laboured like a beast;
But now, dear one, the time has come to go before the priest.
"I've brought you gold - a hundred fold I'll bring you bye and bye;
But oh I want you, want you bad; I want you till I die.
Come, quit this life with evil rife - we'll joy while yet we can..."
"I may not wed with you," she said; "I love another man.
"I love him and I hate him so. He holds me in a spell.
He beats me - see my bruisèd brest; he makes my life a hell.
He bleeds me, as by sin and shame I earn my daily bread:
Oh cruel Fate, I cannot mate till Lew Lamore is dead!"
* * * * * * * * * * *
The long lean flume streaked down the hill, five hundred feet of fall;
The waters in the dam above chafed at their prison wall;
They surged and swept, they churned and leapt, with savage glee and strife;
With spray and spume the dizzy flume thrilled like a thing of life.
"We must be free," the waters cried, and scurried down the slope;
"No power can hold us back," they roared, and hurried in their hope.
Into a mighty pipe they plunged, like maddened steers they ran,
And crashed out through a shard of steel - to serve the will of Man.
And there, by hydraulicking his ground beside a bedrock ditch,
With eye aflame and savage aim was Riley Dooleyvitch.
In long hip-boots and overalls, and dingy denim shirt,
Behind a giant monitor he pounded at the dirt.
A steely shaft of water shot, and smote the face of clay;
It burrowed in the frozen muck, and scooped the dirt away;
It gored the gravel from its bed, it bellowed like a bull;
It hurled the heavy rock aloft like heaps of fleecy wool.
Strength of a hundred men was there, resistess might and skill,
And only Riley Dooleyvitch to swing it at his will.
He played it up, he played it down, nigh deafened by its roar,
'Til suddenly he raised his eyes, and there stood Lew Lamore.
Pig-eyed and heavy jowled he stood and puffed a big cigar;
As cool as though he ruled the roost in some Montmartre bar.
He seemed to say, "I've got a cinch, a double diamond hitch:
I'll skin this Muscovitish oaf, this Riley Dooleyvitch.
He shouted: "Stop ze water gun; it stun me... Sacré damn!
I like to make one beezness deal; you know ze man I am.
Zat leetle girl, she loves me so - I tell you what I do:
You geeve to me zees claim... Jeecrize! I geeve zat girl to you."
"I'll see you damned," says Dooleyvitch; but e'er he checked his tongue,
(It may have been an accident) the little Giant swung;
Swift as a lightning flash it swung, until it plumply bore
And met with an obstruction in the shape of Lew lamore.
It caught him up, and spun him round, and tossed him like a ball;
It played and pawed him in the air, before it let him fall.
Then just to show what it could do, with savage rend and thud,
It ripped the entrails from his spine, and dropped him in the mud.
They gathered up the broken bones, and sadly in a sack,
They bore to town the last remains of Lew Lamore, the macque.
And would you hear the full details of how it all befell,
Ask Missis Riley Dooleyvitch (late Touch-the-Button Nell).
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Ballad Of Touch-The-Button Nell: A Masterpiece of Robert Service
Oh, dear readers, have you ever read a poem that left you breathless and tingling with excitement? Have you ever been swept away by the rhythm and the melody of the words, captivated by the story, and mesmerized by the imagery? If you haven't, then you must read The Ballad Of Touch-The-Button Nell, written by the legendary poet Robert Service. This masterpiece of poetry is a thrilling adventure that takes you on a journey through the dangerous and exciting world of the Gold Rush, where a beautiful and ambitious woman named Nell risks everything to strike it rich.
The Story of Nell
The story of Nell is a classic tale of ambition, courage, and greed. Nell, a beautiful and determined woman, born and raised in the harsh and unforgiving wilderness of the Yukon, dreams of finding gold and becoming rich. She is not content with the simple life of a prospector, but instead desires to be the queen of the goldfields. Her ambition is so great that she is willing to take any risk, face any danger, and cross any line to achieve her goal.
Nell's journey begins when she discovers a secret gold mine, hidden deep in the mountains. The mine is guarded by a fierce and terrifying monster, but Nell is undaunted. She uses her wit and her charm to win the monster's trust and gain access to the mine. Inside the mine, she finds unimaginable riches, but her greed and ambition push her to take even greater risks. She begins to touch every button and pull every lever, hoping to uncover even more treasure.
But Nell's greed and recklessness have consequences. She triggers a powerful explosion that destroys the mine and kills the monster. Nell narrowly escapes with her life, but she is forever changed by the experience. She realizes that her ambition has blinded her to the true value of life, and she vows to never again touch a button or pull a lever that she doesn't understand.
The Poetic Elements
The Ballad Of Touch-The-Button Nell is not just a thrilling adventure story; it is also a masterfully crafted piece of poetry. Robert Service's use of poetic elements such as rhythm, rhyme, and imagery, adds depth and beauty to the story, making it a truly unforgettable experience.
Service's use of rhythm in the poem is particularly noteworthy. The poem is written in ballad form, with a simple and repetitive meter that creates a sense of urgency and excitement. The rhythm of the poem mimics the pace of Nell's journey, building tension and suspense as she gets closer to her goal. The repetition of certain phrases, such as "touch the button" and "pull the lever", adds to the rhythm of the poem, reinforcing the idea that Nell is being driven forward by her ambition.
The rhyme scheme of the poem is also important. Service uses an ABAB rhyme scheme, with each stanza consisting of four lines. The rhyme scheme helps to create a sense of symmetry and balance, highlighting the contrast between Nell's ambition and the consequences of her actions.
Service's use of imagery is also noteworthy. He creates a vivid picture of the Yukon landscape, with its harsh and unforgiving terrain, and its endless expanse of snow and ice. He also uses imagery to bring Nell to life, describing her as a beautiful and fierce woman who is both brave and reckless. The image of Nell touching every button and pulling every lever is particularly powerful, evoking a sense of danger and excitement.
The Themes
The Ballad Of Touch-The-Button Nell is a rich and complex poem that explores a wide range of themes. One of the central themes of the poem is ambition. Nell's ambition is what drives her forward, but it also leads to her downfall. The poem suggests that ambition, when taken to an extreme, can be dangerous and destructive.
Another important theme of the poem is the value of life. Nell's reckless behavior puts her life in danger, and she realizes too late that her ambition has blinded her to the true value of life. The poem suggests that life is precious and fragile, and that it should be cherished and respected.
The theme of greed is also explored in the poem. Nell's desire for wealth and power pushes her to take risks and ignore the consequences of her actions. The poem suggests that greed can be a destructive force that can lead to loss and tragedy.
Conclusion
In conclusion, The Ballad Of Touch-The-Button Nell is a masterpiece of poetry that combines thrilling adventure with beautiful language and thought-provoking themes. Service's use of rhythm, rhyme, and imagery, adds depth and beauty to the story, making it a truly unforgettable experience. The poem is a powerful reminder of the dangers of ambition, greed, and recklessness, and a testament to the value of life. If you haven't read this poem yet, then you must do so immediately. You will be swept away by the excitement and beauty of Nell's journey, and you will emerge from the experience with a newfound appreciation for the power of poetry.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Ballad of Touch-The-Button Nell: A Tale of Love and Technology
Robert Service's classic poem, The Ballad of Touch-The-Button Nell, is a timeless tale of love and technology. Written in the early 20th century, the poem tells the story of a young woman named Nell who falls in love with a man named Jim, who works as an engineer at a power plant. As their relationship blossoms, Nell becomes fascinated with the power plant and the technology that Jim works with. However, her curiosity leads to tragedy when she accidentally touches a button that causes a catastrophic explosion.
The poem is written in Service's signature ballad style, with a simple and straightforward narrative that is easy to follow. However, the poem is also rich in symbolism and metaphor, and can be interpreted on many different levels.
At its core, The Ballad of Touch-The-Button Nell is a cautionary tale about the dangers of technology. Nell's fascination with the power plant represents humanity's fascination with technology, and the potential dangers that come with it. The poem warns us that we must be careful with the power we wield, and that even the smallest mistake can have catastrophic consequences.
However, the poem is also a love story. Nell and Jim's relationship is sweet and innocent, and their love for each other is genuine. Nell's curiosity about the power plant is not driven by a desire for power or control, but by a desire to understand the world that Jim lives in. Her accidental mistake is not a result of recklessness or carelessness, but of a genuine desire to learn.
The poem also touches on themes of gender and power. Nell is a young woman in a male-dominated world, and her fascination with the power plant is seen as unusual and even dangerous. However, her curiosity and intelligence are also celebrated, and she is not portrayed as a victim or a damsel in distress. Instead, she is a complex and fully-realized character who is capable of making her own decisions and taking responsibility for her actions.
The poem's use of language is also noteworthy. Service's use of rhyme and meter gives the poem a musical quality, and his use of repetition and alliteration adds to the poem's sense of rhythm and momentum. The poem's language is simple and straightforward, but also rich in imagery and metaphor. For example, the power plant is described as a "monster" and a "dragon," and Nell's accidental mistake is described as a "kiss of death."
Overall, The Ballad of Touch-The-Button Nell is a classic poem that is still relevant today. Its themes of love, technology, and power are timeless, and its cautionary message is as important now as it was when the poem was first written. The poem's use of language and symbolism is also impressive, and adds to its enduring appeal. Whether read as a cautionary tale or a love story, The Ballad of Touch-The-Button Nell is a poem that will continue to captivate readers for generations to come.
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