'Ghosts' by Robert Service
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I to a crumpled cabin came
upon a hillside high,
And with me was a withered dame
As weariful as I.
"It used to be our home," she said;
"How well I remember well!
Oh that our happy hearth should be
Today an empty shell!"
The door was flailing in the storm
That deafed us with its din;
The roof that kept us once so warm
Now let the snow-drift in.
The floor sagged to the sod below,
The walls caved crazily;
We only heard the wind of woe
Where once was glow and glee.
So there we stood disconsolate
Beneath the Midnight Dome,
And ancient miner and his mate,
Before our wedded home,
Where we had know such love and cheer . . .
I sighed, then soft she said:
"Do not regret - remember, dear,
We, too, are dead."
Editor 1 Interpretation
#Ghostly Musings: A Literary Criticism of Robert Service's Ghosts
Have you ever felt the chill of a ghostly presence? The eerie feeling of an otherworldly force that lingers in the air? Robert Service's Ghosts captures the essence of this sensation with hauntingly beautiful lines that leave a lasting impact on the reader. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will delve into the themes, imagery, and literary devices used in the poem to uncover its deeper meaning.
The Ghosts of Memory
At its core, Ghosts is a reflection on the past and the ghosts that haunt us. Service paints a vivid picture of a night filled with haunting memories, as the speaker wanders through a graveyard:
"Down the ghostly glade I go,
Dreadful shadows to and fro
In the misty moonshine dressed;
Ghostly hands on ghostly breast;"
The imagery of "ghostly shadows" and "misty moonshine" sets the tone for the poem, creating an atmosphere of unease and apprehension. The repetition of the word "ghostly" emphasizes the presence of the supernatural and highlights the poem's central theme: the ghosts of memory that continue to haunt us long after their physical counterparts have departed.
The speaker's wandering through the graveyard serves as a metaphor for his own journey through the past. As he reflects on the memories that haunt him, he realizes that he can never fully escape them:
"Ghosts of old loves, half recalled,
Hopes that gleamed and dreams that palled,
Ghastly regrets that clasp and cling,
Shadows of a soul's dead Spring."
The use of the word "ghosts" in this stanza highlights the idea that memories are like specters that linger in the mind, haunting us with what could have been. The juxtaposition of "hopes that gleamed" and "dreams that palled" emphasizes the fleeting nature of happiness and how easily it can be replaced by regret. The reference to "a soul's dead Spring" suggests that the speaker is mourning the loss of his youth and the innocent dreams of his past.
The Power of Metaphor
Service's use of metaphor is one of the poem's greatest strengths. The graveyard, for example, serves as a metaphor for the speaker's own mind:
"Graveyard of my buried years,
Oft I water with my tears;
Every grave becomes a shrine
Where I bow and cling and pine;"
The use of the word "shrine" emphasizes the religious undertones of the poem and highlights the speaker's reverence for his memories. The repetition of "bow and cling and pine" emphasizes the speaker's emotional attachment to his past, as if he is desperately trying to hold on to something that is slipping away.
The poem's closing lines, which compare the speaker to a ghostly apparition, are perhaps its most powerful metaphor:
"And I know that soon or late
I shall join the ghosts that wait
In the misty moonshine pale,
Ghosts of joy that could not stay,
Ghosts of sorrows passed away,
Phantom loves that left a trail
Of a heart's immortal bale."
The image of the speaker as a ghostly apparition highlights the idea that our memories are a part of us, even after we are gone. The repetition of "ghosts" emphasizes the poem's central theme and underscores the idea that the past never truly leaves us.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Robert Service's Ghosts is a hauntingly beautiful poem that explores the power of memory and the ghosts that haunt us. Through vivid imagery, powerful metaphors, and a masterful use of language, Service captures the essence of a night filled with haunting memories. The poem's central theme, the ghosts of memory, serves as a powerful reminder that our past is a part of us, even as we move forward into the unknown. Ghosts is a timeless masterpiece that continues to resonate with readers today, inviting us to confront our own ghosts and come to terms with the past.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Ghosts by Robert Service is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. It is a hauntingly beautiful piece that captures the essence of the supernatural world. The poem is a perfect example of Service's mastery of language and his ability to create vivid imagery that transports the reader to another world.
The poem begins with the line, "I have a rendezvous with Death." This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem and immediately draws the reader in. The speaker is not afraid of death, but rather embraces it as a natural part of life. The speaker goes on to describe the ghosts that he has encountered in his life. These ghosts are not the scary, malevolent spirits that we often see in horror movies, but rather they are the ghosts of people who have passed away.
The first ghost that the speaker encounters is that of a soldier who died in battle. The soldier's ghost is described as being "grim and gray and ghostly." The use of alliteration in this line adds to the eerie feeling of the poem. The soldier's ghost is not a frightening presence, but rather a reminder of the sacrifices that have been made in the name of freedom.
The second ghost that the speaker encounters is that of a sailor who died at sea. The sailor's ghost is described as being "pale and wan and wistful." The use of alliteration in this line adds to the melancholy feeling of the poem. The sailor's ghost is a reminder of the dangers of the sea and the many lives that have been lost to it.
The third ghost that the speaker encounters is that of a lover who died young. The lover's ghost is described as being "fair and frail and fond." The use of alliteration in this line adds to the romantic feeling of the poem. The lover's ghost is a reminder of the fragility of life and the importance of cherishing the time that we have with our loved ones.
The fourth and final ghost that the speaker encounters is that of a child who died too soon. The child's ghost is described as being "small and sweet and sunny." The use of alliteration in this line adds to the innocence and purity of the child's ghost. The child's ghost is a reminder of the tragedy of death and the loss of potential that comes with it.
Throughout the poem, the speaker is not afraid of the ghosts that he encounters. Instead, he embraces them as a natural part of life. The ghosts are not frightening, but rather they are a reminder of the many lives that have been lost and the importance of remembering those who have passed away.
The poem ends with the line, "I have a rendezvous with Death." This line brings the poem full circle and reminds the reader that death is a natural part of life. The speaker is not afraid of death, but rather he embraces it as a part of the cycle of life.
In conclusion, Ghosts by Robert Service is a hauntingly beautiful poem that captures the essence of the supernatural world. The poem is a perfect example of Service's mastery of language and his ability to create vivid imagery that transports the reader to another world. The ghosts that the speaker encounters are not frightening, but rather they are a reminder of the many lives that have been lost and the importance of remembering those who have passed away. The poem is a powerful reminder of the fragility of life and the importance of cherishing the time that we have with our loved ones.
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