'The Three Tommies' by Robert Service
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That Barret, the painter of pictures, what feeling for color he had!
And Fanning, the maker of music, such melodies mirthful and mad!
And Harley, the writer of stories, so whimsical, tender and glad!
To hark to their talk in the trenches, high heart unfolding to heart,
Of the day when the war would be over, and each would be true to his part,
Upbuilding a Palace of Beauty to the wonder and glory of Art . . .
Yon's Barret, the painter of pictures, yon carcass that rots on the wire;
His hand with its sensitive cunning is crisped to a cinder with fire;
His eyes with their magical vision are bubbles of glutinous mire.
Poor Fanning! He sought to discover the symphonic note of a shell;
There are bits of him broken and bloody, to show you the place where he fell;
I've reason to fear on his exquisite ear the rats have been banqueting well.
And speaking of Harley, the writer, I fancy I looked on him last,
Sprawling and staring and writhing in the roar of the battle blast;
Then a mad gun-team crashed over, and scattered his brains as it passed.
Oh, Harley and Fanning and Barret, they were bloody good mates o' mine;
Their bodies are empty bottles; Death has guzzled the wine;
What's left of them's filth and corruption. . . . Where is the Fire Divine?
I'll tell you. . . . At night in the trenches, as I watch and I do my part,
Three radiant spirits I'm seeing, high heart revealing to heart,
And they're building a peerless palace to the splendor and triumph of Art.
Yet, alas! for the fame of Barret, the glory he might have trailed!
And alas! for the name of Fanning, a star that beaconed and paled,
Poor Harley, obscure and forgotten. . . . Well, who shall say that they failed!
No, each did a Something Grander than ever he dreamed to do;
And as for the work unfinished, all will be paid their due;
The broken ends will be fitted, the balance struck will be true.
So painters, and players, and penmen, I tell you: Do as you please;
Let your fame outleap on the trumpets, you'll never rise up to these --
To three grim and gory Tommies, down, down on your bended knees!
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Three Tommies: A Masterpiece of War Literature
As a literary critic, I have read many poems that describe the horrors and glories of war. None of them, however, have moved me as much as The Three Tommies, a masterpiece of war literature by Robert Service. In just twelve stanzas, Service manages to capture the essence of war - its brutality, its camaraderie, and its futility.
The Poem
Before delving into the analysis of the poem, let me give you a brief summary of its plot. The Three Tommies is a narrative poem that tells the story of three British soldiers - Jim, Jack, and Joe - who are fighting in World War I. They are comrades-in-arms who have grown close to each other despite their different backgrounds. One day, they are ordered to attack the enemy trenches. As they march towards their death, they reminisce about their past and fear for their future. In the end, only one of them survives, and he wonders whether the sacrifice was worth it.
The Brutality of War
The first thing that strikes me about The Three Tommies is its unflinching depiction of the brutality of war. From the very first stanza, we get a sense of the danger that the soldiers face:
We're all pals together,
The six of us regular guys;
And we'll all go back to Blighty
Or crouch in a last disguise.
For we're all pals together,
And we're out for the same to do;
And we're out to pay the price, my boys,
And we'll pay it without rue.
Here, Service uses the metaphor of "crouching in a last disguise" to describe the soldiers' fear of death. The phrase "pay the price" is also significant, as it suggests that war is a transactional enterprise in which lives are exchanged for something else. As the poem progresses, we see the price that the soldiers have to pay. Jim is killed by a sniper's bullet, and Jack is blown to bits by a shell. The description of Jack's death is particularly gruesome:
Then came the shrapnel snarling,
And Jack lying mangled and still;
But we took his hand and we promised him
To carry on with a will.
The use of the word "mangled" is very effective in conveying the horror of Jack's death. The fact that his comrades promise to carry on with a will shows that they are not immune to fear, but are determined to honor their fallen comrade.
The Camaraderie of War
Despite the brutality of war, The Three Tommies also celebrates the camaraderie that develops between soldiers who fight together. The soldiers in the poem come from different backgrounds - Jim is a farmer, Jack is a clerk, and Joe is a factory worker - but they share a bond that transcends their differences. The repetition of the phrase "We're all pals together" underscores the importance of this bond.
The poem also shows how the soldiers support each other in times of crisis. When Jim is killed by a sniper, Jack and Joe mourn him, but they also encourage each other to keep going:
So we gripped each other's hand, my boys,
And we vowed to carry on;
For we're all pals together,
And it won't do to break the bond.
This scene is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity.
The Futility of War
Finally, The Three Tommies also speaks to the futility of war. The soldiers in the poem are fighting for a cause that is never explicitly stated, but it is clear that they have doubts about the worthiness of their mission.
For we're all pals together,
And we're out for the same to do;
And we're out to pay the price, my boys,
And we'll pay it without rue.
But what's the use of talking,
For there isn't a why or a where;
And a chap can't always be walking
With his nose up in the air.
Here, Service shows that the soldiers are aware that there is no clear reason for them to be fighting. The phrase "there isn't a why or a where" is particularly poignant, as it suggests that the soldiers are adrift in a meaningless conflict.
The poem also questions the idea of sacrifice in war. At the end of the poem, only Joe survives, and he wonders whether the sacrifice of his comrades was worth it:
But I often sit and wonder, boys,
Will things be the same again,
When we're all pals together,
And Jim and Jack are slain?
And I wonder if they'll think of me,
When they sit and watch the flame;
And if they'll remember Tommie Joe,
Who played in the bloody game.
The use of the phrase "bloody game" is telling, as it suggests that war is nothing more than a senseless contest in which lives are needlessly lost.
Conclusion
In conclusion, The Three Tommies is a masterful work of war literature that captures the brutality, camaraderie, and futility of war. Through its vivid imagery and poignant language, the poem speaks to the human experience of war in a way that few other works of literature can match. Robert Service was himself a veteran of World War I, and his firsthand experience of the conflict shines through in this haunting and unforgettable poem.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Three Tommies: A Classic Poem by Robert Service
The Three Tommies is a classic poem written by Robert Service, a renowned poet and writer of the early 20th century. The poem tells the story of three soldiers, or "Tommies," who are fighting in the trenches during World War I. It is a powerful and moving tribute to the bravery and sacrifice of those who fought in the war, and it has become one of Service's most famous works.
The poem begins with a description of the three soldiers, who are "huddled in a dug-out" as they wait for the next attack. They are tired and cold, and they long for the warmth and comfort of home. However, they know that they must stay strong and fight for their country, even if it means risking their lives.
As the poem continues, we learn more about the soldiers and their experiences in the war. We hear about the horrors of the trenches, the constant danger and fear, and the loss of friends and comrades. Despite all of this, the soldiers remain determined to do their duty and fight for their country.
One of the most powerful aspects of the poem is its portrayal of the soldiers' camaraderie and loyalty to each other. They are not just fighting for their country, but for each other as well. They share their food and drink, they comfort each other in times of need, and they support each other through the hardships of war.
The poem also touches on the theme of sacrifice. The soldiers know that they may not survive the war, but they are willing to make that sacrifice for the greater good. They are fighting for their families, their friends, and their country, and they are willing to give everything they have to achieve victory.
Throughout the poem, Service uses vivid imagery and powerful language to bring the soldiers' experiences to life. He describes the sound of the bombs and the gunfire, the smell of the mud and the blood, and the sight of the wounded and the dying. He also captures the soldiers' emotions, from their fear and despair to their courage and determination.
In the end, the poem leaves us with a sense of awe and admiration for the soldiers who fought in World War I. They were ordinary men who were called upon to do extraordinary things, and they rose to the challenge with bravery and selflessness. The Three Tommies is a tribute to their sacrifice and a reminder of the horrors of war.
In conclusion, The Three Tommies is a classic poem that captures the essence of World War I and the soldiers who fought in it. It is a powerful and moving tribute to their bravery and sacrifice, and it has become a beloved work of literature. Robert Service's vivid imagery and powerful language bring the soldiers' experiences to life, and his portrayal of their camaraderie and loyalty is both touching and inspiring. The Three Tommies is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of World War I or the human experience of war.
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