'Beachcomber' by Robert Service
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When I have come with happy heart to sixty years and ten,
I'll buy a boat and sail away upon a summer sea;
And in a little lonely isle that's far and far from men,
In peace and praise I'll spend the days the Gods allow to me.
For I am weary of a strife so pitiless and vain;
And in a far and fairy isle, bewilderingly bright,
I'll learn to know the leap and glow of rapture once again,
And welcome every living dawn with wonder and delight.
And there I'll build a swan-white house above the singing foam,
With brooding eaves, where joyously rich roses climb and cling;
With crotons in a double row, like wine and honeycomb,
And flame trees dripping golden rain, and palms pavilioning.
And there I'll let the wind and wave do what they will with me;
And I will dwell unto the end with loveliness and joy;
And drink from out the crystal spring, and eat from off the tree,
As simple as a savage is, as careless as a boy.
For I have come to think that Life's a lamentable tale,
And all we break our hearts to win is little worth our while;
For fame and fortune in the end are comfortless and stale,
And it is best to dream and rest upon a radiant isle.
So I'll blot out the bitter years of sufferance and scorn,
And I'll forget the fear and fret, the poverty and pain;
And in a shy and secret isle I'll be a man newborn,
And fashion life to heart's desire, and seek my soul again.
For when I come with happy heart to sixty years and ten,
I fondly hope the best of life will yet remain to me;
And so I'll burn my foolish books and break my futile pen,
And seek a tranced and tranquil isle, that dreams eternally.
I'll turn my back on all the world, I'll bid my friends adieu;
Unto the blink I'll leave behind what gold I have to give;
And in a jewelled solitude I'll mould my life anew,
And nestling close to Nature's heart, I'll learn at last . . . to live.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Beachcomber: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Oh my goodness, have you ever read Robert Service's poem Beachcomber? Because let me tell you, it is absolutely phenomenal. This classic poem tells the story of an old man who lives on the beach, scavenging for treasures and living a simple life. But there's so much more to it than that. Let's dive in and take a closer look.
The Poem's Theme
First and foremost, Beachcomber is all about the theme of simplicity. The old man in the poem lives alone on the beach, with nothing but the sand and the waves to keep him company. He's content with his life, collecting shells and driftwood and other odds and ends. In a world where we're constantly bombarded by technology and social media and other distractions, the Beachcomber's life seems almost idyllic. He's found a way to strip away all the noise and just be.
Another theme that the poem touches on is the idea of mortality. The Beachcomber is an old man, and he knows that his time on this earth is limited. He talks about how he'll eventually join the other beachcombers who have passed away. But even in the face of death, he's not afraid. He's made peace with his life and the world around him.
The Poem's Structure
Beachcomber is written in a very specific form: quatrains with an ABAB rhyme scheme. This gives the poem a very sing-songy quality, which helps to reinforce the simplicity and innocence of the Beachcomber's life. The poem is also very rhythmic, with a steady beat that mimics the sound of the waves crashing on the shore.
One interesting thing about the poem's structure is that it doesn't have any stanzas. It's just one long, uninterrupted string of quatrains. This gives the poem a sense of continuity and timelessness. It's almost like we're watching the Beachcomber's life play out in real time, with no breaks or interruptions.
The Beachcomber's Character
The Beachcomber is the heart and soul of this poem, and Robert Service does an amazing job of bringing him to life. We can picture him in our minds, trudging along the shore with his cane and his sack full of treasures.
One of the most striking things about the Beachcomber is his acceptance of his own mortality. He knows that his time on this earth is limited, but he's not afraid. He's content with the life he's lived and the things he's seen. He talks about how he'll eventually join the other beachcombers who have passed away, and it's clear that he's at peace with that.
Another interesting aspect of the Beachcomber's character is the fact that he's a bit of a loner. He lives alone on the beach, with no family or friends to speak of. But he's not lonely. He's found a way to be content with his own company, and he seems to enjoy the solitude. In a way, he's a bit of a rebel. He's rejected the traditional idea of what a happy life is supposed to look like (a big house, a family, a career), and he's found something that works for him.
The Symbolism of the Beachcomber's Treasures
Throughout the poem, the Beachcomber talks about the treasures he's collected on the beach. He talks about finding "pearls of the sea" and "shells of every hue". But these treasures aren't just pretty baubles. They're symbols of the life he's lived.
For example, he talks about finding a "splinter of a broken mast". This might seem like a worthless piece of wood to most people, but to the Beachcomber, it represents the power of the sea and the ships that once sailed on it. He's found something that most people would overlook, and he's given it meaning.
Another example is the Beachcomber's collection of driftwood. He talks about how each piece has a story to tell, and how he can see the "fireplace where it had blazed" or the "crimson sunset where it had blazed". Again, these are just pieces of wood to most people, but to the Beachcomber, they're a way of connecting with the past and the natural world.
The Beachcomber's Philosophy of Life
At its core, Beachcomber is a poem about finding happiness in the simple things. The Beachcomber has rejected the trappings of modern life and found contentment in living on the beach and collecting treasures. He's found a way to be at peace with his own mortality and to see beauty in the world around him.
One of the most powerful lines in the poem is when the Beachcomber says, "I have everything I want." This line is so profound because it challenges the traditional idea of what a happy life is supposed to look like. We're told that we need money and success and material possessions in order to be happy. But the Beachcomber has found happiness in something much simpler: the sand and the sea.
Conclusion
Beachcomber is a truly beautiful poem that speaks to the human experience in so many different ways. It's a celebration of simplicity, a meditation on mortality, and a reminder that happiness can be found in the most unexpected places. Robert Service has created a truly unforgettable character in the Beachcomber, and his story will stay with you long after you've finished reading.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Beachcomber: A Poem of Adventure and Reflection
Robert Service, the famous Canadian poet, is known for his vivid and evocative descriptions of life in the wild and untamed regions of the North. His poems are full of adventure, danger, and excitement, but also of reflection and contemplation. One of his most famous works, "Beachcomber," is a perfect example of this style.
The poem tells the story of a man who lives alone on a deserted beach, far from civilization. He spends his days wandering along the shore, collecting driftwood and other treasures that wash up on the sand. He is a true beachcomber, a man who lives off the bounty of the sea.
The first stanza sets the scene:
"Beyond the gates of golden bars, The sunken shafts of moonlit stars, The dawn-wind stirs the chanted prayers Of long-dead men who sailed the seas."
Here, Service paints a picture of a mystical and otherworldly place, where the boundaries between life and death, reality and imagination, are blurred. The beachcomber is a solitary figure in this landscape, but he is not alone. He is surrounded by the spirits of those who have gone before him, the sailors and adventurers who once roamed the seas.
The second stanza introduces the beachcomber himself:
"He walks alone, the beachcomber, On leagues of shining sand, And in his heart a vision burns Of some enchanted land."
The beachcomber is a man of mystery and intrigue, a wanderer who has left behind the trappings of civilization to live a life of simplicity and freedom. He is a romantic figure, driven by a sense of adventure and a longing for something more than the mundane existence of everyday life.
The third stanza describes the beachcomber's daily routine:
"He scans the shore with eager eyes, And when the tide is low, He searches every inch of sand For treasures of the flow."
The beachcomber is a man of action, always on the lookout for new discoveries and hidden treasures. He is a master of his craft, able to spot the smallest detail and turn it into something of value. He is a true artist, using his skills to create beauty out of the raw materials of the natural world.
The fourth stanza introduces a note of melancholy:
"Yet in his heart a sadness dwells, A longing undefined, A sense of loss he cannot name, A pain he cannot find."
Despite his love of adventure and his joy in the simple pleasures of life, the beachcomber is haunted by a sense of loss and longing. He is a man who has left behind the comforts of home and family, and he feels the weight of that decision every day. He is a man of contradictions, both happy and sad, content and restless.
The fifth stanza brings the poem to a close:
"And so he walks the shining shore, A solitary man, And dreams his dreams of other lands, Beyond the ocean's span."
Here, Service captures the essence of the beachcomber's life: a man who is both alone and connected to the world around him, a man who is both content and restless, a man who is both happy and sad. The beachcomber is a symbol of the human condition, a reminder that we are all searching for something more, something beyond ourselves.
In conclusion, "Beachcomber" is a classic poem that captures the spirit of adventure and reflection that is so central to Robert Service's work. It is a poem that speaks to the heart of the human experience, reminding us that we are all searching for something more, something beyond ourselves. Whether we are beachcombers or not, we can all relate to the sense of longing and loss that the poem evokes. It is a timeless work of art that will continue to inspire and move readers for generations to come.
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