'The Locket' by Robert Service
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From out her shabby rain-coat pocket
The little Jew girl in the train
Produced a dinted silver locket
With pasted in it portraits twain.
"These are my parents, sir" she said;
"Or were, for now I fear they're dead.
"I know to Belsen they were sent;
I never heard of them again.
So many were like that - they went,
Our woeful quest was all in vain.
I was in London with a friend,
Or I, too, would have shared their end.
"They could have got away, I'm told,
And joined me here in Marylebne,
But Grannie was so sick and old,
They could not leave her there alone.
When they were seized she cried and cried:
Thank God! 'Twas in her bed she died.
"How did they die? I cannot bear
To think of that - it crazes me.
My mother was so sweet, so fair;
My father handsome as you see . . .
I'm sure no daughter ever had
More lovely parents . . . Yes, it's sad.
"But for their loss I shall not grieve;
I'll hug the hope they still survive;
Oh, I must make myself believe
Somehow, somewhere they're still alive. . . .
"Well, that's my only souvenir,
A locket stained with many a tear."
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Locket: A Masterpiece in Poetic Storytelling
When it comes to poetic storytelling, few poets can match the brilliance of Robert Service. Best known for his poems about the Yukon and the Klondike Gold Rush, Service has left an indelible mark on literature with his vivid and captivating narratives. One such narrative that stands out in Service's oeuvre is the poem "The Locket."
Written in 1926, "The Locket" tells the story of a young man who falls in love with a woman he meets at a dance. She is beautiful, charming, and mysterious, and he is smitten from the moment he sees her. But their romance is cut short when she suddenly disappears, leaving him with nothing but a locket he found on the floor.
At first, the young man is heartbroken and confused. He wonders who the woman is and why she left him so suddenly. But as he examines the locket more closely, he begins to unravel the mystery of her past. Inside the locket, he finds a picture of a young girl and a man, presumably her father. He also finds a lock of her hair and a note that reads, "To my darling daughter, with love from Mama."
As he reads the note, the young man realizes that the woman he fell in love with is not who she appeared to be. She is not just a beautiful stranger, but a daughter who has lost her father and is searching for a way to cope with her grief. And the locket, he realizes, is a symbol of her love for her father and her desire to remember him always.
What makes "The Locket" such a powerful poem is the way it combines narrative and symbolism to create a deeply moving story. On one level, the poem is a simple tale of a young man who falls in love and loses his love. But on another level, it is a meditation on memory, loss, and the power of objects to hold meaning.
Throughout the poem, Service uses the image of the locket to explore these themes. The locket is not just a piece of jewelry; it is a repository of memories and emotions. It holds the image of the woman's father, a man who she clearly loved deeply. And it holds a lock of her hair, a symbol of her own identity and her connection to her family.
By giving so much weight to the locket, Service shows us how objects can become imbued with meaning and significance. In our own lives, we all have objects that hold special meaning for us - a wedding ring, a childhood toy, a piece of clothing that belonged to a loved one. These objects are not just things; they are symbols of our connections to the people and places we love.
But the locket is more than just a symbol of memory; it is also a symbol of loss. The woman in the poem has lost her father, and she is searching for a way to hold onto his memory. The locket becomes a way for her to keep him close, even though he is gone.
The young man in the poem, too, is dealing with loss. He has lost the woman he loves, and he is struggling to understand why she left him so abruptly. But as he examines the locket, he begins to realize that his loss is not as great as hers. She has lost her father, a man who meant everything to her. He has lost a woman he barely knew.
In this way, "The Locket" is a poem about perspective. It shows us that our own losses are not necessarily the greatest losses in the world. There are others who have suffered more deeply than we have, and we must be mindful of their pain as well as our own.
As a piece of literature, "The Locket" is a masterful example of poetic storytelling. Service's use of narrative and symbolism creates a powerful story that resonates long after the poem is finished. It is a reminder of the power of memory, the importance of loss, and the ways in which objects can hold a special place in our hearts.
In conclusion, "The Locket" is a masterpiece of poetic storytelling that deserves to be read and studied for generations to come. Its themes of memory, loss, and perspective are timeless and universal, and its imagery is both vivid and evocative. If you haven't read this poem yet, I highly recommend you do - you won't be disappointed.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Locket: A Poem of Love, Loss, and Memory
Robert Service, the renowned poet, has left an indelible mark on the world of literature with his powerful and evocative poems. Among his many works, "The Locket" stands out as a masterpiece that captures the essence of love, loss, and memory. This poem is a poignant reminder of the fragility of life and the enduring power of love.
"The Locket" is a narrative poem that tells the story of a young couple in love. The poem begins with the description of a beautiful locket that the young woman wears around her neck. The locket is a symbol of her love for her sweetheart, and she treasures it dearly. The poem then takes us on a journey through the couple's life, from their courtship to their marriage and beyond.
The first stanza of the poem sets the tone for the rest of the narrative. The speaker describes the locket as "a little thing of rare device," which suggests that it is something precious and valuable. The use of the word "device" also implies that the locket has a purpose or a function, which is to hold something dear to the young woman's heart. The speaker then goes on to describe the locket in more detail, saying that it is made of gold and set with pearls and rubies. This description creates an image of something beautiful and luxurious, which adds to the sense of the locket's value.
In the second stanza, the speaker introduces us to the young couple. He describes the young woman as "fair and sweet," and her sweetheart as "brave and true." These descriptions create an image of two people who are deeply in love and devoted to each other. The speaker then tells us that the young woman wears the locket around her neck, and that it contains a portrait of her sweetheart. This detail is significant because it shows us that the locket is not just a piece of jewelry, but a symbol of the young woman's love for her sweetheart.
The third stanza takes us through the couple's courtship. The speaker tells us that they walked together in the moonlight, and that the young woman showed her sweetheart the locket. He describes the locket as "a little shrine," which suggests that it is something sacred and holy. This detail adds to the sense of the locket's value and importance. The speaker then tells us that the young woman opened the locket and showed her sweetheart the portrait inside. This moment is significant because it shows us that the locket is not just a symbol of the young woman's love, but a tangible representation of her sweetheart.
The fourth stanza describes the couple's marriage. The speaker tells us that they were married in the church, and that the young woman wore the locket on her wedding day. This detail is significant because it shows us that the locket is not just a symbol of the young woman's love for her sweetheart, but a symbol of their love for each other. The speaker then tells us that the couple lived happily together for many years, and that the locket remained a cherished possession.
The fifth stanza takes us to the end of the couple's story. The speaker tells us that the young woman died, and that her sweetheart was left alone. He describes the locket as "a little thing of gold," which suggests that its value has diminished now that the young woman is gone. The speaker then tells us that the locket was buried with the young woman, and that her sweetheart never saw it again. This detail is significant because it shows us that the locket was not just a symbol of the young woman's love for her sweetheart, but a symbol of their love for each other.
The final stanza of the poem is a reflection on the power of memory. The speaker tells us that the young woman's sweetheart never forgot her, and that he remembered her every day. He describes the locket as "a little thing of dust," which suggests that it has lost all its value now that the young woman is gone. However, the speaker then tells us that the locket is still precious to the young woman's sweetheart because it holds the memory of their love. This detail is significant because it shows us that the locket is not just a symbol of the young woman's love for her sweetheart, but a symbol of their enduring love for each other.
In conclusion, "The Locket" is a powerful and evocative poem that captures the essence of love, loss, and memory. Through the story of a young couple and their cherished locket, Robert Service reminds us of the fragility of life and the enduring power of love. The poem is a poignant reminder that even though our loved ones may be gone, their memory lives on in our hearts and in the objects that we cherish.
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