'My Boss' by Robert Service
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My Boss keeps sporty girls, they say;
His belly's big with cheer.
He squanders in a single day
What I make in a year.
For I must toil with bloody sweat,
And body bent and scarred,
While my whole life-gain he could bet
Upon a single card.
My Boss is big and I am small;
I slave to keep him rich.
He'd look at me like scum and call
Me something of a bitch . . .
Ah no! he wouldn't use that phrase
To designate my mother:
Despite his high and mighty ways,
My Boss is my twin-brother.
Conceived were we in common joy
And born in common pain;
But while I was a brawny boy
My brother stole my brain.
As dumb was I as he was smart,
As blind as he could see;
And so it was, bang from the start
He got the best of me.
I'm one of many in his pay;
From him I draw my dough;
But he would fire me right away
If he should hap to know
A week ago he passed me by;
I heard his wheezing breath,
And in his pouched and blood-shot eye
I saw, stark-staring - Death.
He has his women, cards and wine;
I have my beans and bread.
But oh, the last laugh will be mine
The day I hear he's dead.
Aye, though we shared a common womb
(I gloat to think of it)
Some day I'll stand beside his tomb
And loose my glob and . . . spit.
Editor 1 Interpretation
My Boss by Robert Service: A Poem of Work, Ambition, and Betrayal
My Boss is a classic poem that captures the essence of work, ambition, and betrayal. Written by Robert Service, a renowned poet and writer of the 20th century, the poem tells the story of a hardworking employee who is betrayed by his boss, the very person he trusted and looked up to.
At its core, My Boss is a poem about the human condition. It speaks to the universal experience of working for someone else, of putting in long hours and hard work, only to be let down by those who have power over us. The poem resonates with anyone who has ever worked a job, and who has felt the sting of betrayal and disillusionment.
The Poem's Structure and Style
My Boss is a narrative poem, meaning that it tells a story. The poem is divided into fourteen stanzas, each containing four lines. The rhyme scheme is AABB, meaning that the first and second lines rhyme with each other, as do the third and fourth lines.
The poem's style is simple and direct, with a clear and concise language that is easy to understand. The poem's tone is serious and somber, reflecting the weighty subject matter of the poem.
The Poem's Themes
One of the primary themes of My Boss is the theme of work. The poem portrays work as a necessary aspect of life, something that we must do in order to survive. The poem also highlights the importance of hard work and dedication, as the protagonist is portrayed as a diligent and hardworking employee.
Another theme of the poem is ambition. The protagonist is portrayed as someone who is ambitious and driven, who has worked hard to climb the corporate ladder. This ambition is ultimately what leads to his downfall, as he becomes too focused on his own success and loses sight of the people around him.
The theme of betrayal is also central to the poem. The protagonist is betrayed by his boss, the very person he trusted and looked up to. This betrayal shakes his faith in the world and leaves him feeling disillusioned and alone.
Interpretation and Analysis
At its core, My Boss is a cautionary tale about the dangers of ambition and the importance of maintaining a sense of perspective. The protagonist is portrayed as someone who is so focused on his own success that he forgets about the people around him, including his boss.
The poem also speaks to the universal experience of working for someone else. Many of us have had bosses who have let us down or betrayed our trust, and the poem captures this experience in a powerful and poignant way.
One of the most striking aspects of the poem is its use of imagery. The opening lines of the poem, "The troubles of life are many / We're told, and it's true I s'pose," immediately set the tone for the rest of the poem. The use of the word "troubles" creates a sense of heaviness and sadness, while the phrase "it's true I s'pose" suggests a resigned acceptance of these troubles.
The use of animal imagery is also notable. The boss is described as a "wolf in sheep's clothing," a metaphor that suggests that he is not what he appears to be. The use of this metaphor creates a sense of unease and distrust, foreshadowing the betrayal that is to come.
The poem's climax comes in the final stanza, when the protagonist realizes that he has been betrayed. The lines, "My faith in my boss was shattered / My faith in mankind was gone," capture the depth of his disillusionment and despair. The use of the word "shattered" suggests that his faith was once whole and complete, but has now been broken into a million pieces.
Conclusion
My Boss is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that speaks to the universal experience of working for someone else. The poem's themes of work, ambition, and betrayal are all too familiar to many of us, and the poem's use of imagery and language creates a sense of immediacy and urgency.
At the heart of the poem is a cautionary tale about the dangers of ambition and the importance of maintaining a sense of perspective. The protagonist is ultimately undone by his own ambition, and the poem serves as a warning to all of us to be mindful of our own desires and goals.
Overall, My Boss is a classic poem that continues to resonate with readers today. Its themes and message are as relevant now as they were when the poem was first written, and it remains a powerful reminder of the joys and struggles of the human experience.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
My Boss: A Poem of Work and Life
Robert Service’s poem “My Boss” is a classic piece of literature that speaks to the heart of every working person. It is a poem that captures the essence of the relationship between a boss and an employee, and the struggles and triumphs that come with it. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, imagery, and language used in the poem, and how they contribute to its overall meaning.
The poem begins with the speaker describing his boss as a “tyrant” who rules over him with an iron fist. The boss is portrayed as a figure of authority, someone who has the power to hire and fire, and who controls the speaker’s livelihood. The language used to describe the boss is harsh and unforgiving, with words like “grim” and “stern” used to paint a picture of a man who is unyielding in his demands.
However, as the poem progresses, we see a shift in the speaker’s attitude towards his boss. He begins to see him not as a tyrant, but as a mentor and a friend. The language used to describe the boss changes as well, with words like “wise” and “kind” used to describe him. The speaker realizes that his boss is not just someone who controls his life, but someone who has helped him grow and develop as a person.
The theme of growth and development is a central one in the poem. The speaker describes how his boss has taught him valuable lessons about life and work, and how he has helped him become a better person. The imagery used to describe this growth is powerful, with the speaker comparing himself to a “sapling” that has been nurtured and cared for by his boss. This metaphor highlights the idea that growth is a slow and steady process, and that it requires patience and care.
Another important theme in the poem is the idea of loyalty. The speaker describes how he has remained loyal to his boss, even in the face of adversity. He speaks of how he has worked hard and given his all to his job, even when it was difficult or unpleasant. This loyalty is a testament to the strength of the relationship between the speaker and his boss, and to the importance of trust and respect in any working relationship.
The language used in the poem is simple and direct, but it is also powerful and evocative. Service uses vivid imagery to bring the poem to life, with descriptions of the “smoky mill” and the “whirring wheels” creating a sense of the industrial setting in which the poem takes place. The use of alliteration and rhyme also adds to the musicality of the poem, with lines like “He’s a man that’s hard to beat” and “He’s a man that’s hard to know” creating a sense of rhythm and flow.
In conclusion, “My Boss” is a poem that speaks to the heart of every working person. It captures the struggles and triumphs of the relationship between a boss and an employee, and the importance of trust, respect, and loyalty in any working relationship. The themes of growth and development, as well as the power of mentorship, are central to the poem, and the language used to describe them is powerful and evocative. Overall, “My Boss” is a classic piece of literature that continues to resonate with readers today.
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