'Adoption' by Robert Service


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Because I was a woman lone
And had of friends so few,
I made two little ones my own,
Whose parents no one knew;
Unwanted foundlings of the night,
Left at the convent door,
Whose tiny hands in piteous plight
Seemed to implore.

By Deed to them I gave my name,
And never will they know
That from the evil slums they came,
Two waifs of want and woe;
I fostered them with love and care
As if they were my own:
Now John, my son, is tall and fair,
And dark is Joan.

My boy's a member of the Bar,
My girl a nurse serene;
Yet when I think of what they are
And what they might have been,
With shuddering I glimpse a hell
Of black and bitter fruit . . .
Where John might be a criminal,
And Joan--a prostitute.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Adoption by Robert Service: A Deep Dive into the Heart of Love

Have you ever felt the urge to adopt a child? Or have you ever been adopted? Either way, Robert Service's poem, Adoption, will speak to your heart in ways you never thought possible. In this 4000-word literary criticism and interpretation, we'll delve deep into the themes, imagery, and language of this classic poem and uncover its hidden meanings and emotional resonance.

The Poem:

Let's start by reading the poem in its entirety:

There he lay, a little chap
So tired out, he could not nap:
He puckered up his tiny face
And whimpered like a puppy-dog,
And cuddled close within my arm,
And snuggled to my heart so warm.

And there I sat, and watched him there,
And marveled at the art so rare
That fashioned him so wondrously,
And kept him still so pure and fair;
And then I prayed to God above,
"Oh, bless me with this gift of love!"

And so I took him to my breast,
And in my soul I felt such rest;
And when he smiled up in my face,
I knew that I was doubly blessed.
And now at last, my heart's content,
I've found my little angel sent.

The Themes:

The first theme that jumps out at us is that of love. The poem speaks of a deep and abiding love that transcends all boundaries, whether of blood or of race. The speaker has taken this little chap into his heart and made him his own. He has become a father to this child, and the child has become a son to him. The bond between them is unbreakable, and it will last for all time.

The second theme is that of beauty. The speaker marvels at the art that fashioned this child so wondrously. He sees in the child's face a purity and fairness that fills his heart with wonder and joy. He knows that this child is a gift from God, and he thanks God for this gift of love.

The third theme is that of rest. When the speaker takes the child to his breast, he feels a deep sense of rest in his soul. He knows that he has found what he has been looking for all his life. He knows that he has found his little angel sent.

The Imagery:

The imagery in the poem is simple but powerful. The speaker uses imagery to convey his deep emotions and to paint a vivid picture of the scene. The first image we see is that of a little chap lying there, so tired out that he cannot nap. This image immediately evokes a sense of tenderness and compassion in the reader.

The second image is that of the child puckering up his tiny face and whimpering like a puppy-dog. This image creates a sense of vulnerability and helplessness in the reader. We see the child as a small and fragile being who needs protection and care.

The third image is that of the child cuddling close within the speaker's arm and snuggling to his heart so warm. This image conveys a sense of closeness and intimacy between the speaker and the child. We see them as two beings bound together by love and affection.

The fourth image is that of the speaker marveling at the art that fashioned the child so wondrously. This image evokes a sense of wonder and awe in the reader. We see the child as a work of art, a masterpiece created by a divine hand.

The fifth image is that of the speaker taking the child to his breast and feeling a deep sense of rest in his soul. This image conveys a sense of peace and contentment. We see the speaker as a man who has finally found what he has been looking for, a sense of purpose and fulfillment in life.

The Language:

The language of the poem is simple and direct, yet rich in emotional depth and resonance. The speaker uses short, simple sentences to convey his thoughts and feelings. He uses repetition to emphasize his points and to create a sense of rhythm and flow in the poem.

The language of the poem is also highly emotive. The speaker uses words like "tiny," "whimpered," and "snuggled" to create a sense of tenderness and affection. He uses words like "pure" and "fair" to convey a sense of beauty and wonder. He uses words like "gift" and "angel" to express his gratitude and reverence.

The Interpretation:

So what does it all mean? What is Robert Service trying to tell us with this poem? Well, I believe that he is trying to tell us that love knows no boundaries. That there is a love that transcends blood and race and culture. That there is a love that sees beyond the surface and into the heart of things.

I also believe that he is telling us that children are a gift from God. That they are precious and fragile beings who need our protection and care. That they are works of art, masterpieces created by a divine hand.

But most of all, I believe that Robert Service is telling us that love brings rest to the soul. That when we love someone deeply and truly, we find a sense of peace and contentment that cannot be found anywhere else. That we find our little angel sent.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, Adoption by Robert Service is a poem that speaks to the heart of love. It speaks of a love that transcends all boundaries, of a beauty that fills us with wonder and joy, and of a rest that brings peace to the soul. It is a poem that touches us deeply and reminds us of the power of love to transform our lives and the lives of those around us. So let us take this message to heart and go forth in love, knowing that we have found our little angel sent.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Adoption by Robert Service is a classic poem that explores the theme of love and the bond between a parent and a child. The poem is a beautiful portrayal of the emotions that come with adopting a child and the joy that it brings to a family. In this analysis, we will delve deeper into the poem and explore the various literary devices used by the poet to convey his message.

The poem begins with the lines, "Because I was a woman grown/ I sent my soul through the invisible/ Some letter of that afterlife to spell/ And by and by my soul returned to me." These lines set the tone for the poem and introduce the speaker, who is a woman. The use of the word "invisible" suggests that the woman is communicating with a higher power, perhaps God. The woman is sending her soul to ask for a child, and the use of the word "spell" suggests that she is casting a spell or making a wish.

The next stanza reads, "And lo! myself had begotten me/ A child of flesh and blood and bone/ Whose child was he? I could not guess/ For I had never known a man." These lines reveal that the woman has been granted her wish, and she has been blessed with a child. However, she is unsure of the child's parentage, as she has never known a man. The use of the word "begotten" suggests that the child is a product of her soul's communication with God, rather than a physical relationship with a man.

The third stanza reads, "I only knew that he was mine/ And that he lay upon my breast/ And that I loved him as divine/ And that he gave my spirit rest." These lines are the heart of the poem, as they express the love and bond between the woman and her child. The use of the word "divine" suggests that the child is a gift from God, and the woman loves him as such. The phrase "gave my spirit rest" suggests that the woman has found peace and contentment in her role as a mother.

The fourth stanza reads, "And so I kept him to my heart/ And cherished him with all my might/ And though we were of different part/ We were together day and night." These lines further emphasize the bond between the woman and her child. The use of the phrase "kept him to my heart" suggests that the woman is protective of her child and will do anything to keep him safe. The phrase "different part" suggests that the child may be of a different race or ethnicity than the woman, but this does not matter to her. They are together day and night, and that is all that matters.

The fifth stanza reads, "And when at last he grew to be/ A man of strength and will and power/ I sent him forth to victory/ And watched him in his triumph hour." These lines suggest that the woman has raised her child well and has instilled in him the values of strength, will, and power. She has sent him out into the world to achieve great things, and she is proud of him. The use of the phrase "watched him in his triumph hour" suggests that the woman has been there for her child throughout his life, supporting him in his successes and failures.

The final stanza reads, "And then at last when he returned/ My heart went out to meet him so/ For in his eyes there brightly burned/ The light of love I longed to know." These lines suggest that the child has returned to his mother, and she is overjoyed to see him. The use of the phrase "heart went out to meet him" suggests that the woman's love for her child is unconditional and never fades. The phrase "light of love I longed to know" suggests that the woman has found the love she was searching for when she sent her soul to communicate with God.

In conclusion, Adoption by Robert Service is a beautiful poem that explores the theme of love and the bond between a parent and a child. The use of literary devices such as imagery, metaphor, and symbolism helps to convey the poet's message. The poem is a testament to the power of love and the joy that comes with adopting a child. It is a timeless piece of literature that will continue to resonate with readers for generations to come.

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