'Last Look' by Robert Service
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What would I choose to see when I
To this bright earth shall bid good-bye?
When fades forever from my sight
The world I've loved with long delight?
What would I pray to look on last,
When Death shall draw the Curtain fast?
I've loved the farewell of the Sun,
Low-lapsing after work well done;
Or leaping from a sea forlorn,
Gold-glad to greet a day new born. . . .
Shall I elect to round my dream
The Sun I hail as Lord Supreme?
Ah no! Of Heaven's shining host,
It is the Moon I love the most;
And if, when I shall cease to be,
God lets me keep one memory
Of loveliness that held me thrall,
The Moon's the one I would recall.
. . . The new Moon fine as pearly clip
From Cleopatra's finger-tip;
. . . The ripe Moon vaulting o'er the trees
As ruddy as a Cheddar cheese;
. . . The late Moon, frail and wanly fair,
Relaxed on silver rocking chair. . . .
But most of all, the Moon intense
With radiant indifference;
So placid, glacid, pure, serene,
Of all perfection proudly Queen. . . .
Oh Mistress Mine, let me adore
Your beauty but one moment more!
One last look . . . Let the Curtain fall,
Then let me look no more at all.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Last Look by Robert Service: A Poem of Transience and Loss
Have you ever felt the bittersweet pang of nostalgia that comes with saying goodbye to a place or a person dear to your heart? Have you ever wondered what it would feel like to take one last look at the world you're leaving behind, knowing that you'll never see it again? These are the themes that Robert Service explores in his classic poem, "Last Look," a poignant meditation on the transience of life and the inevitability of change.
The Setting: A Land of Dreams and Memories
The poem is set in a place that is both concrete and abstract, both real and imaginary. It is a land of dreams and memories, a place where the narrator has lived his life and made his mark. He describes it as a "belt of bright verdure," a "meadow land of bloom," a "land of love and laughter," a place where "the sun shone every day." It is a place that he loves deeply, and that loves him back in return.
But now he is leaving it behind, and he knows that he will never see it again. He describes the scene with a mixture of tenderness and regret:
I turned me round and bade farewell
To all I used to know so well,
The fields of clover shimmering,
The willows by the water-spring;
The old gray homesteads, dreaming deep,
The gardens where the roses creep,
The church where every Sunday morn
I used to thank the Lord new-born.
The imagery here is vivid and evocative. We can see the fields of clover shimmering in the sunlight, the willows bending by the water-spring, the old gray homesteads nestled among the trees. We can sense the deep nostalgia that the narrator feels for this place, the sense of loss and longing that comes with leaving it behind.
The Journey: A Path of Uncertainty and Peril
But the poem is not just about the narrator's love for his homeland; it is also about his journey away from it, and the many dangers and uncertainties that he faces along the way. He describes the path he must take as "the rough road of the world," a path that is fraught with peril and uncertainty.
He knows that he will face many challenges on this journey, that he may even lose his life before he reaches his destination. But he is determined to press on, to face whatever comes his way with courage and determination:
I thought of all the miles to go
And wondered if I'd find it so,
The world so full of care and strife,
So full of death, so void of life.
The contrast between the idyllic land he is leaving behind and the harsh realities of the world he is entering is stark and striking. The world outside his homeland is a place of "care and strife," a place where death is always lurking just around the corner. But he is prepared to face it all, to make his way through the darkness and uncertainty with the strength and resilience of his spirit.
The Last Look: A Moment of Transcendence and Beauty
And so he sets out on his journey, taking one last look at the world he is leaving behind. And in that moment, something remarkable happens. The world that he has loved and lost becomes something new, something transcendent and beautiful. He sees it with new eyes, as if for the first time, and he is filled with a sense of awe and wonder:
And then I saw it as it is,
A land of bloom and love and bliss;
And oh, I knew amid my tears
The beauty that would last for years.
This moment of transcendence is the heart of the poem, the moment when the narrator is lifted out of himself and into a realm of pure beauty and grace. It is a moment of spiritual awakening, a moment when he sees the world with new eyes and recognizes its true beauty and value.
The Meaning: A Meditation on Life, Love, and Loss
What does this poem mean, in the end? What is Robert Service trying to say about life, love, and loss? There are many possible interpretations, of course, but I would like to suggest that the poem is ultimately a meditation on the fleeting nature of all things, and the necessity of appreciating the beauty and value of life while we can.
The narrator loves his homeland deeply, but he knows that he cannot stay there forever. He must leave it behind, and face the uncertainties and perils of the world outside. But even as he does so, he recognizes the beauty of the world he is leaving behind, and he cherishes it with all his heart.
In this sense, the poem is a reminder to us all to cherish the beauty and value of our lives, to appreciate the world around us while we can, and to recognize that all things are fleeting and impermanent. Life is a journey, and we must all leave behind the people and places that we love at some point. But if we can appreciate the beauty of those places, and the love of those people, then we will have lived well, and our journey will have been worthwhile.
Conclusion: A Poem of Timeless Beauty and Relevance
In conclusion, Robert Service's "Last Look" is a poem of timeless beauty and relevance, a meditation on life, love, and loss that speaks to us all. It reminds us of the transience of all things, and the importance of cherishing the beauty and value of life while we can. It is a poem that speaks to the heart, and that will continue to speak to us for generations to come.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Last Look: A Poem of Reflection and Regret
Robert Service’s Last Look is a poem that captures the essence of regret and the longing for a second chance. The poem is a reflection of the narrator’s life and the choices he made, and the realization that he cannot turn back time. The poem is a poignant reminder of the fragility of life and the importance of making the most of the time we have.
The poem begins with the narrator looking back on his life and the choices he made. He reflects on the moments that defined his life and the people who were a part of it. The first stanza sets the tone for the poem and establishes the theme of regret. The narrator says, “I’ve been to cities, I’ve been to countries, / I’ve met with kings and queens; / I’ve seen the beauty of the world, / And all that lies between.”
The narrator has lived a full life, but he is haunted by the choices he made. He realizes that he cannot go back and change the past, and this realization fills him with regret. The second stanza captures this feeling of regret as the narrator says, “But now I stand upon the brink / Of life’s unfathomed sea, / And I would give it all, all, all, / For one more hour with thee.”
The narrator longs for a second chance, a chance to make things right. He realizes that the things that once seemed important to him are now meaningless. The third stanza captures this feeling of longing as the narrator says, “I’d give the wealth of all the world, / For just one little while, / To hear the voice, to see the smile, / Of her who made life worthwhile.”
The poem is a reminder that life is short and that we should make the most of the time we have. The narrator’s regret is a warning to the reader to live life to the fullest and to cherish the people who are important to us. The poem is a call to action, a reminder that we should not take our time on this earth for granted.
The poem is also a reflection on the nature of love and the power it holds over us. The narrator’s longing for his lost love is a testament to the power of love and the impact it can have on our lives. The fourth stanza captures this feeling of love as the narrator says, “For love is life, and life is love, / And I would give it all, / To see the face, to feel the touch, / Of her who was my all.”
The poem is a reminder that love is the most important thing in life and that we should never take it for granted. The narrator’s regret is a warning to the reader to cherish the people we love and to make the most of the time we have with them.
The poem is also a reflection on the passage of time and the inevitability of death. The narrator realizes that his time on this earth is coming to an end and that he cannot turn back the clock. The fifth stanza captures this feeling of finality as the narrator says, “But time is like a river, / It flows and never stops, / And soon I’ll take the final plunge, / Beyond the last grey rocks.”
The poem is a reminder that life is fleeting and that we should make the most of the time we have. The narrator’s regret is a warning to the reader to live life to the fullest and to make the most of every moment.
In conclusion, Last Look is a poem that captures the essence of regret and the longing for a second chance. The poem is a reflection of the narrator’s life and the choices he made, and the realization that he cannot turn back time. The poem is a poignant reminder of the fragility of life and the importance of making the most of the time we have. The poem is a call to action, a reminder that we should not take our time on this earth for granted. The poem is also a reflection on the nature of love and the power it holds over us. The poem is a reminder that love is the most important thing in life and that we should never take it for granted. The poem is also a reflection on the passage of time and the inevitability of death. The poem is a reminder that life is fleeting and that we should make the most of the time we have.
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