'I'm Scared Of It All' by Robert Service


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I'm scared of it all, God's truth! so I am;
It's too big and brutal for me.
My nerve's on the raw and I don't give a damn
For all the "hoorah" that I see.
I'm pinned between subway and overhead train,
Where automobillies swoop down:
Oh, I want to go back to the timber again --
I'm scared of the terrible town.

I want to go back to my lean, ashen plains;
My rivers that flash into foam;
My ultimate valleys where solitude reigns;
My trail from Fort Churchill to Nome.
My forests packed full of mysterious gloom,
My ice-fields agrind and aglare:
The city is deadfalled with danger and doom --
I know that I'm safer up there.

I watch the wan faces that flash in the street;
All kinds and all classes I see.
Yet never a one in the million I meet,
Has the smile of a comrade for me.
Just jaded and panting like dogs in a pack;
Just tensed and intent on the goal:
O God! but I'm lonesome -- I wish I was back,
Up there in the land of the Pole.

I wish I was back on the Hunger Plateaus,
And seeking the lost caribou;
I wish I was up where the Coppermine flows
To the kick of my little canoe.
I'd like to be far on some weariful shore,
In the Land of the Blizzard and Bear;
Oh, I wish I was snug in the Arctic once more,
For I know I am safer up there!

I prowl in the canyons of dismal unrest;
I cringe -- I'm so weak and so small.
I can't get my bearings, I'm crushed and oppressed
With the haste and the waste of it all.
The slaves and the madman, the lust and the sweat,
The fear in the faces I see;
The getting, the spending, the fever, the fret --
It's too bleeding cruel for me.

I feel it's all wrong, but I can't tell you why --
The palace, the hovel next door;
The insolent towers that sprawl to the sky,
The crush and the rush and the roar.
I'm trapped like a fox and I fear for my pelt;
I cower in the crash and the glare;
Oh, I want to be back in the avalanche belt,
For I know that it's safer up there!

I'm scared of it all: Oh, afar I can hear
The voice of my solitudes call!
We're nothing but brute with a little veneer,
And nature is best after all.
There's tumult and terror abroad in the street;
There's menace and doom in the air;
I've got to get back to my thousand-mile beat;
The trail where the cougar and silver-tip meet;
The snows and the camp-fire, with wolves at my feet;
Good-bye, for it's safer up there.

To be forming good habits up there;
To be starving on rabbits up there;
In your hunger and woe,
Though it's sixty below,
Oh, I know that it's safer up there!

Editor 1 Interpretation

I'm Scared Of It All: A Deep Dive into Robert Service's Masterpiece

Are you afraid of the unknown? Do you ever feel like life is a gamble, and you're just a player in a game you don't fully understand? If you do, then you're not alone. Robert Service's poem, "I'm Scared Of It All," captures the essence of human fear and the uncertainties that come with life. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we'll explore the themes, symbols, and poetic devices used in the poem to understand its deeper meaning.

First Impressions

At first glance, "I'm Scared Of It All" seems like a simple poem. The title itself sets the tone for the rest of the piece. It's a declaration of fear, and the narrator is unapologetic about it. The poem opens with a powerful image of a ship sailing into the unknown, "out on the gray, lonely sea." The ship is a metaphor for life, and the sea represents the unknown that we all must navigate. The narrator makes it clear that they are scared, and it's a feeling that's hard to shake off.

The Themes

Fear is the primary theme of the poem. Service explores the different things that scare us, from death to the future. The narrator is scared of everything, and it's a feeling that's relatable to many of us. But fear isn't the only theme present in the poem. Service also touches on the idea of fate and the role it plays in our lives. The line "I'm scared of the fate that may wait" suggests that the narrator believes that some things are predetermined, and there's nothing we can do to change them. This idea is further reinforced in the line "It's Destiny's ways that are cruel."

Another theme that Service explores is the idea of loneliness. The line "I'm scared of the loneliness deep" suggests that the narrator is afraid of being alone. This fear is relatable to many of us, and it's something that we all struggle with at some point in our lives.

The Symbols

The ship is the most obvious symbol in the poem. It represents life and the journey that we all must take. The sea is also a symbol, representing the unknown and the uncertainties that come with life. The line "on the gray, lonely sea" suggests that the sea is a scary place, and it's a metaphor for the unknown that we all must navigate.

Another symbol in the poem is the "mysterious pall." The pall is a symbol of death and the unknown. The line "I'm scared of the pall that may fall" suggests that the narrator is afraid of death and what might happen after we die.

The Poetic Devices

Service uses several poetic devices to enhance the meaning of the poem. The most prominent device is repetition. The line "I'm scared of it all" is repeated throughout the poem, emphasizing the narrator's fear. Repetition also creates a sense of urgency and desperation, making the poem more powerful.

Another poetic device used in the poem is alliteration. The line "I'm scared of the storm that may strike" uses alliteration to create a sense of foreboding. The repeated "s" sound mimics the sound of a storm brewing, making the line more impactful.

Service also uses metaphors and imagery to convey his message. The ship is a metaphor for life, and the sea is a metaphor for the unknown. Imagery is used to create a sense of atmosphere and mood, with lines such as "the wind's sad melody" and "the gray shroud of mist."

The Deeper Meaning

At its core, "I'm Scared Of It All" is a meditation on fear and the unknown. The poem suggests that fear is a natural part of life, and it's something that we all must face at some point. Service uses the ship and the sea as metaphors for life and the unknown, suggesting that we're all on a journey and we don't know what lies ahead.

The poem also suggests that some things are beyond our control. The line "It's Destiny's ways that are cruel" suggests that fate plays a role in our lives, and there's nothing we can do to change it. This idea is reinforced by the line "I'm scared of the fate that may wait."

But despite the fear and uncertainty, the poem also suggests that we should keep going. The line "yet onward I'll go till I fall" suggests that the narrator is determined to keep going, even in the face of fear. This message is one that's applicable to all of us, reminding us to keep pushing forward, even when we're scared.

Conclusion

In conclusion, "I'm Scared Of It All" is a powerful poem that captures the essence of human fear and the unknown. Service uses metaphors, symbols, and poetic devices to convey his message, creating a sense of mood and atmosphere that's both haunting and beautiful. The poem reminds us that fear is a natural part of life, but we should keep going, even in the face of uncertainty. It's a message that's applicable to all of us, and it's one that's worth remembering.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

I'm Scared Of It All: A Deep Dive into Robert Service's Classic Poem

Are you looking for a poem that will give you goosebumps and make you think about life's uncertainties? Look no further than Robert Service's "I'm Scared of It All." This classic poem is a masterpiece that captures the essence of fear and the unknown. In this article, we will take a deep dive into the poem, analyzing its structure, themes, and literary devices.

Background

Robert Service was a British-Canadian poet who lived from 1874 to 1958. He is best known for his poems about the Yukon, where he spent several years as a bank clerk. Service's poems are known for their simplicity and accessibility, making them popular with readers of all ages. "I'm Scared of It All" is one of his most famous poems, and it was first published in 1910.

Structure

"I'm Scared of It All" is a short poem, consisting of only four stanzas. Each stanza has four lines, and the rhyme scheme is AABB. The poem is written in the first person, with the speaker expressing their fears and anxieties. The simplicity of the structure and rhyme scheme makes the poem easy to read and remember, adding to its popularity.

Themes

The poem's central theme is fear and the unknown. The speaker is scared of everything, from the "dark" to the "light," from "love" to "hate." The poem suggests that fear is a universal emotion that everyone experiences, regardless of their age, gender, or background. The speaker's fear is not specific to any particular thing or situation but is a general feeling of unease and apprehension.

Another theme that emerges from the poem is the idea that life is uncertain and unpredictable. The speaker is scared of the future and what it might bring. They are scared of "what's ahead" and "what's behind." The poem suggests that life is a journey full of unknowns, and we must learn to live with uncertainty.

Literary Devices

Service uses several literary devices to convey the poem's themes and create a sense of fear and unease. One of the most prominent devices is repetition. The phrase "I'm scared of it all" is repeated throughout the poem, emphasizing the speaker's fear and creating a sense of unease for the reader.

Service also uses imagery to create a vivid picture of the speaker's fears. The line "I'm scared of the dark, I'm scared of the light" creates a contrast between two opposing forces, emphasizing the speaker's fear of everything. The line "I'm scared of love, I'm scared of hate" creates a sense of emotional turmoil, suggesting that the speaker is scared of both positive and negative emotions.

The poem also uses symbolism to convey its themes. The line "I'm scared of life, I'm scared of death" suggests that the speaker is scared of the two most fundamental aspects of human existence. The line "I'm scared of the world, I'm scared of myself" suggests that the speaker is scared of both external and internal forces.

Analysis

"I'm Scared of It All" is a powerful poem that captures the essence of fear and the unknown. The poem's simplicity and accessibility make it easy to read and remember, adding to its popularity. The poem's central theme is fear and the unknown, suggesting that fear is a universal emotion that everyone experiences. The poem also suggests that life is uncertain and unpredictable, and we must learn to live with uncertainty.

Service uses several literary devices to convey the poem's themes and create a sense of fear and unease. The repetition of the phrase "I'm scared of it all" emphasizes the speaker's fear and creates a sense of unease for the reader. The use of imagery and symbolism creates a vivid picture of the speaker's fears and suggests that the speaker is scared of both external and internal forces.

Conclusion

"I'm Scared of It All" is a classic poem that captures the essence of fear and the unknown. The poem's simplicity and accessibility make it easy to read and remember, adding to its popularity. The poem's central theme is fear and the unknown, suggesting that fear is a universal emotion that everyone experiences. The poem also suggests that life is uncertain and unpredictable, and we must learn to live with uncertainty. Service uses several literary devices to convey the poem's themes and create a sense of fear and unease. The repetition of the phrase "I'm scared of it all," the use of imagery, and symbolism all contribute to the poem's power and impact. Overall, "I'm Scared of It All" is a masterpiece that continues to resonate with readers today.

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