'Our Daily Bread' by Robert Service
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"Give me my daily bread.
It seems so odd,
When all is done and said,
This plea to God.
To pray for cake might be
The thing to do;
But bread, it seems to me,
Is just our due.
"Give me my daily toil,"
I ought to say -
(If from life's cursed coil
I'd time to pray.)
Give me my daily sweat,
My body sore,
So that bread I may get
To toil for more.
"Give me my daily breath,"
Through half a sob,
Until untimely death
Shall end my job.
A crust for my award,
I cry in dread:
"Grant unto me. Oh Lord,
My daily bread!"
Editor 1 Interpretation
Our Daily Bread: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Oh boy, do I have a treat for you today! We are going to dive deep into the classic poem, Our Daily Bread written by none other than Robert Service. Now, if you haven't read this poem before, do yourself a favor and go give it a read. It's a masterpiece that not only speaks to the heart of humanity but also paints a vivid picture of life in the early 20th century.
The Poem
Before we get too deep into the interpretation, let's have a look at the poem itself.
This is the place where we came in, When we heard the engines roar, And the steady beat of the ship’s propeller, As we stood on the distant shore.
This is the place where we came in, And we looked with a strange surprise, At the crowded streets and the towering buildings, And the endless stretch of the skies.
And we wondered what it would bring us, This land of freedom and gold, And we hungered for work and for wages, And to build us a home to hold.
We were green, but we were willing, And we worked with a will and a way, And we learned the tricks of the trade, And we learned to earn our pay.
And we saved and we scrimped and we struggled, And we sweated and labored and prayed, And we built us the homes we had dreamed of, And we raised our children to aid.
And now as we sit in our comfort, And look back over the years, We bless the land that has fed us, And the work that has dried our tears.
We thank the Lord for His bounty, And the bread that we break each day, For the friends that we call our neighbors, And the joys that have come our way.
And we know that the land that we live in, And the work that we do each day, Are but symbols of God’s great love for us, And our trust in His guiding way.
What a beautiful poem, right? At first glance, it may appear to be a simple ode to hard work and the American Dream. But let's go deeper.
Interpretation
First things first, let's talk about the title - Our Daily Bread. This phrase may sound familiar to many of us as it is taken from the Lord's Prayer. It is a reference to the daily sustenance we require to survive. But in the context of this poem, it takes on a deeper meaning. The bread is not just physical sustenance, but also represents the fruits of the labor that the immigrants put in to build a life for themselves in a foreign land.
The poem starts off with the immigrants arriving in America. They hear the engines roar and the steady beat of the ship's propeller, signaling their arrival. They look around at the crowded streets and towering buildings with a "strange surprise". This sets the stage for the rest of the poem - the immigrants are strangers in a strange land, but they are willing to work hard to make a life for themselves.
The lines "And we wondered what it would bring us, / This land of freedom and gold," speak to the hope and promise that America held for immigrants. The idea of the "American Dream" was alive and well, and people believed that they could achieve it through hard work and perseverance.
As the poem progresses, we see the immigrants working hard and building a life for themselves. They are "green, but willing" and they "learned the tricks of the trade". They saved and scrimped and struggled, but eventually, they built the homes they had dreamed of and raised their children to aid. This is a beautiful depiction of the immigrant experience. It shows that with hard work and determination, anything is possible.
The lines "And now as we sit in our comfort, / And look back over the years," are particularly poignant. They show that the immigrants have achieved the American Dream. They are comfortable and have built a life for themselves in a foreign land. They are grateful for the land that has fed them and the work that has dried their tears.
But the poem doesn't end there. The final stanza takes on a more spiritual tone. The immigrants thank the Lord for His bounty and the bread they break each day. They are grateful for their neighbors and the joys that have come their way. They know that the land they live in and the work they do each day are symbols of God's great love for them and their trust in His guiding way.
This final stanza adds a layer of depth to the poem. It shows that the immigrants not only worked hard to achieve the American Dream, but they also had faith in God and believed that their success was a result of His love for them.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Our Daily Bread is a beautiful ode to the immigrant experience and the American Dream. It shows that with hard work and determination, anything is possible. But it also reminds us to be grateful for the blessings we have and to have faith in something greater than ourselves.
Robert Service has truly captured the heart of humanity in this poem. It is a timeless piece that will continue to resonate with people for generations to come.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Our Daily Bread: A Poem That Resonates Even Today
Robert Service’s poem, “Our Daily Bread,” is a classic piece of literature that has stood the test of time. Written in 1910, the poem is a reflection on the struggles of the working class and their daily battle for survival. It is a powerful piece of writing that captures the essence of the human experience and the struggle for existence. In this article, we will analyze and explain the poem in detail, exploring its themes, imagery, and symbolism.
The poem begins with the line, “Men are waiting in the long white bread-line.” This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as it immediately establishes the theme of poverty and hunger. The “long white bread-line” is a reference to the queues that people had to stand in to receive their daily ration of bread during the Great Depression. The fact that men are waiting in this line suggests that they are unemployed and unable to provide for themselves and their families.
The next line, “Bread-line, soup-line, lines for a pair of shoes,” reinforces this theme of poverty and desperation. The fact that people are lining up for basic necessities like bread, soup, and shoes highlights the dire situation that they are in. These lines also suggest that the government and society have failed to provide for the basic needs of the people, leaving them to fend for themselves.
The poem then takes a turn, as the speaker begins to reflect on the nature of life and the human experience. He says, “Life is a struggle, and man a thing of dust.” This line suggests that life is inherently difficult and that humans are fragile and vulnerable. The fact that the speaker refers to humans as “things of dust” reinforces this idea, as it suggests that we are temporary and insignificant in the grand scheme of things.
The next few lines of the poem are particularly powerful, as they capture the essence of the human experience. The speaker says, “Yet we have hope, and somewhere there must be, The shining crown of our humanity.” This line suggests that despite the struggles and hardships of life, humans have a sense of hope and a belief that there is something greater out there. The “shining crown of our humanity” is a reference to the idea that humans are capable of great things, and that there is a higher purpose to our existence.
The poem then returns to the theme of poverty and hunger, as the speaker says, “We are hungry, thirsty, ragged, sick and cold.” This line is a stark reminder of the reality that many people face, as they struggle to survive in a world that is often cruel and unforgiving. The fact that the speaker lists these hardships one after the other reinforces the idea that life can be overwhelming and difficult to bear.
The next few lines of the poem are particularly powerful, as they capture the resilience and determination of the human spirit. The speaker says, “But we are men, and men we will remain, Though all the ways of hell assail us sore.” This line suggests that despite the hardships and challenges that we face, humans have an innate strength and resilience that allows us to persevere. The fact that the speaker refers to humans as “men” reinforces the idea that we are capable of great things, and that we should never give up hope.
The poem then takes a turn, as the speaker reflects on the nature of God and the role that religion plays in our lives. He says, “God of our fathers, though we know thee not, Yet we have faith that thou art not unjust.” This line suggests that even though we may not fully understand the nature of God, we have faith that there is a higher power that is guiding us. The fact that the speaker refers to “God of our fathers” reinforces the idea that religion is an important part of our cultural heritage, and that it provides us with a sense of comfort and hope.
The poem then ends with the line, “Give us this day our daily bread.” This line is a reference to the Lord’s Prayer, and it reinforces the idea that we should be grateful for the basic necessities of life. The fact that the speaker asks for “our daily bread” suggests that we should not take these things for granted, and that we should be thankful for what we have.
In conclusion, Robert Service’s poem, “Our Daily Bread,” is a powerful piece of literature that captures the essence of the human experience. It is a reflection on the struggles of the working class and their daily battle for survival. The poem explores themes of poverty, hunger, resilience, and faith, and it reminds us of the importance of gratitude and hope. Even though the poem was written over a century ago, it still resonates today, as many people continue to face similar struggles and challenges.
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