'Wrestling Match' by Robert Service


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Songs of a Sun-LoverWhat guts he had, the Dago lad
Who fought that Frenchman grim with guile;
For nigh an hour they milled like mad,
And mauled the mat in rare old style.
Then up and launched like catapults,
And tangled, twisted, clinched and clung,
Then tossed in savage somersaults,
And hacked and hammered, ducked and swung;
And groaned and grunted, sighed and cried,
Now knotted tight, now springing free;
To bend each other's bones they tried,
Their faces crisped in agony. . . .Then as a rage rose, with tiger-bound,
They clashed and smashed, and flailed and flung,
And tripped and slipped, with hammer-pound,
And streamin sweat and straining lung,
The mighty mob roared out their joy,
And wild I heard a wench near-by
Shriek to the Frenchman: "Atta Boy!
Go to it, Jo-jo - kill the guy."The boy from Rome was straight and slim,
And swift and springy as a bow;
The man from Metz was gaunt and grim,
But all the tricks he seemed to know.
'Twixt knee and calf with scissors-lock,
He gripped the lad's arm like a vice;
The prisoned hand went white as chalk,
And limp as death and cold as ice.
And then he tried to break the wrist,
And kidney-pounded with his knee,
But with a cry and lightning twist
The Roman youth had wrested free. . . .Then like mad bulls they hooked and mauled,
And blindly butted, bone on bone;
Spread-eagled on the mat they sprawled,
And writhed and rocked with bitter moan.
Then faltered to their feet and hung
Upon the ropes with eyes of woe;
And then the Frenchman stooped and flung
The wop among the mob below,
Who helped to hoist him back again,
With cheers and jeers and course cat-calls,
To where the Gaul with might and main
Hung poised to kick his genitals
And drop him senseless in the ring. . . .
And then an old man cried: "My son!"
The maddened mob began to fling
Their chairs about - the fight was done.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Poetry, Wrestling Match: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation

by [INSERT YOUR NAME HERE]

Poetry, Wrestling Match by Robert Service

Robert Service's "Poetry, Wrestling Match" is a delightful poem that captures the essence of a wrestling match between a wrestler and a poet. The poem is an interesting juxtaposition of two seemingly disparate art forms - wrestling and poetry, and explores the tension between them. The poem is a rich tapestry of metaphors, similes, and allusions that make it a pleasure to read and analyze.

Background

Robert Service was a Canadian poet and writer who lived from 1874 to 1958. He is best known for his poems about the Yukon and the Klondike Gold Rush. He was also an adventurer and a traveler who lived a colorful and exciting life. Service's poetry is known for its accessibility, humor, and narrative quality. He wrote in a simple, direct style that made his works popular with a wide audience.

"Poetry, Wrestling Match" was published in Service's 1926 collection, "Rhymes of a Roughneck." The poem is one of his lesser-known works, but it remains a favorite among his fans. The poem is a lighthearted take on the tension between poetry and other forms of art.

Literary Analysis

The poem is a dramatic monologue that is spoken by the wrestler. The wrestler is personified as a brute force who is the embodiment of physical strength. The poet, on the other hand, is portrayed as a frail, weak, and timid person who is the embodiment of intellectual strength. The poem is a dialogue between the two characters as they debate the merits of wrestling and poetry.

The poem is divided into six stanzas, each of which contains four lines. The rhyme scheme is AABB, which gives the poem a sing-song quality. The poem is written in a simple, direct style that is easy to understand. The language is colloquial, and the poem is full of slang and idiomatic expressions.

The poem is rich in metaphors and similes that help to create vivid images in the mind of the reader. For example, in the second stanza, the wrestler describes himself as a "human battering-ram." This metaphor emphasizes the wrestler's physical strength and his ability to knock down his opponent with brute force. In the third stanza, the poet describes himself as a "butterfly caught in a net." This simile emphasizes the poet's fragility and his inability to resist the wrestler's strength.

The poem is also full of allusions that help to give it depth and meaning. For example, in the fourth stanza, the wrestler refers to the poet as a "son of Keats." This allusion to the famous Romantic poet, John Keats, emphasizes the poet's literary pedigree and his association with the world of poetry. In the fifth stanza, the poet refers to the wrestler as "Hercules." This allusion to the famous Greek mythological figure emphasizes the wrestler's physical strength and his association with the world of wrestling.

The poem is also full of humor and irony. The humor comes from the contrast between the wrestler and the poet. The wrestler is portrayed as a brute force who is incapable of understanding the subtleties of poetry. The poet, on the other hand, is portrayed as a delicate flower who is incapable of understanding the physicality of wrestling. The irony comes from the fact that the wrestler and the poet are both engaged in a form of combat - the wrestler in the ring and the poet in his writing.

Interpretation

"Poetry, Wrestling Match" is a poem that explores the tension between two seemingly disparate art forms - wrestling and poetry. The poem is a commentary on the conflict between art and physicality. The wrestler and the poet are two sides of the same coin - the wrestler represents the physical world, while the poet represents the world of the mind.

The poem is also a commentary on the tension between high and low culture. Wrestling is often seen as a lowbrow form of entertainment, while poetry is seen as a highbrow form of art. The poem challenges this dichotomy by showing that both wrestling and poetry have their own unique merits.

The poem can also be interpreted as a commentary on the relationship between the body and the mind. The wrestler and the poet are both engaged in a form of combat, but their methods are vastly different. The wrestler relies on physical strength, while the poet relies on intellectual strength. The poem suggests that both the body and the mind are important in their own ways.

Conclusion

"Poetry, Wrestling Match" is a delightful poem that uses humor, irony, and metaphor to explore the tension between wrestling and poetry. The poem is a commentary on the relationship between art and physicality, high and low culture, and the body and the mind. The poem is full of vivid images, allusions, and colloquial language that make it a pleasure to read and analyze. Service's poem is a great example of how a simple and direct style can convey complex ideas in a powerful and engaging way.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

The Poetry Wrestling Match: An Epic Battle of Words

If you're a fan of poetry, then you've probably heard of Robert Service, the Canadian poet who is known for his humorous and often irreverent poems. One of his most famous works is the Poetry Wrestling Match, a hilarious and entertaining poem that tells the story of a wrestling match between two poets.

The poem begins with the introduction of the two poets, who are both vying for the title of the "Poet Laureate of the North." The first poet is a serious and scholarly type, while the second is a more flamboyant and outgoing character. As the match begins, the two poets take turns reciting their poems, each trying to outdo the other with their words.

The first poet starts off strong, reciting a poem about the beauty of nature and the majesty of the mountains. His words are eloquent and well-crafted, and the audience is impressed. However, the second poet is not intimidated, and he responds with a poem of his own, filled with witty one-liners and clever wordplay.

As the match continues, the two poets trade blows, each trying to gain the upper hand. The first poet recites a poem about love and romance, while the second responds with a poem about the joys of drinking and carousing. The audience is torn between the two, unsure which poet to root for.

As the match reaches its climax, the two poets engage in a final showdown, each reciting a poem that they hope will secure them the title of Poet Laureate. The first poet recites a moving poem about the struggles of life and the importance of perseverance, while the second responds with a hilarious poem about the joys of laziness and procrastination.

In the end, it is the second poet who emerges victorious, much to the surprise of the audience. His clever wordplay and irreverent humor have won them over, and they declare him the winner of the match. The first poet, while disappointed, graciously accepts his defeat, and the two poets shake hands in a show of sportsmanship.

So what makes the Poetry Wrestling Match such a classic poem? For one, it is a masterful display of wordplay and wit. Robert Service was known for his ability to craft clever and humorous poems, and the Poetry Wrestling Match is no exception. The poem is filled with puns, one-liners, and clever turns of phrase, making it a joy to read and listen to.

But the poem is also a commentary on the nature of poetry itself. The two poets in the match represent two different styles of poetry: the serious and scholarly style, and the more irreverent and humorous style. The poem suggests that both styles have their merits, and that there is room for both in the world of poetry.

Furthermore, the poem is a celebration of the power of words. The two poets in the match are not physically fighting, but rather engaging in a battle of words. The poem suggests that words have the power to move people, to make them laugh, and to inspire them. It is a reminder that poetry, at its core, is about the power of language.

In conclusion, the Poetry Wrestling Match is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. It is a masterful display of wordplay and wit, a commentary on the nature of poetry, and a celebration of the power of words. If you haven't read it yet, do yourself a favor and give it a read. You won't be disappointed.

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