'Treat 'Em Rough' by Robert Service

AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay

Rhymes for My RagsFirst time I dared propose,A callow lad was I;
I donned my Sunday clothes,I wore my Old School Tie.
Awaiting me LouiseWas dolled to beat the band,
So going on my kneesI begged her hand.Oh yes, she gave me her hand,--A box upon the ear;
I could not understand,I blinked away a tear.
Then scornfully she said:'Next time you kneel before
A maid, young man don't spreadYour hankey on the floor.'So next time I proposed,Thinks I, I'll treat 'em rough.
Her name was Lily Rose,I gave her he-man stuff.
I yanked her on my knee,And as her ear I bit,
To my amazement sheSeemed to like it.The old cave-men knew best;Grab girlies by the hair,
And though they may protestDrag them into your lair.
So young men seeking mates,Take my tip, if rejected:
A modern maid just hatesTo be respected.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Poetry Criticism and Interpretation of "Treat 'Em Rough" by Robert Service

Have you ever read a poem that made you want to saddle up and ride through the wild, untamed West? A poem that made you feel like you were in the thick of the action, with bullets whizzing past your ears and the smell of gunpowder in the air? If not, then you haven't read "Treat 'Em Rough" by Robert Service.

This classic poem, first published in 1917, is a stirring tribute to the rugged individualism and unyielding spirit of the men and women who helped tame the American frontier. Written in Service's signature rollicking style, "Treat 'Em Rough" captures the raw energy and untamed passion of the Wild West, while also celebrating the bravery and determination of those who fought to make the West safe for settlers and homesteaders.

Throughout the poem, Service employs a variety of literary devices to convey his message, including vivid imagery, powerful metaphors, and a driving rhythm that propels the reader forward like a galloping stallion. But perhaps the most striking aspect of "Treat 'Em Rough" is its unapologetic celebration of violence and aggression, which some readers may find troubling.

At its core, "Treat 'Em Rough" is a poem about the struggle for survival and dominance in a harsh and unforgiving environment. The poem's narrator, a grizzled cowboy, describes his experiences on the frontier with a mixture of pride, defiance, and resignation. He knows that life in the West is tough, and that only the toughest and most ruthless will survive. But he also recognizes that there is a certain code of honor and respect among those who live by the gun, and that this code is essential for maintaining social order in a lawless land.

As the poem unfolds, Service paints a vivid picture of life on the frontier, with all its dangers and hardships. We see cowboys and outlaws locked in deadly shootouts, women defending their homes and families with rifles, and lawmen risking their lives to bring justice to the lawless. Throughout it all, the narrator exhorts his readers to "treat 'em rough," to never back down in the face of danger, and to always be willing to fight for what they believe in.

One of the most striking features of "Treat 'Em Rough" is its use of metaphor to convey the narrator's message. For example, when he describes the gunfighters of the West, he uses the metaphor of "wolves" to suggest their ferocity and cunning. He writes, "They're wolves, I tell you...wolves down to the bone.../ And when they get to snarling, they're best left alone." This metaphor not only captures the wild, untamed nature of these men, but also suggests that they are a vital part of the ecosystem of the West, just as wolves are a vital part of the natural world.

Similarly, when the narrator describes the code of honor that governs life in the West, he uses the metaphor of "the brand" to suggest the importance of reputation and respect among the cowboys. He writes, "For a man to play the game, he must have a brand that's clear.../ And when he's up against it, he must show no fear." Again, this metaphor not only captures the essence of the code of honor among the cowboys, but also suggests that this code is a kind of tribal marking, a way of signalling one's status and identity in a lawless land.

But perhaps the most powerful metaphor in the poem is the image of the West as a kind of wild, untamed beast that must be conquered and subdued. The narrator writes, "The West is just one big game, and it's rough, and it's hard, and it's tameless.../ But we're playing the game, and we're playing the game to win." Here, the metaphor of the game suggests that life in the West is a kind of contest, a battle for survival and dominance. And the idea of "playing to win" suggests that there is no room for weakness or hesitation in this game.

Of course, this celebration of violence and aggression may be troubling to some readers. The poem seems to suggest that the only way to survive in the West is to be willing to use violence and force, and that those who are not willing to do so are doomed to fail. But perhaps it is this very brutality that makes the poem so compelling. In a world that often seems sanitized and safe, there is a certain thrill in reading about a time and place where life was raw and unfiltered, and where the only law was the law of the gun.

In conclusion, "Treat 'Em Rough" is a powerful tribute to the men and women who helped tame the American West, and to the code of honor and aggression that governed life in that lawless land. While some readers may find the poem's celebration of violence and aggression troubling, there is no denying its raw energy and unyielding spirit. And for those who long for a taste of the Wild West, "Treat 'Em Rough" is sure to deliver.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry Treat 'Em Rough: An Analysis of Robert Service's Classic

Robert Service's Poetry Treat 'Em Rough is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. It is a poem that speaks to the ruggedness and resilience of the human spirit. The poem is a celebration of the hardworking men and women who have built this country from the ground up. It is a tribute to the pioneers, the cowboys, and the miners who have braved the elements and the dangers of the wild west. In this analysis, we will take a closer look at the poem and explore its themes, its structure, and its significance.

The poem begins with a call to action. The speaker urges the reader to "treat 'em rough" and to "ride 'em hard." This is a call to the rugged individualism that is so often associated with the American west. It is a call to toughness, to resilience, and to the willingness to do whatever it takes to get the job done. The speaker tells us that "the toughest breed of men" are those who are willing to take on the challenges of the west.

The poem then goes on to describe the various challenges that these men and women face. The speaker tells us of the "blizzards, floods, and droughts" that they must endure. He speaks of the "rattlesnakes, scorpions, and bears" that they must contend with. He tells us of the "lonely nights" and the "long, hard days" that they must endure. But through it all, the speaker tells us, these men and women remain steadfast and strong.

The poem is structured in a way that reflects the ruggedness and resilience of the people it celebrates. The lines are short and choppy, with a strong emphasis on rhythm and rhyme. The poem is written in a colloquial style that reflects the language of the west. The use of slang and regional dialects adds to the authenticity of the poem and helps to create a sense of place.

The poem is also significant in its portrayal of gender roles. While the poem celebrates the toughness and resilience of both men and women, it is clear that the speaker sees men as the primary agents of change in the west. The women in the poem are portrayed as supportive and nurturing, but it is the men who are seen as the true pioneers. This is reflective of the gender roles that were prevalent in the west at the time the poem was written.

Despite its limitations in terms of gender roles, Poetry Treat 'Em Rough remains a powerful and enduring tribute to the spirit of the west. It is a celebration of the hardworking men and women who have built this country from the ground up. It is a reminder of the challenges that they faced and the resilience that they showed in the face of adversity. It is a tribute to the rugged individualism that is so often associated with the American west.

In conclusion, Poetry Treat 'Em Rough is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. It is a celebration of the hardworking men and women who have built this country from the ground up. It is a tribute to the pioneers, the cowboys, and the miners who have braved the elements and the dangers of the wild west. The poem is structured in a way that reflects the ruggedness and resilience of the people it celebrates. Despite its limitations in terms of gender roles, Poetry Treat 'Em Rough remains a powerful and enduring tribute to the spirit of the west.

Editor Recommended Sites

Deploy Code: Learn how to deploy code on the cloud using various services. The tradeoffs. AWS / GCP
Babysitting App - Local babysitting app & Best baby sitting online app: Find local babysitters at affordable prices.
ML Platform: Machine Learning Platform on AWS and GCP, comparison and similarities across cloud ml platforms
GNN tips: Graph Neural network best practice, generative ai neural networks with reasoning
Visual Novels: AI generated visual novels with LLMs for the text and latent generative models for the images

Recommended Similar Analysis

Home Is So Sad by Philip Larkin analysis
Three Sundays In A Week by Edgar Allen Poe analysis
Sonnet X by Elizabeth Barrett Browning analysis
Come slowly-Eden! by Emily Dickinson analysis
Quiet Night Thoughts by Li Po analysis
"The Dreams of My Heart" by Sarah Teasdale analysis
On The Progress Of The Soul... by John Donne analysis
Sonnet 18: Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? by William Shakespeare analysis
Destiny and a Blue Cloak by Thomas Hardy analysis
A Study Of Reading Habits by Philip Larkin analysis