'The Living Dead' by Robert Service

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Songs of a Sun-LoverSince I have come to years sedate
I see with more and more acumen
The bitter irony of Fate,
The vanity of all things human.
Why, just to-day some fellow said,
As I surveyed Fame's outer portal:
"By gad! I thought that you were dead."
Poor me, who dreamed to be immortal!But that's the way with many men
Whose name one fancied time-defying;
We thought that they were dust and then
We found them living by their dying.
Like dogs we penmen have our day,
To brief best-sellerdom elected;
And then, "thumbs down," we slink away
And die forgotten and neglected.Ah well, my lyric fling I've had;
A thousand bits of verse I've minted;
And some, alas! were very bad,
And some, alack! were best unprinted.
But if I've made my muse a bawd
(Since I am earthy as a ditch is),
I'll answer humbly to my God:
Most men at times have toyed with bitches.Yes, I have played with Lady Rhyme,
And had a long and lovely innings;
And when the Umpire calls my time
I'll blandly quit and take my winnings.
I'll hie me to some Sleepydale,
And feed the ducks and pat the poodles,
And prime my paunch with cakes and ale,
And blether with the village noodles.And then some day you'll idly scan
The Times obituary column,
And say: "Dear me, the poor old man!"
And for a moment you'll look solemn.
"So all this time he's been alive -
In realms of rhyme a second-rater . . .
But gad! to live to ninety-five:
Let's toast his ghost - a sherry, waiter!"

Editor 1 Interpretation

The Living Dead by Robert Service: A Deeper Look

The Living Dead, written by Robert Service, is a poem that paints a vivid picture of the effects of war on soldiers. The poem is set in World War I, where men were sent off to fight in a war that most were not prepared for. The poem speaks to the mental and emotional toll that war can take on soldiers, as well as the physical destruction that comes with it.

The Poem: A Closer Look

The poem begins with a description of the soldiers as "the living dead". This phrase creates an image of men who are alive but have lost their sense of self and identity. They are no longer the men they were before they went off to war. The first stanza sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as it highlights the despair and hopelessness that the soldiers feel.

The second stanza describes the physical effects of war. The soldiers are "haggard", "gaunt", and "grey". These are all words that suggest a lack of vitality and life. The soldiers have been reduced to shells of themselves, with their bodies being destroyed by the war. The description of the "blasted trees" also highlights the destruction that war brings, not just to the soldiers, but to the environment as well.

The third stanza brings a glimmer of hope, as the soldiers are described as having "eyes that shine". This suggestion of hope is short-lived, as the next line describes the shine as being "mad". This suggests that the soldiers have lost touch with reality, and are now living in a world of their own. The phrase "whispering shadows" also suggests a sense of paranoia and fear, which is common in soldiers who have been exposed to the traumas of war.

The fourth stanza describes the soldiers as being "numb". This suggests that they have become desensitized to the horrors of war. They have seen so much death and destruction that they are no longer affected by it. The phrase "nothing moves but blood" highlights the brutality of war, and the way that it reduces human life to mere biological functions.

The final stanza brings an end to the poem, with the soldiers being described as "the living dead". This repetition of the phrase used in the first stanza emphasizes the idea that the soldiers have lost their sense of self, and are now mere shells of their former selves.

Interpretation

The Living Dead is a poem that speaks to the experiences of soldiers in war. The poem highlights the physical, mental, and emotional toll that war can take on soldiers. The soldiers in the poem are described as being "haggard", "gaunt", and "grey", which suggests that they have been physically destroyed by the war. The phrase "the living dead" emphasizes the idea that they have lost their sense of self, and are now mere shells of their former selves.

The poem also speaks to the psychological effects of war. The soldiers are described as having "eyes that shine", which suggests a sense of madness and paranoia. The phrase "whispering shadows" also highlights the fear and paranoia that soldiers often experience in war. The soldiers in the poem are also described as being "numb", which suggests that they have become desensitized to the horrors of war.

The poem highlights the brutal and destructive nature of war. The "blasted trees" and "nothing moves but blood" suggest a world that has been reduced to rubble and biological functions. The poem suggests that war destroys not just the soldiers, but also the environment and the society that they come from.

Conclusion

The Living Dead is a poem that speaks to the experiences of soldiers in war. The poem highlights the physical, mental, and emotional toll that war can take on soldiers. The poem suggests that war can destroy not just the soldiers, but also the environment and the society that they come from. The Living Dead is a powerful poem that speaks to the horrors of war, and the way that it can change people forever.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry has always been a medium of expression for the human soul. It is a way to convey emotions, thoughts, and ideas in a way that is both beautiful and powerful. Robert Service's poem, "The Living Dead," is a classic example of how poetry can capture the essence of life and death in a way that is both haunting and beautiful.

The poem begins with a description of a graveyard, where the dead are buried. The speaker describes the graves as "silent sentinels" and the "cold, grey stones" as the only markers of the lives that once were. The imagery is stark and evocative, setting the tone for the rest of the poem.

As the speaker walks through the graveyard, he comes across a man who is sitting on a grave, staring into space. The man is described as "haggard" and "gaunt," with a look of despair on his face. The speaker approaches the man and asks him why he is there. The man responds by saying that he is one of the "living dead," a person who is alive but feels dead inside.

The theme of the poem is the idea of living a life that is devoid of meaning or purpose. The man on the grave is a symbol of this idea, a person who is alive but feels dead inside. He is a reminder that life is not just about existing, but about finding meaning and purpose in our existence.

The speaker tries to comfort the man by telling him that life is full of opportunities and that he should not give up hope. He tells him that he should find something that he loves and pursue it with all his heart. The speaker's words are a reminder that life is not just about surviving, but about thriving.

The poem ends with the man on the grave getting up and walking away, his face no longer filled with despair. The speaker watches him go, feeling a sense of hope and renewal. The ending is a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is always hope for a better tomorrow.

The poem is written in a simple, yet powerful style. The language is easy to understand, yet the imagery is vivid and evocative. The poem is a reminder that poetry does not have to be complex or difficult to be powerful.

The poem is also a reminder that life is short and that we should make the most of every moment. The graveyard is a symbol of the fleeting nature of life, a reminder that we are all mortal and that our time on this earth is limited. The man on the grave is a reminder that we should not waste our time on this earth, but should instead find meaning and purpose in our existence.

In conclusion, Robert Service's poem, "The Living Dead," is a classic example of how poetry can capture the essence of life and death in a way that is both haunting and beautiful. The poem is a reminder that life is not just about existing, but about finding meaning and purpose in our existence. The poem is also a reminder that life is short and that we should make the most of every moment. The poem is a powerful reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is always hope for a better tomorrow.

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