'The Cow-Juice Cure' by Robert Service
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Rhymes of a Rolling StoneThe clover was in blossom, an' the year was at the June,
When Flap-jack Billy hit the town, likewise O'Flynn's saloon.
The frost was on the fodder an' the wind was growin' keen,
When Billy got to seein' snakes in Sullivan's shebeen.Then in meandered Deep-hole Dan, once comrade of the cup:
"Oh Billy, for the love of Mike, why don't ye sober up?
I've got the gorgus recipay, 'tis smooth an' slick as silk --
Jest quit yer strangle-holt on hooch, an' irrigate with milk.
Lackteeal flooid is the lubrication you require;
Yer nervus frame-up's like a bunch of snarled piano wire.
You want to get it coated up with addypose tishoo,
So's it will work elastic-like, an' milk's the dope for you."Well, Billy was complyable, an' in a month it's strange,
That cow-juice seemed to oppyrate a most amazin' change.
"Call up the water-wagon, Dan, an' book my seat," sez he.
"'Tis mighty queer," sez Deep-hole Dan, "'twas just the same with
me."
They shanghaied little Tim O'Shane, they cached him safe away,
An' though he objurgated some, they "cured" him night an' day;
An' pretty soon there came the change amazin' to explain:
"I'll never take another drink," sez Timothy O'Shane.
They tried it out on Spike Muldoon, that toper of renown;
They put it over Grouch McGraw, the terror of the town.
They roped in "tanks" from far and near, an' every test was sure,
An' like a flame there ran the fame of Deep-hole's Cow-juice Cure."It's mighty queer," sez Deep-hole Dan, "I'm puzzled through and through;
It's only milk from Riley's ranch, no other milk will do."
An' it jest happened on that night with no predictive plan,
He left some milk from Riley's ranch a-settin' in a pan;
An' picture his amazement when he poured that milk next day --
There in the bottom of the pan a dozen "colours" lay."Well, what d'ye know 'bout that," sez Dan; "Gosh ding my dasted eyes,
We've been an' had the Gold Cure, Bill, an' none of us was wise.
The milk's free-millin' that's a cinch; there's colours everywhere.
Now, let us figger this thing out -- how does the dust git there?
`Gold from the grass-roots down', they say -- why, Bill! we've got it cold --
Them cows what nibbles up the grass, jest nibbles up the gold.
We're blasted, bloomin' millionaires; dissemble an' lie low:
We'll follow them gold-bearin' cows, an' prospect where they go."An' so it came to pass, fer weeks them miners might be found
A-sneakin' round on Riley's ranch, an' snipin' at the ground;
Till even Riley stops an' stares, an' presently allows:
"Them boys appear to take a mighty interest in cows."
An' night an' day they shadowed each auriferous bovine,
An' panned the grass-roots on their trail, yet nivver gold they seen.An' all that season, secret-like, they worked an' nothin' found;
An' there was colours in the milk, but none was in the ground.
An' mighty desperate was they, an' down upon their luck,
When sudden, inspirationlike, the source of it they struck.
An' where d'ye think they traced it to? it grieves my heart to tell --
In the black sand at the bottom of that wicked milkman's
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Cow-Juice Cure by Robert Service: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Are you familiar with the works of Robert Service? If not, then you're in for a treat. Service is known for his humorous and often satirical poetry, and one of his most notable works is "The Cow-Juice Cure." This poem tells the story of a man who turns to cow's milk to cure his ailments, with unexpected results. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we'll take a closer look at this classic poem and explore what it has to say about human nature.
The Language of the Poem
First, let's talk about the language of "The Cow-Juice Cure." Service's use of language is one of the reasons why his poetry is so beloved. In this poem, he employs a range of techniques to create a sense of humor and playfulness. For example, he uses alliteration to emphasize certain words and create a rhythmic flow:
"Then I tried milk, I'm not so young, But milk, folks say, is Nature's tongue; It's full of curds and cream and such, And calcium for every touch."
Notice how the repeated "m" sound in "milk," "Nature's tongue," "curds," "cream," and "touch" creates a musical quality to the lines. This is just one example of how Service uses language to create a sense of playfulness in his poetry.
Another technique that Service uses is wordplay. For instance, in the first stanza, he writes:
"I tried a cure for sorrow, I drank of the milky way; I consulted with tomorrow, But it never had a say."
Here, Service is playing with the term "milky way," which is not only a reference to the galaxy but also to the milk that the speaker has been drinking. This clever wordplay adds to the overall humor of the poem.
The Satirical Tone
One of the most noticeable things about "The Cow-Juice Cure" is its satirical tone. The poem is a critique of the human tendency to search for quick fixes and easy solutions to our problems. The speaker of the poem is looking for a way to cure his ailments, and he turns to milk as a solution. However, his efforts are in vain, and he ends up experiencing unexpected and unpleasant side effects:
"But now my voice is awful low, And whiskers sprout upon my brow; My head is bald, my teeth are few, And I'm becoming a bovine moo."
The satirical tone of the poem is clear here. Service is pointing out the absurdity of the speaker's quest for a quick fix, and the consequences that come from it.
The Theme of Human Nature
Beyond its satirical tone, "The Cow-Juice Cure" also has a deeper message about human nature. The poem suggests that our desires for quick fixes and easy solutions are driven by our fear of discomfort and pain. We want to avoid suffering, and we're willing to try anything to make it happen. However, this desire for immediate relief can often lead to unintended consequences. In this case, the speaker's quest for a cure ends up transforming him into a cow.
The poem also suggests that our search for easy solutions can be misguided. We often look for solutions outside of ourselves, rather than focusing on our own inner strength and resilience. This message is conveyed in the final lines of the poem:
"Yet there's a moral, sad but true, In trying things we shouldn't do; It's better far, and safer too, To stick to what we know is true."
Here, Service is suggesting that the speaker's attempts to find a cure were misguided, and that it would have been better for him to focus on what he knew to be true, rather than searching for a quick fix.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "The Cow-Juice Cure" is a classic poem that showcases Robert Service's skill with language and his ability to create a satirical tone. Through his use of humor and wordplay, Service critiques our tendency to search for quick fixes and easy solutions to our problems. He suggests that this desire is driven by our fear of discomfort and pain, and that it can often lead to unintended consequences. Ultimately, the poem suggests that we should focus on our own inner strength and resilience, rather than looking for solutions outside of ourselves. This is a timeless message that is just as relevant today as it was when Service first wrote this poem.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Cow-Juice Cure: A Classic Poem by Robert Service
If you're looking for a poem that will make you laugh, think, and feel all at once, look no further than Robert Service's "The Cow-Juice Cure." This classic poem, written in Service's signature rollicking style, tells the story of a man who tries to cure his ailments with a rather unconventional remedy: cow's milk.
At first glance, "The Cow-Juice Cure" might seem like a simple and silly poem. But upon closer inspection, it reveals itself to be a clever commentary on the human desire for quick fixes and easy solutions to complex problems.
The poem begins with the narrator describing his various ailments, from aches and pains to insomnia and indigestion. He tries all sorts of remedies, from hot baths to cold compresses, but nothing seems to work. That is, until he hears about the cow-juice cure.
The idea of drinking cow's milk to cure one's ailments might seem strange to us today, but in the early 20th century (when Service wrote this poem), it was a popular folk remedy. Service himself was a Canadian who spent much of his life in the Yukon, where he would have been familiar with the use of cow's milk as a cure-all.
But Service isn't just poking fun at this particular remedy. He's using it as a metaphor for the larger human tendency to seek out quick fixes and easy solutions to complex problems. We all want to feel better, but we don't always want to put in the hard work required to truly heal ourselves.
The narrator of the poem is no exception. He eagerly tries the cow-juice cure, and at first, it seems to work wonders. He feels stronger, healthier, and more energetic than ever before. But as time goes on, he begins to realize that the cure is not all it's cracked up to be.
For one thing, he can't seem to stop drinking the milk. He becomes addicted to it, drinking it by the gallon and neglecting his other responsibilities. He also starts to notice some unpleasant side effects, such as a bloated stomach and a foul odor emanating from his body.
Despite these warning signs, the narrator continues to drink the milk, convinced that it is the only thing keeping him healthy. It's only when he meets a wise old man who tells him the truth about the cow-juice cure that he begins to see the error of his ways.
The old man explains that the milk is not actually curing the narrator's ailments, but merely masking them. By drinking so much milk, the narrator is neglecting the root causes of his problems and preventing himself from truly healing.
This message is as relevant today as it was when Service wrote the poem over a century ago. We still live in a world where people are constantly searching for quick fixes and easy solutions to complex problems. We want to lose weight without changing our diets, to cure our anxiety without addressing its underlying causes, to be happy without doing the hard work of self-reflection and growth.
"The Cow-Juice Cure" reminds us that there are no easy answers when it comes to our health and well-being. We can't just drink a gallon of milk and expect all our problems to disappear. We need to be willing to do the hard work of self-care, to address the root causes of our problems, and to make real, lasting changes in our lives.
But even as it delivers this important message, "The Cow-Juice Cure" never loses its sense of humor or its infectious energy. Service's lively, rhythmic verse and playful use of language make the poem a joy to read and a pleasure to recite.
In the end, "The Cow-Juice Cure" is a classic poem that still resonates today. It reminds us that there are no easy answers when it comes to our health and well-being, but that we can still find joy and humor in the journey. So the next time you're feeling down, remember the cow-juice cure, and take a moment to laugh at yourself and the absurdity of the human quest for easy solutions.
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