'The Call' by Robert Service
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Rhymes of a Red Cross Man(France, August first, 1914)Far and near, high and clear,Hark to the call of War!
Over the gorse and the golden dells,
Ringing and swinging of clamorous bells,
Praying and saying of wild farewells:War! War! War!High and low, all must go:Hark to the shout of War!
Leave to the women the harvest yield;
Gird ye, men, for the sinister field;
A sabre instead of a scythe to wield:War! Red War!Rich and poor, lord and boor,Hark to the blast of War!
Tinker and tailor and millionaire,
Actor in triumph and priest in prayer,
Comrades now in the hell out there,Sweep to the fire of War!Prince and page, sot and sage,Hark to the roar of War!
Poet, professor and circus clown,
Chimney-sweeper and fop o' the town,
Into the pot and be melted down:Into the pot of War!Women all, hear the call,The pitiless call of War!
Look your last on your dearest ones,
Brothers and husbands, fathers, sons:
Swift they go to the ravenous guns,The gluttonous guns of War.Everywhere thrill the airThe maniac bells of War.
There will be little of sleeping to-night;
There will be wailing and weeping to-night;
Death's red sickle is reaping to-night:War! War! War!
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Call by Robert Service: A Deep Dive into the Poet's Mind
Have you ever heard the call of the wild? That primal urge to leave the trappings of civilization and venture into the great unknown? Robert Service, the legendary poet of the Yukon, heard that call loud and clear. His poetry is a testament to his love for the wild and his fascination with the human spirit. In this literary criticism, we will take a deep dive into one of his most famous works, The Call.
A Glimpse into the Poet's Life
Before we delve into the poem itself, let's take a moment to explore Robert Service's life. The son of a Scottish banker, Service spent his early years in Scotland before immigrating to Canada in 1894. After working various jobs, including a bank clerk and a cowboy, Service moved to the Yukon in 1904 to try his hand at gold prospecting. It was during his time in the Yukon that Service found his true calling as a poet. His first collection of poems, Songs of a Sourdough, was published in 1907 and was an instant success.
Service's poetry is deeply rooted in his experiences in the Yukon. He fell in love with the rugged beauty of the landscape and the people who called it home. His poems are filled with vivid descriptions of the harsh wilderness and the hardy souls who braved it. Service's love for the Yukon shines through in every line of The Call.
The Poem
The Call is a poem that captures the essence of the wild. It speaks to that primal urge to leave behind the comforts of civilization and explore the great unknown. The poem is divided into three stanzas, each with its own distinct message.
The first stanza sets the tone for the rest of the poem. It begins with the line, "Have you heard the call of the wild?" This line immediately draws the reader in and creates a sense of urgency. Service is asking us if we have felt that same longing that he has. He goes on to describe the wild as a "voice that's urging me / To hark to the wind and sky." This voice is the call of the wild, beckoning Service to leave behind the trappings of civilization and embrace the untamed wilderness.
The second stanza is where the poem really takes off. Service describes the wild in vivid detail, painting a picture of a world that is both dangerous and awe-inspiring. He describes the "mighty aurora" that lights up the sky, the "great white silence" that envelops everything, and the "pallid waste" that stretches out as far as the eye can see. This is the world that Service loves, the world that calls to him.
But the wild is not just a place of beauty. Service also acknowledges the dangers that come with venturing into the unknown. He describes the "blizzard's sudden blast" and the "perils that beset" the traveler. But despite these dangers, Service is still drawn to the wild. He acknowledges that "life's brief candle" may be snuffed out at any moment, but he still feels the call.
The final stanza of the poem is a call to action. Service implores the reader to join him in his quest to explore the wild. He asks us to leave behind the "sordid strife" of civilization and embrace the beauty and danger of the unknown. He ends the poem with the line, "Come, listen to the call - / Come, follow and never fear." This is a call to all those who share Service's love for the wild, to join him on his journey and never look back.
Interpretation
So what does The Call mean? On the surface, it is a poem about the love of the wild. It is about the beauty and danger of the untamed wilderness and the primal urge to explore it. But if we dig a little deeper, we can see that the poem is also about the human spirit.
Service was a man who loved the Yukon and all that it represented. He loved the beauty of the landscape and the people who lived there. But he also loved the challenge of surviving in such a harsh environment. The wild was a place where a person's true character was revealed. It was a place where one had to rely on their wits and their instincts to survive.
In The Call, Service is asking us to embrace that same spirit of adventure. He is asking us to leave behind the safety and comfort of our homes and venture into the unknown. He is asking us to test ourselves, to see what we are truly capable of.
But The Call is also a cautionary tale. Service acknowledges the dangers that come with exploring the wild. He reminds us that life is fragile and can be snuffed out at any moment. But even in the face of danger, Service is still drawn to the wild. He knows that the rewards are worth the risks.
Conclusion
In conclusion, The Call is a poem that speaks to the human spirit. It is a call to embrace the unknown, to test ourselves, and to see what we are truly capable of. Robert Service was a man who loved the wild and all that it represented. His poetry is a testament to his love for the rugged beauty of the Yukon and the hardy souls who called it home.
The Call is one of Service's most famous works, and for good reason. It captures the essence of the wild and the human spirit in a way that few other poems can. It speaks to that primal urge to leave behind the comforts of civilization and explore the great unknown. It is a poem that will continue to inspire and awe readers for generations to come.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Call: A Poem of Adventure and Exploration
Robert Service's "The Call" is a classic poem that captures the spirit of adventure and exploration. It is a poem that speaks to the heart of every person who has ever felt the urge to explore the unknown, to seek out new experiences, and to challenge oneself. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, imagery, and language of "The Call" and examine how they contribute to the poem's enduring appeal.
The poem begins with the speaker describing the call of the wild, the primal urge that draws people to the wilderness. The speaker describes the call as a "whisper on the night-wind, a sigh in the dawn," a subtle but persistent voice that cannot be ignored. This imagery sets the tone for the poem, suggesting that the call is both alluring and mysterious, a force that beckons us to explore the unknown.
As the poem progresses, the speaker describes the various ways in which the call manifests itself. He speaks of the "lonely campfires" and the "trails that lure and lead," suggesting that the call is not just a voice but a physical presence that can be felt and experienced. The imagery of the campfires and trails also suggests that the call is not just a solitary experience but a communal one, something that draws people together in a shared sense of adventure.
The poem then takes a darker turn as the speaker describes the dangers and hardships that come with answering the call. He speaks of the "hunger of the heart" and the "loneliness of the soul," suggesting that the call is not just a source of excitement but also a source of pain and suffering. The imagery of hunger and loneliness also suggests that the call is not just a physical urge but an emotional one, something that speaks to the deepest parts of our being.
Despite these hardships, the speaker insists that the call is worth answering. He speaks of the "joy of the mountains" and the "thrill of the sea," suggesting that the rewards of exploration are worth the risks. The imagery of joy and thrill also suggests that the call is not just a source of pain but a source of pleasure, something that can bring us great happiness and fulfillment.
The poem ends with the speaker describing the call as a "challenge to the brave," a call to action that demands courage and determination. He speaks of the "quest that beckons afar" and the "goal that is distant and dim," suggesting that the call is not just a momentary impulse but a lifelong journey. The imagery of quest and goal also suggests that the call is not just a physical journey but a spiritual one, something that can lead us to a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world around us.
In terms of language, Service's use of rhyme and meter gives the poem a musical quality that adds to its appeal. The poem is written in iambic tetrameter, with four beats per line, which gives it a steady rhythm that echoes the call of the wild. The rhyme scheme is ABAB, which gives the poem a sense of symmetry and balance. The use of alliteration and assonance also adds to the poem's musicality, creating a sense of harmony and unity.
In terms of themes, "The Call" explores the human desire for adventure and exploration, as well as the risks and rewards that come with answering that call. It speaks to the universal human experience of seeking out new experiences and challenging oneself, as well as the emotional and spiritual journey that comes with that quest. The poem also explores the idea of community and shared experience, suggesting that the call is not just a solitary experience but something that brings people together in a shared sense of adventure.
Overall, "The Call" is a classic poem that captures the spirit of adventure and exploration. It speaks to the heart of every person who has ever felt the urge to explore the unknown, to seek out new experiences, and to challenge oneself. Through its use of imagery, language, and themes, the poem captures the beauty and danger of the call of the wild, and reminds us of the rewards that come with answering that call.
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