'Ripe Fruit' by Robert Service
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Songs of a Sun-LoverThrough eyelet holes I watched the crowd
Rain of confetti fling;
Their joy is lush, their laughter loud,
For Carnival is King.
Behind his chariot I pace
To ean my petty pay;
They laugh to see my monster face:
"Ripe Fruit," I hear them say.I do not laugh: my shoulders sag;
No heart have I for glee,
Because I hold aloft a hag
Who grins enough for me;
A hideous harridan who bears
In crapulous display,
Like two grub-eaten mouldy pears
Her bubbies ona tray.Ripe Fruit! Oh, God! It's hell to think
How I have drifted down
Through vice and dice and dope and drink
To play the sordid clown;
That I who held the golden key
To operatic fame,
Should gnaw the crust of misery
And drain the dregs of shame.What matter! I'll get soused to-night,
And happy I will be,
To sit within a tavern bright,
A trollop on my knee. . . .
So let the crazy pipers pipe,
And let the rapture ring:
Ripe fruit am I - yea, rotten ripe,
And Carnival is King.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Ripe Fruit by Robert Service: A Masterpiece of Poetic Imagination
When it comes to poetry, few writers have attained the level of mastery and popularity that Robert Service enjoyed during his lifetime. Born in England in 1874 and spending most of his adult years in Canada, Service became known as the Bard of the Yukon for his vivid and often humorous depictions of life in the frozen north. His poems, such as "The Cremation of Sam McGee" and "The Shooting of Dan McGrew," became classic works of literature, beloved by generations of readers.
One of Service's lesser-known poems, but no less worthy of praise, is "Ripe Fruit." Written in 1925 and included in his collection "Rhymes of a Red Cross Man," the poem is a striking meditation on the fleeting nature of life and the inevitability of death. In the following literary criticism and interpretation of "Ripe Fruit," we will explore the themes, stylistic devices, and overall significance of this remarkable poem.
Theme: The Transience of Life
At its heart, "Ripe Fruit" is a poem about the fleeting nature of life. The speaker of the poem, who remains unnamed, observes a tree full of ripe fruit and wonders how long it will be before the fruit falls and rots. In doing so, he reflects on his own mortality and the inevitability of death. As he puts it in the final stanza:
So I stand on the hill, and the tree nods to me,
And the sunflowers nod and the grass;
And the breezes that blow from the land of the free
Are sweet with the perfume of Time that must be
With the passing of all that must pass.
What is striking about this theme is how Service manages to convey it without being overtly morbid or depressing. Instead, he uses the imagery of the tree and the fruit to create a sense of beauty and poignancy. The fruit is ripe and sweet, but it will not last forever. Similarly, life is beautiful and precious, but it too is fleeting.
Stylistic Devices: Rhyme, Meter, and Imagery
Service's mastery of rhyme and meter is on full display in "Ripe Fruit." The poem is written in iambic tetrameter, with four beats per line. This gives the poem a steady rhythm that reinforces the sense of inevitability and finality that pervades it. The rhyme scheme is ABAB, CDCD, EFEF, GG, which gives the poem a sense of symmetry and balance.
But it is Service's use of imagery that really sets "Ripe Fruit" apart. The tree, with its branches heavy with fruit, is a powerful symbol of life and abundance. The fruit itself is described in rich, sensory detail, with its "mellow gold" and "rosy blush." The poem is filled with images of nature - the sunflowers, the grass, the breezes - all of which serve to reinforce the theme of transience.
Significance: A Meditation on Life and Death
So what is the significance of "Ripe Fruit"? Why is this poem worth reading and analyzing? At its core, I believe the poem is a meditation on life and death. Service is reminding us that life is precious and beautiful, but it is also fleeting. We must savor every moment, for it will not last forever. As the speaker puts it in the third stanza:
The fruit is fair, but it must rot;
The dawn is fair, but it is gone;
The rose is fair, but it is not
So fair as when it first was drawn
From Nature's lavish gown.
Service is not preaching doom and gloom, but rather encouraging us to live life to the fullest. We should enjoy the beauty of the world around us, but we should also be mindful of its impermanence. By doing so, we can gain a deeper appreciation of life and a greater sense of gratitude.
Conclusion: A Masterpiece of Poetic Imagination
In conclusion, "Ripe Fruit" is a masterpiece of poetic imagination. Through its skillful use of rhyme, meter, and imagery, the poem creates a powerful meditation on life and death. Service reminds us that life is beautiful and precious, but it is also fleeting. We must savor every moment and appreciate the beauty of the world around us. For those who have not yet experienced the genius of Robert Service, "Ripe Fruit" is a perfect introduction to his work. For those who are already fans, it is yet another example of why his legacy as one of the greatest poets of the twentieth century endures.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry Ripe Fruit: A Masterpiece by Robert Service
If you are a poetry lover, then you must have come across the name Robert Service, a renowned poet who has left an indelible mark in the world of literature. Among his many works, Poetry Ripe Fruit stands out as a masterpiece that captures the essence of life and the human experience. In this article, we will delve into the poem and explore its themes, structure, and literary devices.
The poem begins with a powerful opening line, "Oh, let the tasteless fruit be gone!" This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which is a call to live life to the fullest and not settle for mediocrity. The speaker is urging us to seek out the ripe fruit, which is a metaphor for the good things in life. The tasteless fruit, on the other hand, represents the mundane and unfulfilling aspects of life.
The first stanza of the poem is a vivid description of the tasteless fruit. The speaker uses imagery to paint a picture of a world without flavor or excitement. He describes the tasteless fruit as "pale and wan" and "bitter to the tongue." This imagery creates a sense of disgust and dissatisfaction, which is contrasted with the ripe fruit that is described in the following stanzas.
The second stanza of the poem is where the speaker introduces the ripe fruit. He describes it as "luscious, juicy, ripe and red," which is a stark contrast to the tasteless fruit. The speaker goes on to describe the ripe fruit as "the fruit of life," which is a metaphor for the good things in life. The ripe fruit represents love, happiness, and fulfillment, while the tasteless fruit represents boredom, dissatisfaction, and unfulfillment.
The third stanza of the poem is where the speaker urges us to seek out the ripe fruit. He tells us to "pluck it from the tree of life" and "taste its nectar sweet." This is a call to action, urging us to actively seek out the good things in life and not settle for less. The speaker is telling us that the ripe fruit is within our reach, and all we have to do is reach out and grab it.
The fourth stanza of the poem is a warning to those who choose to settle for the tasteless fruit. The speaker tells us that those who choose the tasteless fruit will "live a life of discontent" and "die with bitter tears." This is a powerful message that reminds us that life is short, and we should not waste it on things that do not bring us joy and fulfillment.
The fifth and final stanza of the poem is a call to action. The speaker tells us to "pluck the fruit of life today" and "taste its nectar sweet." This is a reminder that we should not wait for tomorrow to start living our lives to the fullest. We should seize the moment and make the most of every opportunity that comes our way.
The structure of the poem is simple and straightforward. It consists of five stanzas, each with four lines. The rhyme scheme is AABB, which creates a sense of rhythm and flow. The simplicity of the structure allows the message of the poem to shine through without any distractions.
The poem is filled with literary devices that enhance its meaning and impact. The use of metaphor is prevalent throughout the poem, with the ripe fruit representing the good things in life and the tasteless fruit representing the mundane and unfulfilling aspects of life. The use of imagery is also prominent, with the speaker painting vivid pictures of the tasteless fruit and the ripe fruit.
The poem also uses repetition to emphasize its message. The phrase "taste its nectar sweet" is repeated twice in the poem, creating a sense of urgency and importance. The repetition of the phrase "ripe fruit" also reinforces the idea that we should seek out the good things in life.
In conclusion, Poetry Ripe Fruit is a masterpiece by Robert Service that captures the essence of life and the human experience. The poem urges us to seek out the good things in life and not settle for less. It is a call to action that reminds us that life is short, and we should make the most of every moment. The poem's simple structure and powerful message make it a timeless classic that will continue to inspire generations to come.
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