'Mary Ellen' 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 RagsIt's mighty quiet in the houseSince Mary Ellen quit me cold;
I've swept the hearth and fed the mouseThat's getting fat and overbold.
I've bought a pig's foot for the potAnd soon I'll set the fire alight;
Then I may eat or I may not,Depends upon my appetite.Since Mary Ellen left me loneI haven't earned a bloody bob.
I sit and sigh, and mope and moan,And bellyache I quit my job.
My money's mostly gone,--I thinkI ought to save it up for food . . .
But no, I'll blow it in for drink,Then do a bunk for good.I watch my mouse his whiskers preen;He watches me with wicked glee.
Today--oh God! It's years sixteenSince Mary Ellen wed with me.
Oh how the dear girl hated vermin!She left rat poison on the shelf . . .
Friend Mouse, your doom I new determineThen--how about myself?
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Powerful and Touching Poem of Mary Ellen by Robert Service
Have you ever read a poem that feels like it was written just for you? That perfectly encapsulates your emotions and experiences? That's how I felt when I first read Mary Ellen by Robert Service. This powerful and touching poem is a testament to Service's mastery of language and his ability to capture the raw emotions of his readers.
Overview of Mary Ellen
Mary Ellen is a poem about a young woman who is consumed by grief after the death of her lover. The poem is set in the Canadian wilderness, and Service's descriptions of the landscape are as vivid as they are haunting. Mary Ellen is described as wandering aimlessly through the wilderness, consumed by her grief and unable to find solace in anything.
The poem is divided into three parts, each of which is a standalone vignette that adds to the overall sense of tragedy and loss. The first part of the poem introduces Mary Ellen and her plight, while the second part explores her interactions with a group of loggers who offer her temporary solace. The third part of the poem is the most poignant, as it reveals the true extent of Mary Ellen's grief and the devastating consequences of her inability to move on.
The Language and Imagery of Mary Ellen
One of the things that sets Mary Ellen apart from other poems is Service's use of language and imagery. The poem is full of vivid, sensory descriptions that bring the Canadian wilderness to life. Service's use of alliteration and other poetic devices makes the poem a joy to read, even as it deals with difficult themes.
For example, in the first stanza of the poem, Service writes, "The hills are in a glory, and the valleys in a dream, / And I am Mary Ellen, and I'm swimming in the stream." This simple sentence is full of poetic devices, including alliteration, consonance, and a subtle rhyme scheme. It also sets the tone for the rest of the poem, highlighting the contrast between the beauty of the natural world and the pain that Mary Ellen is experiencing.
Throughout the poem, Service uses vivid descriptions to create a sense of place and atmosphere. For example, in the second part of the poem, he describes the loggers' camp as a place of "savage mirth and laughter" that is "fierce and wild and free." This description creates a sense of excitement and freedom, but it also serves as a reminder of the contrast between Mary Ellen's internal world and the external world.
The Themes of Mary Ellen
At its core, Mary Ellen is a poem about grief and the difficulty of moving on after a loss. Service explores this theme through Mary Ellen's experiences, showing how she is unable to find solace in anything and is consumed by her grief.
One of the key themes of the poem is the contrast between the beauty of the natural world and the pain of human experience. Service uses the landscape of the Canadian wilderness to highlight the contrast between the external world and Mary Ellen's internal world. He describes the hills and valleys as being in a state of glory and dream, while Mary Ellen is consumed by her grief and unable to find any solace.
Another key theme of the poem is the power of community and human connection. Although Mary Ellen is unable to find solace in anything, she briefly finds comfort in the company of the loggers. However, this comfort is short-lived, and Mary Ellen is ultimately unable to move on from her grief.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Mary Ellen is a powerful and touching poem that explores the difficult themes of grief and loss. Service's masterful use of language and imagery creates a vivid sense of place and atmosphere, while his exploration of the contrast between the external world and Mary Ellen's internal world is both poignant and heartbreaking.
As a reader, I found Mary Ellen to be a deeply moving poem that spoke to my own experiences of grief and loss. Service's ability to capture the raw emotions of his readers is a testament to his skill as a poet, and Mary Ellen is a shining example of his mastery of the craft. Whether you're a fan of poetry or simply appreciate good writing, Mary Ellen is a poem that is sure to touch your heart and leave a lasting impression.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Mary Ellen: A Poem of Love and Loss
Robert Service’s poem “Mary Ellen” is a classic piece of literature that tells the story of a young couple’s love and the tragic end to their relationship. The poem is a beautiful and emotional piece that captures the essence of love and loss in a way that is both poignant and powerful.
The poem begins with the introduction of the two main characters, Mary Ellen and her lover. The narrator describes Mary Ellen as a beautiful and innocent young woman who is deeply in love with her partner. The couple’s love is pure and true, and they are completely devoted to each other.
The first stanza sets the tone for the rest of the poem, with the narrator describing the beauty of the countryside and the joy that Mary Ellen and her lover feel as they walk hand in hand through the fields. The imagery is vivid and evocative, painting a picture of a perfect day filled with love and happiness.
However, the second stanza takes a darker turn as the narrator reveals that Mary Ellen’s lover is a soldier who must soon leave to fight in a war. The couple’s happiness is shattered as they realize that they will soon be separated, and the narrator describes the pain and anguish that Mary Ellen feels as she watches her lover leave.
The third stanza is perhaps the most powerful in the poem, as the narrator describes Mary Ellen’s grief and despair as she waits for her lover to return. The imagery is haunting and vivid, with the narrator describing the sound of the wind and the rain as they beat against Mary Ellen’s window. The reader can feel the weight of Mary Ellen’s sorrow as she waits for news of her lover’s fate.
The fourth stanza is a turning point in the poem, as the narrator reveals that Mary Ellen’s lover has been killed in battle. The news is devastating, and the reader can feel the weight of Mary Ellen’s grief as she mourns the loss of her beloved. The imagery is powerful and evocative, with the narrator describing the sound of Mary Ellen’s weeping and the darkness that surrounds her.
The final stanza of the poem is a beautiful and poignant tribute to Mary Ellen’s love for her partner. The narrator describes how Mary Ellen continues to love her lover even in death, and how she visits his grave every day to lay flowers and weep for him. The imagery is haunting and beautiful, with the narrator describing the sound of Mary Ellen’s footsteps as she walks through the fields to her lover’s grave.
Overall, “Mary Ellen” is a beautiful and emotional poem that captures the essence of love and loss in a way that is both powerful and poignant. The imagery is vivid and evocative, painting a picture of a perfect love that is shattered by the horrors of war. The poem is a tribute to the power of love and the strength of the human spirit in the face of tragedy and loss.
In conclusion, Robert Service’s “Mary Ellen” is a classic piece of literature that continues to resonate with readers today. The poem is a beautiful and emotional tribute to the power of love and the strength of the human spirit, and it is a testament to the enduring power of great literature.
Editor Recommended Sites
NFT Cards: Crypt digital collectible cardsHaskell Programming: Learn haskell programming language. Best practice and getting started guides
State Machine: State machine events management across clouds. AWS step functions GCP workflow
NFT Assets: Crypt digital collectible assets
Database Migration - CDC resources for Oracle, Postgresql, MSQL, Bigquery, Redshift: Resources for migration of different SQL databases on-prem or multi cloud
Recommended Similar Analysis
For Once, Then, Something by Robert Lee Frost analysisWaterfall and The Eglantine, The by William Wordsworth analysis
Who Goes With Fergus? by William Butler Yeats analysis
Sonet LIV by William Shakespeare analysis
"'Tis Said, That Some Have Died For Love" by William Wordsworth analysis
Dream Land by Christina Georgina Rossetti analysis
The Mower's Song by Andrew Marvell analysis
Words, Wide Night by Carol Ann Duffy analysis
Never Bet The Devil Your Head - A Tale With A Moral by Edgar Allen Poe analysis
Thrushes by Ted Hughes analysis