'Lottery Ticket' by Robert Service
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Rhymes for My Rags'A ticket for the lottery
I've purchased every week,' said she'For years a score
Though desperately poor am I,
Oh how I've scrimped and scraped to buyOne chance more.Each week I think I'll gain the prize,
And end my sorrows and my sighs,For I'll be rich;
Then nevermore I'll eat bread dry,
With icy hands to cry and cryAnd stitch and stitch.''Tis true she won the premier prize;
It was of formidable size,Ten million francs.
I know, because the man who sold
It to her splenically toldHe got no thanks.The lucky one was never found,
For she was snugly underground,And minus breath;
And with that ticket tucked away,
In some old stocking, so they say,She starved to death.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Thrilling Poetry of Robert Service's "Lottery Ticket"
When it comes to thrilling poetry, few writers can match the electrifying talents of Robert Service. Known for his masterful use of rhythm and rhyme, Service's works are a perfect blend of entertainment and insight. And one of his most famous poems, "Lottery Ticket," certainly lives up to this reputation.
In this 32-line masterpiece, Service explores the excitement, hope, and despair that come with playing the lottery. Through vivid imagery and clever wordplay, he captures the hearts of his readers and takes them on a rollercoaster of emotions. Let's take a closer look at this captivating poem and see what makes it such a timeless classic.
A Closer Look at "Lottery Ticket"
The poem begins with a simple statement of fact: "I bought a lottery ticket." But even this mundane action is imbued with a sense of anticipation and possibility. The speaker tells us that he doesn't really expect to win, but he can't help dreaming of all the wonderful things he could do with the money.
"I bought a lottery ticket,
And sat alone to dream.
Of all the millions I would get
If Fortune smiled my way."
It's a sentiment that most of us can relate to. Even if we don't play the lottery ourselves, we've all had moments where we've daydreamed about suddenly becoming rich and famous. And Service captures that feeling perfectly.
From there, the poem takes a turn as the speaker starts to imagine all the different things he could buy with his winnings. He envisions himself living a life of luxury, with a mansion, a yacht, and a team of servants at his beck and call. It's a giddy, over-the-top fantasy, but one that's hard not to get swept up in.
"A mansion big and square
With servants by the score,
A yacht to sail the summer seas,
And mountains to explore."
But then, just as suddenly, the poem shifts gears again. In a stark, almost brutal couplet, the speaker acknowledges the harsh reality of the situation: "But when I scratched the lucky box / There was a blank before my eyes."
This is the moment of truth that every lottery player dreads. The moment when the dream comes crashing down and the reality sets in. And Service captures it with a raw, unflinching honesty that's both heartbreaking and powerful.
"And when I woke next morning,
I found that I was poor;
For though I'd had a million dreams,
They vanished with the draw."
But even in this moment of disappointment and disillusionment, there's a glimmer of hope. The speaker acknowledges that, despite everything, he's glad he took the chance. That he was willing to risk a little bit of money for the chance to dream big. And he ends the poem with a defiant statement of resilience and optimism.
"Yet still I'm glad I bought it,
And not a coin I'll rue,
For though it brought me disappointment,
It brought me dreaming too."
The Power of Imagery and Rhythm
One of the things that makes "Lottery Ticket" such a powerful poem is the way that Service uses imagery and rhythm to bring the words to life. From the "lucky box" that the speaker scratches to the "summer seas" he dreams of sailing, every detail is carefully chosen to create a vivid and immersive experience.
But it's not just the words themselves that are so effective. It's the way that Service uses rhythm and rhyme to create a sense of momentum and excitement. The poem is written in a simple ABCB rhyming scheme, but the way that Service plays with the rhythm of the lines is what really makes it stand out.
Take, for example, the second stanza:
"A mansion big and square
With servants by the score,
A yacht to sail the summer seas,
And mountains to explore."
The way that Service elongates the first line, shortens the second, and then rushes through the third and fourth creates a sense of breathless excitement. It's like the speaker is racing through his dreams, barely able to contain his excitement.
And then there's the way that Service uses repetition to drive home certain points. The way that he repeats the phrase "I bought a lottery ticket" at the beginning and end of the poem creates a sense of bookending, a feeling of closure that helps tie everything together.
The Universal Appeal of the Lottery
Of course, the reason that "Lottery Ticket" is such a timeless classic is that it taps into a universal human experience. Whether you're rich or poor, young or old, there's something about the idea of winning the lottery that's inherently exciting.
And yet, at the same time, there's something inherently tragic about it as well. For every winner, there are millions of losers. And even for winners, the sudden influx of wealth can often come with its own set of problems.
Service captures this dichotomy perfectly in "Lottery Ticket." He shows us the thrill of the dream, the soaring highs of imagining all the wonderful things we could do with our winnings. But he also shows us the crushing disappointment of reality, the way that even the biggest dreams can be dashed by a single, cruel draw.
It's a poem that speaks to the best and worst of human nature, to our desire for adventure and excitement, but also to our capacity for disappointment and despair. And that's why, more than a century after it was first written, it continues to resonate with readers all over the world.
Conclusion
In the end, there's no denying the power and potency of Robert Service's "Lottery Ticket." From the glittering dreams of mansions and yachts to the crushing disappointment of a blank ticket, it's a poem that captures the full range of human emotion. And with its vivid imagery, propulsive rhythm, and universal appeal, it's sure to remain a classic of English literature for generations to come.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Poetry Lottery Ticket: A Masterpiece by Robert Service
If you are a poetry lover, then you must have heard of Robert Service, the renowned poet who has left an indelible mark on the literary world. His works are a perfect blend of humor, wit, and wisdom, and one of his most famous poems is the Poetry Lottery Ticket. This poem is a masterpiece that captures the essence of life and the human experience in a unique and captivating way.
The poem begins with the narrator buying a lottery ticket, hoping to win a fortune and change his life. However, as he scratches the ticket, he realizes that he has not won anything. Disappointed and dejected, he decides to throw the ticket away. But then, he has a sudden realization that the ticket is not just a piece of paper, but it is a poem waiting to be written.
The narrator then goes on to describe the various elements of the poem that he could write, such as the colors, the numbers, and the symbols on the ticket. He realizes that each of these elements has a story to tell, and he could use them to create a masterpiece that would capture the imagination of his readers.
As the poem progresses, the narrator becomes more and more excited about the possibilities that the ticket holds. He imagines the different scenarios that he could write about, such as a love story, a mystery, or a tragedy. He realizes that the ticket is not just a random collection of numbers and symbols, but it is a canvas on which he could paint a picture of life.
The poem is a beautiful metaphor for life itself. Just like the lottery ticket, life is full of possibilities and opportunities. We may not always win the lottery, but we can always find something beautiful and meaningful in the world around us. The poem encourages us to look beyond the surface and see the hidden beauty in everything.
The Poetry Lottery Ticket is also a testament to the power of imagination and creativity. The narrator shows us that even the most mundane and ordinary things can be transformed into something extraordinary with a little bit of imagination. He inspires us to tap into our own creativity and see the world in a new and exciting way.
Robert Service's use of language and imagery in the poem is simply breathtaking. He paints a vivid picture of the lottery ticket and the possibilities that it holds. His words are simple yet powerful, and they capture the essence of the human experience in a way that is both profound and relatable.
In conclusion, the Poetry Lottery Ticket is a masterpiece that deserves to be read and appreciated by poetry lovers everywhere. It is a beautiful metaphor for life, a testament to the power of imagination and creativity, and a showcase of Robert Service's incredible talent as a poet. So, the next time you buy a lottery ticket, remember that it is not just a piece of paper, but it is a poem waiting to be written.
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