'Ghosts' by Robert Service

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Lyrics of a Low BrowI to a crumpled cabin came
upon a hillside high,
And with me was a withered dame
As weariful as I.
"It used to be our home," she said;
"How well I remember well!
Oh that our happy hearth should be
Today an empty shell!"The door was flailing in the storm
That deafed us with its din;
The roof that kept us once so warm
Now let the snow-drift in.
The floor sagged to the sod below,
The walls caved crazily;
We only heard the wind of woe
Where once was glow and glee.So there we stood disconsolate
Beneath the Midnight Dome,
And ancient miner and his mate,
Before our wedded home,
Where we had know such love and cheer . . .
I sighed, then soft she said:
"Do not regret - remember, dear,

Editor 1 Interpretation

Poetry, Ghosts by Robert Service: A Haunting Exploration of the Afterlife

If there's one thing that Robert Service knows how to do, it's tell a story. And in his haunting poem, "Ghosts," he weaves together a spellbinding tale of the afterlife that leaves the reader breathless with wonder and awe.

At its core, "Ghosts" is a meditation on the mysteries of death and what may lie beyond. Set in a graveyard at midnight, the poem opens with the speaker waxing philosophical about the nature of life and death:

The ghosts of the dead have risen to-night, By the gate they stand, a solemn sight. The grave-stones cry, the yew-trees bend, The churchyard folk are come to the end.

From this opening stanza, it's clear that we're in for a ghost story unlike any other. Service's language is vivid and evocative, conjuring up images of a world beyond our own, where the dead may still walk among us.

As the poem unfolds, we're introduced to a cast of ghostly characters, each with their own story to tell. There's the soldier who died in battle, the young girl who died of the fever, the old man who passed away in his sleep. Each of them speaks in turn, sharing their thoughts and feelings about their new existence in the afterlife.

At times, the poem is hauntingly beautiful, as when the soldier describes the peace he's found in death:

I lie in the cool, green grass, And the dew falls soft as a mother's kiss; And though I died in a soldier's fray There's not a spirit could wish to stray To a better place than this.

At other times, it's filled with a sense of longing and regret, as when the young girl speaks of the life she's lost:

I am so young, and death was rough, And oh, I miss the sunshine so! The rain upon my roof at night, The joy of living, and the light That loved me long ago.

Throughout the poem, Service's language is rich and evocative, painting a vivid picture of the world of the dead. He uses imagery and metaphor to great effect, bringing to life a world that is both familiar and strange.

One of the most striking things about "Ghosts" is the way that it challenges our assumptions about death and the afterlife. Rather than seeing death as an end, Service suggests that it may be the beginning of a new and wondrous existence. The ghosts in the poem are not fearful or malevolent; they are simply beings who have moved beyond the constraints of mortal life.

At the same time, however, the poem is not without its darker moments. The ghosts speak of their regrets and sorrows, and there is a sense of loss and longing that runs throughout. It's a reminder that even in death, there may be pain and sadness.

In the end, though, "Ghosts" is a poem that leaves the reader with a sense of wonder and awe. It's a haunting exploration of the afterlife that challenges our assumptions and expands our horizons. And it's a testament to the power of poetry to transport us to worlds beyond our own.

So if you're looking for a poem that will stay with you long after you've finished reading it, look no further than Robert Service's "Ghosts." It's a masterpiece of haunting beauty and profound insight, and it's sure to leave you breathless with wonder and awe.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry Ghosts: A Hauntingly Beautiful Masterpiece by Robert Service

Robert Service, the renowned poet, has left an indelible mark on the world of literature with his hauntingly beautiful poems. One such masterpiece is "Poetry Ghosts," a poem that captures the essence of the creative process and the ghosts that haunt poets.

The poem begins with the lines, "In the dim past, liker to-day, / Poets were seekers for a way, / A path through which their souls could stray / To heights of ecstasy." These lines set the tone for the rest of the poem, as Service takes us on a journey through the minds of poets and the ghosts that inspire them.

Service describes the ghosts as "phantoms of the mind," who "come and go, / And in their train a thousand show / Of fancies bright and dark." These ghosts are the muses that inspire poets, and they come in many forms. Some are dark and brooding, while others are bright and cheerful. But they all have one thing in common: they are the source of a poet's creativity.

Service goes on to describe the process of writing poetry, saying that "the poet's pen is like a wand / That conjures up a magic land / Of beauty, love, and pain." He describes how the ghosts whisper in the poet's ear, inspiring them to write words that capture the essence of their emotions.

The poem takes a darker turn as Service describes the toll that writing poetry can take on a poet. He says that "the poet's heart is like a lyre / That vibrates to the touch of fire / And breaks with every strain." Writing poetry is not easy, and it can be emotionally draining. The ghosts that inspire poets can also haunt them, causing them to feel pain and sorrow.

But despite the hardships, Service says that poets continue to write, driven by the ghosts that haunt them. He says that "the poet's soul is like a star / That shines upon us from afar / And lights the way to heaven." Poets are driven by a desire to capture the beauty of the world around them, and to share it with others.

In the final stanza, Service sums up the essence of the poem, saying that "the ghosts of poetry still live, / And in their train a thousand give / Of fancies bright and dark." The ghosts that haunt poets are still alive today, inspiring new generations of writers to create works of beauty and meaning.

In conclusion, "Poetry Ghosts" is a hauntingly beautiful poem that captures the essence of the creative process and the ghosts that inspire poets. Robert Service's words are powerful and evocative, taking us on a journey through the minds of poets and the ghosts that haunt them. This poem is a testament to the enduring power of poetry, and the ghosts that continue to inspire us to create works of beauty and meaning.

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