Rhymes of a Rolling Stone

"Rhymes of a Rolling Stone" by Robert W. Service is a collection of poems written in the early 20th century. The work expresses themes of adventure, freedom, and the human experience, often reflecting a deep appreciation for nature and the simple joys of life. Service's style is marked by a robust and energetic tone, capturing the essence of wanderlust and the spirit of the outdoors. The opening of the collection introduces the poet's intent and philosophy. In the "Prelude," Service declares that he writes not about idle dreams or romantic dalliance, but instead, he embraces an "eager joy" in the beauty of life and the call of adventure. The subsequent poem, "A Rolling Stone," captures the speaker's longing for freedom and a carefree existence, emphasizing a connection to the natural world. Through lively imagery and rhythm, the reader is invited to join the poet's journey of exploration and discovery, revealing a love for both the wilderness and the camaraderie found in shared human experiences. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Robert William Service was a Scottish-Canadian poet and writer, often called "the Bard of the Yukon". Born in Lancashire of Scottish descent, he was a bank clerk by trade, but spent long periods travelling in the west in the United States and Canada, often in poverty. When his bank sent him to the Yukon, he was inspired by tales of the Klondike Gold Rush, and wrote two poems, "The Shooting of Dan McGrew" and "The Cremation of Sam McGee", which showed remarkable authenticity from an author with no experience of the gold rush or mining, and enjoyed immediate popularity. Encouraged by this, he quickly wrote more poems on the same theme, which were published as Songs of a Sourdough, and achieved a massive sale. When his next collection, Ballads of a Cheechako, proved equally successful, Service could afford to travel widely and live a leisurely life, basing himself in Paris and the French Riviera.