Grand-Père

Read 'Grand-Père' by 'Robert William Service' and provide your summary and literary analysis in the comments section below.

Grand-Père by Robert William Service

 And so when he reached my bed
 The General made a stand:
"My brave young fellow," he said,
 "I would shake your hand."

So I lifted my arm, the right,
 With never a hand at all;
Only a stump, a sight
 Fit to appal.

"Well, well. Now that's too bad!
 That's sorrowful luck," he said;
"But there! You give me, my lad,
 The left instead."

So from under the blanket's rim
 I raised and showed him the other,
A snag as ugly and grim
 As its ugly brother.

He looked at each jagged wrist;
 He looked, but he did not speak;
And then he bent down and kissed
 Me on either cheek.

You wonder now I don't mind
 I hadn't a hand to offer. . . .
They tell me (you know I'm blind)
 'Twas Grand-Père Joffre.

Form: Ballad

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