Explication of Written Poem 6

My last poem is a free verse,  since there's no strict rhythm or rhyme. This poem is about a young soldier who is fresh into war hence the 5 days of marching, and he documents his travels while questioning his mission.I wrote this poem in order to reflect a positive aspect of war. Most of the time we all hear news or opinions that criticizes the outcomes and intentions of war, but never the benefits of going to war. This may include peacekeeping etc. I incorporated a hyperbole into this poem, "word got around the battalion faster than light."

Written Poem 6

There is always a reason

This was my fifth day of marching with the brigade
And my legs and arms were already stiff and sore.
We passed through  streets and Villes,
that are now reduced to rubble.
Their inhabitants were nowhere in sight, and
the few that i did spot were trembling in fear.

Word gets around the battalion faster than light.
The reports on our enemy's actions are unforgivable.
Some may disagree with war, but
I share the same responsibility
as my brothers who march beside me.
we must fight for whats right and
for those in need and help.

Cwong

Explication of Published Poem 6

This is an Epitaph. A famous one, which is called the Kohima Epitaph in honour of the fallen allied forces in the battle of Kohima. Which was the turning point of the Japanese offensive into India. The epitaph is simple and really makes the reader feel depressed and sorrow for those who sacrificed themselves for us.

Published Poem 6

"When You Go Home, Tell Them Of Us And Say,
For Their Tomorrow, We Gave Our Today"

By John Maxwell Edmonds

Explication of Written Poem 5

This poem is a traditional Ballad. It is iambic, has a rhyme scheme and alternates 8-6-8-6 beats per line. This poems describes a specific event or experience which is what a Traditional Ballad is intended to do. In this case it is a young adult returning from war and seeing his mother for the first time.  For this poem i wanted to explore the deep connections and feelings that family members have for each other as they live, knowing that their family member is away at war. The feelings and associations, i can imagine would be strong and sentimental. This poem fits under my theme as the ending and "homecoming" of war. I incorporated alliteration in line 7.

Written Poem 5

Homecoming

I heard a knock, and wondered who?

Opened the door and gasped,

It was a sight i dreamed so few.

“Oh Johnny, back at last!”

He stepped right in, gave me a hug,

and squeezed me as tight as he could.

He was soft, strong, and snug.

“Im home ‘ma, this time f’good.”

Lookin’ sharp in his green uniform,

he sat and we had tea.

he told me his stories and tales.

i just sat there in glee.

After surviving four years at war,

away from his mom,

I don’t want him t’go out that door

cause life is warm and calm

By Cwong

Explication of Published Poem 5

The poem was written during the Boer War. The poems describes at first that if a soldier and his enemy had met at an inn or bar they could've been friends and even shared a drink. Stanza 2 refers to the same soldier and his enemy firing at each other and the soldier manages to kill the enemy. The soldier falters and questions his actions if his enemy would've been forced to kill him too. Then the soldier wonders if the enemy he killed joined the army for the same reason, which is because he was unemployed and had no money. The last stanza states that war is interesting because the man you kill could've been your friend at a different time. This poem interacts with the reader in the sense that it makes the reader acknowledge the message of the poet. Instead of saying that war is ugly or good, the poem simply states that war is curious. There's not a whole lot of poetic devices besides the rhyme scheme.

Published Poem 5

The Man He Killed

Had he and I but met

By some old ancient inn,

We should have set us down to wet

Right many a nipperkin! 

But ranged as infantry,

And staring face to face,

I shot at him as he at me,

And killed him in his place. 

I shot him dead because--

Because he was my foe,

Just so: my foe of course he was;

That's clear enough; although 

He thought he'd 'list, perhaps,

Off-hand like--just as I--

Was out of work--had sold his traps--

No other reason why. 

Yes; quaint and curious war is!

You shoot a fellow down

You'd treat, if met where any bar is,

Or help to half a crown.

Thomas Hardy

Explication of Written Poem 4

This poem is a Shakespearean Sonnet. It gives an insight into war in the trenches. it is presented as if a soldier had written it after the event had happened. The rhyming couplet at the end forces the reader as the speaker does in the poem of why we wage war when it can be so cruel and ugly. I want to point out the personification in line 2, "Bombs rained over us with such might and height." Also, a simile in line 5 comparing the captain to a lion. Repetition and assonance in line 9. I wrote this poem to show the uglier side of war and to question the reader on their opinion about it.

Written Poem 4

Why?

We defended our post, through night and day.

Bombs rained over us with such might and height.

The trenches were musty, the sky was grey

the enemy was advancing, time t’fight!

captain with courage like a lion had yelled,

"push forward young lads! Don’t ever give Up!"

The trumpet sounded and out we propelled.

We ran ‘till our enemy came close up.

i fired my gun, killed and killed, filled with fear.

my patriots beside me dropped one by one.

Lots of blood was spilling on this frontier.

this is the fact and not close to fiction.

Every war is ugly with its weapons

then why do we do it? cause we’re humans?




By: Cwong

Explication of Published Poem 4

This poem begins with an optimistic atmosphere through the quotation, "Life is colour and warmth and light" The poet, Julian Grenfell, provides the reader with a fairly optimistic image after reading of the soldier's demise. He then continues describing the soldiers burial ground with a positive view of peace and tranquility.The poet encourages war in this respect as there is no mention of negative consequences of war but has more emphasis on the essence of life and glorifies the soldier through the mention of a resting place after death. Overall this poems delves deeper into the resting place of soldiers and how peaceful they are as they rest in peace. This in fact goes hand in hand with both optimistic and pessimistic sides of my theme (war). I picked this poem primarily for its poetic devices. Throughout the poem there's a flurry of personification, imagery, metaphors, alliteration, similes and so on. I aimed this poem in making the reader feel satisfied and calm as they confront the burial ground of a veteran.

Published Poem 4

Into Battle

The naked earth is warm with spring,

And with green grass and bursting trees

Leans to the sun's gaze glorying,

And quivers in the sunny breeze;

And life is colour and warmth and light,

And a striving evermore for these;

And he is dead who will not fight;

And who dies fighting has increase.

The fighting man shall from the sun

Take warmth, and life from the glowing earth;

Speed with the light-foot winds to run,

And with the trees to newer birth;

And find, when fighting shall be done,

Great rest, and fullness after dearth.

All the bright company of Heaven

Hold him in their high comradeship,

The Dog-Star, and the Sisters Seven,

Orion's Belt and sworded hip.

The woodland trees that stand together,

They stand to him each one a friend;

They gently speak in the windy weather;

They guide to valley and ridge's end.

The kestrel hovering by day,

And the little owls that call by night,

Bid him be swift and keen as they,

As keen of ear, as swift of sight.

The blackbird sings to him, "Brother, brother,

If this be the last song you shall sing,

Sing well, for you may not sing another;

Brother, sing."

In dreary, doubtful, waiting hours,

Before the brazen frenzy starts,

The horses show him nobler powers;

O patient eyes, courageous hearts!

And when the burning moment breaks,

And all things else are out of mind,

And only joy of battle takes

Him by the throat, and makes him blind,

Through joy and blindness he shall know,

Not caring much to know, that still

Nor lead nor steel shall reach him, so

That it be not the Destined Will.

The thundering line of battle stands,

And in the air death moans and sings;

But Day shall clasp him with strong hands,

And Night shall fold him in soft wings.

Julian Grenfell

Explication of Written Poem 3

This poem is a list poem and is self explanatory. I wanted the image to be concise and clear. When writing this poem i pictured this event in a city after D-Day, when liberation of major parts of europe started appearing. This poem relates more to the lighter and brighter side of war (Theme) because without war waged on Nazi Germany the events listed in my poem would not have occurred. I also envisioned this poem as a break in my calendar from darker and more gory like poems.

Written Poem 3

Liberation

Tanks rolling
Allies marching
Banners flailing
Smoke rising
Children running
Civillians cheering
Doors opening
Trumpets blaring
Babies smiling
Guns Ceasing

Nazis retreating


By: Cwong

Explication of Published Poem 3

This is an example of an elegy. Because it is so, the poem is very formal and written in honour of someone who has passed away. In this case the poem is an extended metaphor for the death of Abraham Lincoln.  The poet, Walt Whitman refers to the term "ship" in this poem, which is a symbol of the U.S.A While it recalls the troubles of the American Civil War. In this poem i especially enjoyed the Assonance in line 3, and the repetition of "heart" in line 5. Other literary devices included are personification and metaphors. Although this poem refers to Abraham Lincoln's death, i thought it would be suitable under my theme of war since the first time i read it, i pictured a real captain dying on a ship in someones hands. The poem also refers to the American Civil War which gives the war like image.

Published Poem 3

O Captain My Captain
a poem by Walt Whitman

O Captain my Captain! our fearful trip is done,

The ship has weathered every rack, the prize we sought is won,
The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting,
While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring;
But O heart! heart! heart!
O the bleeding drops of red,
Where on the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.

O Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear the bells;
Rise up--for you the flag is flung for you the bugle trills,
For you bouquets and ribboned wreaths for you the shores a-crowding,
For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning;
Here Captain! dear father!
This arm beneath your head!
It is some dream that on the deck,
You've fallen cold and dead.

My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still;
My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will;
The ship is anchored safe and sound, its voyage closed and done;
From fearful trip the victor ship comes in with object won;
Exult O shores, and ring O bells!
But I, with mournful tread,
Walk the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.