WEEK 2 - LJ Entry
“Dulce et Decorum est” - trusim? or fascade?
1.. (Week 2) a) Which poem introduced in the first two weeks has left a strong impression on you? b) Write a poem or descriptive piece modelled on your favourite poem from the first two weeks.
a) For this weeks question we were meant to select one poem for our entry, but I just couldn’t split it, so I picked TWO that have really caught my attention. The two poems which I have selected are “Dulce et Decorum est” by Wilfred Owen and “Thou art indeed just, Lord” by Gerard Manley Hopkins.
What I find fascinating about Owens poem is that he recreates this mad euphoria of the soldiers at the Western Front. Gas was used for the first time at the Battle of Ypres in 1915. Lines like “Gas!Gas! Quick, boys - An ecstasy of fumblings” (Owen, 1974) highlights the intense movement of the scene. It’s just an orgy of madness and Owen really conveys how intense war was on the front. He contrasts the ironic title whose message was “It is sweet and meet to die for one’s country”. Owen looks to contrast this and present the facts as they were - that war is destructive! This is further re-iterated in the last line of the fourth stanza “The old lie…” (Owen, 1974) as after all of Owens descriptions he comes to a revelation that this ideology is a blatant and evil lie. A lie where “innocent tongues” (Owen, 1974), meaning the young men at battle, killing themselves off for an evil cause. The soldiers suffering from the gas are described in lines like “and floundering like a man in fire…” (Owen, 1974) and dying “under a green sea” (Owen, 1974). Especially the latter is extremely effective metaphorically likening the gas to a ‘sea’. When I read this line it felt that the gas was some sort of inescapable presence adding another dimension to its existence. “Drunk with fatigue” (Owen, 1974) also conveys not only the mental but physical drain placed upon the soldiers being sapped of all their energy. But I believe that their consciences are also being drained as they have lost what makes them human. The soldiers have become a pawn in the war effort the voids them of any ethical thinking. I would have hated to see propaganda during the war that encouraged fighting and ‘helping the boys’ on the front. Where has ethical thinking gone? Mr. Bush may have to answer to his own conscience on that issue. This leads me to my next discussion on Hopkins poem.
“Thou art indeed just, Lord” highlights how injustice is prevalent in our world in lines like “why do sinners’ ways prosper? (Hopkins, 1524). Linking it to Owens poem the injustice is that why do innocent men have die for an unjust cause? While evil men organizing the war prosper through ammunition and other means? It truly is a shame that evil will prosper and Hopkins asks why “disappointment all I endeavour to end?” (Hopkins, 1524).
These two poems have had a profound impact onto my outlook of the world, especially Owens poem, which really is a reality check on how we look at the greatest war ever fought on earth.
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b) A War Poem by Anthony Tassone
Inevitability
The Battle ends
- For Now
Spared, I retire to my quarters
for yet another day
How long would I last?
How much time would pass?
Like a hermit crab i seek solitude
in my lowly quarters
Ah! England, how I miss thee
But alas! Another 5-9!
The shot at the beginning of the race
- It has begun...
Limbs, extremities galore!
Oh but how could there be more?
Howitzers to make you deaf
Gas to make quench
The battle ends
- For now
I sat sipping my soup
All men vying for a coup
My soul cries out
I want to go back to my humble aboad!!!
Thanks
Cheers
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WEEK 2 - Comment on Marcs Blog
Hi Marc
Its interesting how you said that Hopkins has the ability to place the reader between the creative and destructive forces of their souls. As a former priest, Hopkins' poetry I believe is like a sort of prayer or prophetic call to us, the reader. He intends for the reader to come to a realisation and awake to their 'inhibriated' actions so to speak. As Hopkins says "The world is charged with Gods granduer" (Hopkins, 1516) but if we abuse nature "it will flame out" (Hopkins, 1516). He aims to tap into mans conscience and reflect on his actions and evoke a chnage within us. A change that is not only mental, but spiritual to see Gods presence in all things.
Also Marc you mentioned the line “nature is never spent” (Hopkins, 1516) and hit the nail on the head. Nature will always be there, but we have to take it upon ourselves to align with it, and importantly treasure it.
Cheers