# Please recommend some poetry re: war **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 12, 2004, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-some-poetry-re-war/259488 "2004-08-12T04:18:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Chairman\_Pow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/838e76/32.png) [@Chairman\_Pow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chairman_Pow)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2004, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-some-poetry-re-war/259488/1 "2004-08-12T04:18:35Z")
Specifically WWI. And preferably glorifying it rather than existential disdain. “Glorifying” is probably too strong, critical of war is fine too, but I was specifically looking for representations of individual soldiers or combat on the battlefield. Something akin to Lepanto or Charge of the Light Brigade. I vaguely recall from my Junior English textbook that there was a school of poetry that came after WWI that wrote about the war, from both good and bad perspectives. Anyone? ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2004, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-some-poetry-re-war/259488/2 "2004-08-12T04:37:51Z")
There’s _“Dulce et Decorum Est”_ by Wilfred Owen. But it’s far from what you would call glorifying. ---
**Author:** ![Hunter\_Hawk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/50afbb/32.png) [@Hunter\_Hawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hunter_Hawk)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2004, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-some-poetry-re-war/259488/3 "2004-08-12T06:58:28Z")
Would [Tommy](http://www.poetryloverspage.com/poets/kipling/tommy.html) (by Kipling, natch) be along the lines of what you’re looking for? ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Jones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/96bed5/32.png) [@Cat\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Jones)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2004, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-some-poetry-re-war/259488/4 "2004-08-12T07:23:17Z")
[This](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-form/103-8585575-9679000) might be worth investing in. If you’re just looking for names to google then aside from Wilfred Owen there’s Siegfried Sassoon and Rupert Brooke. Some anthologies include translations by German poets too which you should also look at. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Jones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/96bed5/32.png) [@Cat\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Jones)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2004, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-some-poetry-re-war/259488/5 "2004-08-12T07:30:32Z")
Hmm don’t think my link works ☹ Anyway if you go to a site like Amazon they have plenty of good anthologies or you could try [this site](http://www.oucs.ox.ac.uk/ltg/projects/jtap/tutorials/intro/index.html) which has a lot of info about the poets as well as the poems with comments. (please work link, please work!) ---
**Author:** ![smartini](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/22d042/32.png) [@smartini](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smartini)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2004, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-some-poetry-re-war/259488/6 "2004-08-12T07:46:53Z")
I think Hemingway wrote some war poems. Also _Rendezvous_ , “Out of the night that covers me…” is a war poem of that era. Two poems I recall about the very young soldiers: ☹ _Pluck Little Giffen_ although I am pretty sure the latter is about the Civil War. ---
**Author:** ![smartini](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/22d042/32.png) [@smartini](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smartini)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2004, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-some-poetry-re-war/259488/7 "2004-08-12T07:57:28Z")
Not to confuse. Hemingway did not write the 3 poems I mentioned by name. I would look at his work though. I do recall some short poems by him regarding war. May I ask if this is an assignment or work or just interest? Always interested in anyone’s interest in poetry. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2004, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-some-poetry-re-war/259488/8 "2004-08-12T07:58:41Z")
In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved, and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields. _In Flanders Fields_ by Lt. Col. John Macrae (1872-1918) ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2004, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-some-poetry-re-war/259488/9 "2004-08-12T13:35:04Z")
How about Bill the Bomber by Robert Service? ---
**Author:** ![Balle\_M](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/13edae/32.png) [@Balle\_M](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balle_M)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2004, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-some-poetry-re-war/259488/10 "2004-08-12T14:22:23Z")
You might try [Alan Seeger[/COLOR]](http://www.bartleby.com/104/121.html%5BCOLOR=Blue). ---
**Author:** ![Balle\_M](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/13edae/32.png) [@Balle\_M](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balle_M)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2004, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-some-poetry-re-war/259488/11 "2004-08-12T14:26:40Z")
@#%$% coding… [Alan Seeger](http://www.bartleby.com/104/121.html) ---
**Author:** ![DeVena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dec6dc/32.png) [@DeVena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeVena)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2004, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-some-poetry-re-war/259488/12 "2004-08-12T14:49:11Z")
> [@smartini](#): > > I think Hemingway wrote some war poems. Also _Rendezvous_ , “Out of the night that covers me…” is a war poem of that era. “Out of the night …” is the first line of the poem [\*Invictus. \*](http://www.invictus63.com/poem.htm) I think you meant [\*I have a Rendezvous with Death \*](http://www.netpoets.com/classic/poems/055001.htm) by the aforementioned Alan Seeger. > [@](#): > > I have a rendezvous with Death > At some disputed barricade, > When Spring comes back with rustling shade > And apple-blossoms fill the air > I have a rendezvous with Death > When Spring brings back blue days and fair. > … ---
**Author:** ![scotandrsn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a4c791/32.png) [@scotandrsn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scotandrsn)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2004, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-some-poetry-re-war/259488/13 "2004-08-12T14:57:10Z")
I recommend locating a copy of [this book](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0747542767/qid=1092322358/sr=1-2/ref=sr_1_2/104-5812151-7183920?v=glance&s=books) (no small feat). I had a copy of an earlier edition, but lost it on a bus after barely cracking it… ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2004, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-some-poetry-re-war/259488/14 "2004-08-12T15:02:58Z")
Ah, but [this book](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0141180099/qid=1092322878/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/104-8637462-6051115?v=glance&s=books) is still in print, fairly easily available, and excellent. ---
**Author:** ![Saintly\_Loser](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saintly_loser/32/4045_2.png) [@Saintly\_Loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saintly_Loser)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2004, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-some-poetry-re-war/259488/15 "2004-08-12T15:24:57Z")
David Jones. _In Parentheses_. It’s in print. The best of that generation of war poets, if you ask me. ---
**Author:** ![Chairman\_Pow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/838e76/32.png) [@Chairman\_Pow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chairman_Pow)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2004, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-some-poetry-re-war/259488/16 "2004-08-12T15:27:17Z")
Thanks for the links all. There’s some good reading in them pages, stuff I’d never have come across otherwise. That Penguin books sounds like exactly what I’m looking for. No, this is not for a class or anything. I don’t quite know what sparked a recent interest in this topic, but I figured I’d be able to weed through the chaff (as it were) by checking in here first. ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2004, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-some-poetry-re-war/259488/17 "2004-08-12T15:43:29Z")
> [@Bryan Ekers](#): > > _In Flanders Fields_ by Lt. Col. John Macrae (1872-1918) Exactly what I was coming to post. First heard of it on a _Peanuts_ special of all places. Very moving, even with Linus reciting it. ---
**Author:** ![Beadalin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Beadalin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beadalin)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2004, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-some-poetry-re-war/259488/18 "2004-08-12T15:55:05Z")
How about a little e. e. cummings? > [@](#): > > “next to of course god america i > love you land of the pilgrims’ and so forth oh > say can you see by the dawn’s early my > country tis of centuries come and go > and are no more what of it we should worry > in every language even deafanddumb > thy sons acclaim your glorious name by gorry > by jingo by gee by gosh by gum > why talk of beauty what could be more beaut- > iful than these heroic happy dead > who rushed like lions to the roaring slaughter > they did not stop to think they died instead > then shall the voice of liberty be mute?” > > He spoke. And drank rapidly a glass of water ---
**Author:** ![Meurglys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/258eb7/32.png) [@Meurglys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meurglys)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2004, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-some-poetry-re-war/259488/19 "2004-08-12T16:22:17Z")
Not actually poems, but **Lord Dunsany** (a serving officer) was commissioned by the British War Office in 1918 to write a series of short, morale-boosting pieces for magazines and newspapers. There’s a slim book of them available called _Tales of War - expanded edition_ published by Wildside Press, ISBN 1592240429. The 34 pieces occupy less than 100 pages, so they’re all pretty short - but also very moving at times. He was a great stylist in his writing and these sometimes have a cadence of poetry about them. And a brief quote from the intro: “…the quietly mournful tone seems, at first, out of place [for propaganda] but it is precisely that tone which keeps the book honest and raises it above jingoism” ---
**Author:** ![ReadMore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ccd318/32.png) [@ReadMore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReadMore)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2004, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-some-poetry-re-war/259488/20 "2004-08-12T18:00:57Z")
…another e e cummings poem… (slightly edited for general viewing) i sing of Olaf glad and big whose warmest heart recoiled at war: a conscientious object-or his wellbelov’d colonel(trig westpointer most succinctly bred) took erring Olaf soon in hand; but–though an host of overjoyed noncoms(first knocking on the head him)do through icy waters roll that helplessness which others stroke with brushes recently employed anent this muddy toiletbowl, while kindred intellects evoke allegiance per blunt instruments– Olaf(being to all intents a corpse and wanting any rag upon what God unto him gave) responds,without getting annoyed “I will not kiss your f\*\*\*ing flag” straightway the silver bird looked grave (departing hurriedly to shave) but–though all kinds of officers (a yearning nation’s blueeyed pride) their passive prey did kick and curse until for wear their clarion voices and boots were much the worse, and egged the firstclassprivates on his rectum wickedly to tease by means of skilfully applied bayonets roasted hot with heat– Olaf(upon what were once knees) does almost ceaselessly repeat “there is some sh\*t I will not eat” our president,being of which assertions duly notified threw the yellowsonofab\*tch into a dungeon,where he died Christ(of His mercy infinite) i pray to see;and Olaf,too preponderatingly because unless statistics lie he was more brave than me:more blond than you. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-some-poetry-re-war/259488.md?page=2)