'Wild with all Regrets' by Wilfred Owen


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(Another version of "A Terre".)

To Siegfried Sassoon


My arms have mutinied against me -- brutes!
My fingers fidget like ten idle brats,
My back's been stiff for hours, damned hours.
Death never gives his squad a Stand-at-ease.
I can't read.There:it's no use.Take your book.
A short life and a merry one, my buck!
We said we'd hate to grow dead old.But now,
Not to live old seems awful:not to renew
My boyhood with my boys, and teach 'em hitting,
Shooting and hunting, -- all the arts of hurting!
-- Well, that's what I learnt.That, and making money.
Your fifty years in store seem none too many;
But I've five minutes.God!For just two years
To help myself to this good air of yours!
One Spring!Is one too hard to spare?Too long?
Spring air would find its own way to my lung,
And grow me legs as quick as lilac-shoots.

Yes, there's the orderly.He'll change the sheets
When I'm lugged out, oh, couldn't I do that?
Here in this coffin of a bed, I've thought
I'd like to kneel and sweep his floors for ever, --
And ask no nights off when the bustle's over,
For I'd enjoy the dirt; who's prejudiced
Against a grimed hand when his own's quite dust, --
Less live than specks that in the sun-shafts turn?
Dear dust, -- in rooms, on roads, on faces' tan!
I'd love to be a sweep's boy, black as Town;
Yes, or a muckman.Must I be his load?
A flea would do.If one chap wasn't bloody,
Or went stone-cold, I'd find another body.

Which I shan't manage now.Unless it's yours.
I shall stay in you, friend, for some few hours.
You'll feel my heavy spirit chill your chest,
And climb your throat on sobs, until it's chased
On sighs, and wiped from off your lips by wind.

I think on your rich breathing, brother, I'll be weaned
To do without what blood remained me from my wound.

5th December 1917.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Wild with all Regrets: A Heartrending Poem of War by Wilfred Owen

"Oh! Death will find me, long before I tire Of watching you; and swing me suddenly Into the shade and loneliness and mire Of the last land! There, waiting patiently, One day, I think, I'll feel a cool wind blowing, See a slow light across the Stygian tide, And hear the Dead about me stir, unknowing, And tremble. And J shall know that you have died, And watch you, a broad-browed and smiling dream, Pass, light as ever, through the lightless host, Quietly ponder, start, and sway supreme, And gesture gallant of the ghostly coast."

These haunting lines are from "Wild with all Regrets," one of the most poignant and evocative war poems ever written. Composed by the British poet Wilfred Owen during World War I, this work of art captures the brutal realities of combat and the profound emotional toll it takes on the soldiers who fight.

A Personal Reflection on War

At its core, "Wild with all Regrets" is a deeply personal reflection on the horrors of war. Owen writes from the perspective of a soldier who has seen his comrades fall and now fears for his own life. The poem is filled with vivid imagery that vividly portrays the physical and emotional devastation wrought by war.

Consider the following lines:

"Of watching you; and swing me suddenly Into the shade and loneliness and mire Of the last land!"

Here, Owen paints a picture of a desolate battlefield, where death and destruction are all around. The soldier is alone, surrounded by death and despair, and knows that his own fate is uncertain.

Similarly, the lines:

"And hear the Dead about me stir, unknowing, And tremble."

Evoke a sense of dread and impending doom. The soldier is surrounded by the dead, who seem to be aware of his presence but are unable to help him. This is a powerful image that speaks to the sense of hopelessness and despair that many soldiers must have felt during the war.

The Emotion of the Poem

Perhaps the most striking aspect of "Wild with all Regrets" is the raw emotion that it conveys. Through his vivid imagery and powerful language, Owen manages to capture the immense pain and suffering that war inflicts on its victims.

Consider the following lines:

"Oh! Death will find me, long before I tire"

Here, we see the soldier acknowledging his own mortality, and the fact that death is an ever-present threat in his life. The use of the exclamation mark adds a sense of urgency and immediacy to the line, conveying the soldier's anxiety and fear.

Similarly, the lines:

"And J shall know that you have died, And watch you, a broad-browed and smiling dream,"

Are incredibly poignant. Here, Owen imagines the soldier's friend dying, and the soldier being forced to watch his friend's body being taken away. The use of the word "dream" is particularly powerful, suggesting that the soldier is struggling to come to terms with the reality of his friend's death.

The Themes of War and Death

At its core, "Wild with all Regrets" is a poem about war and death. Owen uses his powerful language and vivid imagery to explore the physical and emotional toll that war takes on its victims. Through the soldier's experiences, we see the horrors of combat, as well as the sense of despair and hopelessness that often accompanies it.

At the same time, however, the poem also speaks to the human capacity for resilience and hope. Despite the soldier's bleak circumstances, there are moments of beauty and grace throughout the poem. The image of the soldier's friend as a "broad-browed and smiling dream" is one such moment, suggesting that even in the darkest of times, there is still room for hope and beauty.

Conclusion

In conclusion, "Wild with all Regrets" is a truly remarkable poem that captures the raw emotion and devastating consequences of war. Through his powerful language and vivid imagery, Owen manages to convey the immense pain and suffering that war inflicts on its victims, while also exploring the human capacity for resilience and hope. For anyone interested in exploring the human experience of war, this poem is an absolute must-read.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry Wild with all Regrets: A Masterpiece of Wilfred Owen

Wilfred Owen, one of the most celebrated poets of the First World War, wrote Poetry Wild with all Regrets in 1918, just a few months before his untimely death. The poem is a poignant reflection on the futility of war and the devastating impact it has on the human psyche. In this article, we will delve deep into the poem and analyze its various themes, motifs, and literary devices.

The poem begins with the speaker expressing his regret for not being able to experience the beauty of life to the fullest. He laments the fact that he has been deprived of the simple pleasures of life, such as the warmth of the sun, the sound of birds, and the fragrance of flowers. The speaker's regret is not just for himself but for all the soldiers who have been robbed of their youth and vitality by the war. The opening lines of the poem set the tone for the rest of the poem, which is a somber reflection on the horrors of war.

The second stanza of the poem is a vivid description of the battlefield. The speaker describes the scene as a "wilderness of trenches" where the soldiers are "huddled in the slime." The imagery used in this stanza is powerful and evocative, painting a picture of the desolate and bleak landscape of war. The use of the word "slime" is particularly effective in conveying the filth and degradation that the soldiers are forced to endure.

The third stanza of the poem is a reflection on the futility of war. The speaker questions the purpose of the war and wonders if it is worth the sacrifice of so many lives. He asks, "What use is it to him that he lie there?" The rhetorical question is a powerful indictment of the senseless violence of war. The speaker's tone is one of despair and hopelessness, as he struggles to find meaning in the senseless destruction around him.

The fourth stanza of the poem is a reflection on the human cost of war. The speaker describes the soldiers as "broken-hearted" and "worn out." The use of these adjectives is particularly effective in conveying the emotional toll that war takes on the soldiers. The speaker's empathy for the soldiers is evident in his description of their suffering.

The fifth stanza of the poem is a reflection on the speaker's own mortality. He wonders if he will be remembered after he is gone and if his life will have any meaning. The speaker's existential angst is palpable in this stanza, as he struggles to find meaning in a world that seems devoid of it.

The final stanza of the poem is a reflection on the power of poetry to transcend the horrors of war. The speaker acknowledges that poetry cannot change the past or bring back the dead, but it can provide solace and comfort to those who have survived. The speaker's belief in the power of poetry is a testament to his own artistic vision and his commitment to using his art to make sense of the world around him.

In terms of literary devices, Owen employs a variety of techniques to convey the themes of the poem. The use of imagery is particularly effective in conveying the horror and devastation of war. The use of rhetorical questions is also effective in conveying the sense of despair and hopelessness that the speaker feels. The repetition of the phrase "all regrets" throughout the poem is also effective in conveying the speaker's sense of loss and regret.

In conclusion, Poetry Wild with all Regrets is a masterpiece of Wilfred Owen's oeuvre. The poem is a powerful reflection on the futility of war and the devastating impact it has on the human psyche. The poem's themes of regret, despair, and hopelessness are conveyed through a variety of literary devices, including imagery, rhetorical questions, and repetition. The poem is a testament to Owen's artistic vision and his commitment to using his art to make sense of the world around him.

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