Soldier-Poet
To Francis Fowler Hogan
I think at first like us he did not see
The goal to which the screaming eagles flew;
For romance lured him, France, and chivalry;
But Oh! Before the end he knew, he knew!
And gave his first full love to Liberty,
And met her face to face one lurid night
While the guns boomed their shuddering minstrelsy
And all the Argonne glowed with demon light.
And Liberty herself came through the wood,
And with her dear, boy lover kept the tryst;
Clasped in her grand, Greek arms he understood
Whose were the fatal lips that he had kissed—
Lipes that the soul of Youth has loved from old—
Hot lips of Liberty that kiss men cold.
Luchette, Claire. "Soldier-Poet." Poetry Foundation. Poetry Foundation, n.d. Web. 16 Sept. 2014.
This poem is about a soldier going to war. Although at first the soldier is ecstatic to fight for his country (and in the name of liberty), he realizes in the end that he is not only fighting for his country, but dying for it. I think a method the author uses that is very effective is the use of the word "liberty." At first he uses it in a way we all relate to, in a positive light, saying "and he gave his first true love to liberty." But then the author uses the word ironically, placing the word "liberty" as the reason why young men die, and therefore painting it in a negative light. This is culturally relevant because in America, liberty is held in the most positive light and used as a vehicle to send men to war; this poem brings light to that. I chose this poem because I agree with the message and appreciate how it is delivered.
This poem is about a soldier going to war. Although at first the soldier is ecstatic to fight for his country (and in the name of liberty), he realizes in the end that he is not only fighting for his country, but dying for it. I think a method the author uses that is very effective is the use of the word "liberty." At first he uses it in a way we all relate to, in a positive light, saying "and he gave his first true love to liberty." But then the author uses the word ironically, placing the word "liberty" as the reason why young men die, and therefore painting it in a negative light. This is culturally relevant because in America, liberty is held in the most positive light and used as a vehicle to send men to war; this poem brings light to that. I chose this poem because I agree with the message and appreciate how it is delivered.
Genghis-
ReplyDeleteThis is a well-written post that I can tell you put a lot of time into. When I read your analysis, the first thing I thought of was the Statue of Liberty, as it is our country's (arguably) greatest monument, but many forget that millions have died to protect its message. I think maybe you could have touched on the subject of physical loved that was discussed in the poem, but your analysis nonetheless is spot-on.
This post was very thoughtful about your poem. But I feel like you could have dug in a little deeper past the liberty aspect of the poem. Maybe think about the first few sentences a bit more in the analysis. Otherwise just as eliot said, spot-on analysis.
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