Adam Fenner's Blog, page 11

Long-lost quest – Reviewed

Ana Silva

“I have been searching,
For years and years,
For a heart willing to feel
Without hiding from what’s real.

But the hearts I’ve met along the way
Were not ready to stay,
So they all left,
One after the next.

…

You may find the rest of the poem here.

Long-lost quest

© by owner. provided at no charge for educational purposes 

Analysis

In “Long-lost quest,” the speaker takes us on a journey of searching for love or connection, only to face repeated disappointment. From the start, there’s a strong sense of longing, of looking for something deeper than the shallow relationships that come and go. The speaker is searching for a heart that will not shy away from truth, someone willing to feel deeply and honestly. But despite all the effort and care the speaker puts into these connections, they find that the hearts they encounter are not ready to stay. One after another, these relationships fall apart, and the speaker is left to face the emptiness.

The poem’s theme revolves around the feeling of searching for something that can’t be found. The speaker’s experiences of failed love echo the universal struggle of yearning for a connection that seems just out of reach. As the poem moves forward, there’s a sense of growing weariness. The speaker reflects on their search, realizing that no matter how carefully they looked or how much hope they invested, they were always met with disappointment. There’s an overwhelming sense of futility, as if the search was doomed from the start.

The deeper the speaker goes in their search, the more they realize that the answers they seek aren’t going to come from others. The lines about searching “under rocks” or “between the crevices of time” reflect the effort, but also the futility of seeking something external. The people they encounter offer nothing lasting, just empty promises of a “paradise” that they’re the only ones who know about. These promises, the speaker admits, are nothing more than daydreams that lead nowhere. This section of the poem captures that feeling of chasing an ideal only to realize it’s empty, a mirage that vanishes when you get too close.

By the end of the poem, something shifts. The speaker decides to lay down the search. They stop looking outward, no longer chasing after something they can’t find. Instead, they choose to turn inward, deciding to “mend” their heart and untangle the confusion in their mind. This change of direction doesn’t come with bitterness or anger; it’s more of a quiet surrender, a resignation that peace might not be found in the world outside, but within themselves. The decision to stop the search is one of acceptance, a recognition that sometimes healing comes from self-reflection, not from the attention or love of others.

The tone of the poem shifts along the way. In the beginning, there’s a sense of hope and persistence, the speaker driven by the belief that there’s something real to be found. But as the poem progresses, that optimism fades. The weariness grows as the speaker faces one failed connection after another. The final lines bring a sense of peace, a soft resolve. The speaker isn’t angry, just tired, and the acceptance of the end of the search feels like a small victory.

What stands out in this poem is the way the speaker moves from longing for love to realizing that the answers lie within. There’s a subtle, almost imperceptible shift from looking outward to focusing inward. It’s a shift many can relate to—searching for something outside ourselves, only to find that what we need is already inside. The decision to stop the search and focus on mending one’s own heart and mind is both a moment of quiet defeat and quiet strength. It’s an acknowledgment that sometimes peace comes from letting go, from understanding that the greatest journey isn’t in finding something or someone, but in learning to understand and care for ourselves.

“Long-lost quest” speaks to the emotional exhaustion of looking for fulfillment outside ourselves and the quiet wisdom that comes when we finally accept that we have to find peace within. It’s a poem about the sadness of unmet needs, but also about the shift that happens when we let go of the search and start healing from within. The speaker may have searched for years, but in the end, they realize that the most important thing isn’t finding someone else—it’s finding a way to mend their own heart.

Photo by Redd Francisco on Unsplash

Caged – Reviewed

Jahnavi Gouri Panicker

Every piece of her ached with sorrow
Her time, she had given away
Her smile looked like something borrowed
From the walls she built up from the pain

She stood strong when it all fell down
The castle where she was once caged
She watched as the waves took no more
Her heart carried slowly the rage

…

You may find the rest of the poem here.

Caged: A poem

© by owner. provided at no charge for educational purposes 

Analysis

In Caged, the poet uses the metaphor of a prison to explore emotional confinement and the painful cycles of abuse that can come with it. The central image of the “cage” reflects both the physical and psychological barriers the speaker has built around herself as a way to protect her heart. She has endured significant hardship, and over time, her pain led her to construct walls to keep herself safe. But in doing so, she has also trapped herself, becoming imprisoned by her own defenses. The tone of the poem is quiet, reflective, and slightly resigned—almost as if the speaker has accepted the emotional scars of her past, even though they haven’t fully healed.

The poem begins with the speaker looking back on her sorrow, feeling as though every piece of her has been touched by pain. She describes how she gave away parts of herself—her time, her joy—and how her smile now feels “borrowed,” suggesting that she’s hiding behind a mask created by the walls built to protect her. These walls, however, don’t only protect; they confine. The “castle” she once built to keep herself safe is the same place that “caged” her. The walls that once felt strong and protective have, over time, only become another form of imprisonment. The imagery of rusted pieces being replaced by new ones speaks to how the emotional barriers evolve, but the cycle of pain continues.

The cage that once seemed like a fortress has turned into a more complex prison, one that adapts and becomes even stronger as time goes on. The speaker realizes that, despite the changes, the cage still holds her. It’s no longer just a physical barrier; it’s also psychological. The fear and trauma that come from emotional abuse remain, even if the external circumstances change. The cage “wants them near,” capturing the way emotional abuse doesn’t just keep a person physically trapped, but continues to haunt their thoughts and behaviors. There’s a sense of inevitability here: even when one person escapes, the cycle goes on, trapping others in the same patterns of fear, dependence, and false safety.

But the poem also shifts as the speaker looks at her own journey and the people still trapped in the cycle. She’s no longer in the cage, but she sees it play out for others. The “new prisoner” refers to someone else who’s caught in the same cycle she once was. Though she’s freed herself, she witnesses the ongoing torment, and there’s a sense of helplessness in knowing that the pain doesn’t stop with her escape. This is the difficult reality: breaking free doesn’t always mean the cycle ends for everyone. The speaker sees how others, like her, get caught in the trap again and again, unable or unwilling to escape.

In her reflection, the speaker reveals a painful truth—she wishes she had known earlier that love doesn’t have to be synonymous with pain. This realization highlights the deep emotional scars caused by her experiences, where love and suffering were once inseparable. But with this understanding comes growth. The speaker has learned the hard lessons that love can exist without the need for self-doubt or fear, but that doesn’t mean the healing is complete. She’s freed herself from the cage, but the emotional scars are still with her. It’s not a perfect resolution, but it’s a step toward understanding and healing.

The poem’s tone is heavy, almost like a quiet lament. It’s not full of despair, but it’s clear that the speaker carries the weight of her past. She has become stronger and more guarded, but she’s also wiser for having gone through the pain. The metaphor of the cage captures the way emotional abuse can become embedded in a person, building over time into something that feels inescapable. The speaker’s emotional walls—though they were meant to protect—have also limited her freedom, creating a cycle of hurt and healing that is difficult to break. The cage may no longer be physically present, but the scars of it remain.

What makes Caged powerful is that it’s not just about one person’s journey; it’s about witnessing the ongoing effects of abuse. The speaker, though free from the cage, sees others trapped in the same way she once was. The poem highlights the tragic reality that even when one person escapes, the cycle continues for others. This sense of watching others endure the same struggles the speaker has faced adds a layer of sadness, but also a sense of awareness. The cycle can be broken, but it’s not easy, and the scars left behind can last a lifetime.

Overall, Caged is a moving reflection on the emotional toll of abuse and the complex process of breaking free from it. The speaker’s journey is both one of liberation and continued awareness, as she watches the cycle unfold for others. The poem captures the idea that emotional imprisonment doesn’t end just because one person escapes, and that the scars left behind are often lifelong. It’s a poignant exploration of how people can trap themselves with their own emotional defenses, and how those same defenses can keep them from truly healing. The speaker’s quiet reflection on her own painful journey is both a hard-earned understanding and a reminder that even though freedom is possible, it is often not without its costs.

Photo by Hans-Jurgen Mager on Unsplash

Mangled – Reviewed

Latoya Harris

Translucent memories

Stained by the wrought

Mangled by

The thought

What I thought

About the thoughts

To taunt my brain

Memories untamed

No human should have this kind of sprain in their brain

Shame!

…

You may find the rest of the poem here.

© by owner. provided at no charge for educational purposes 

You may also find her book of poetry Mental Notes on kindle here.

Analysis

In “Mangled,” the poet takes the reader through the messy, chaotic experience of being trapped in one’s own thoughts—where memories don’t just resurface, but become twisted, dissected, and judged. The poem revolves around the mental struggle of overthinking, of being unable to escape the weight of one’s own mind. The speaker isn’t simply recalling the past; they are stuck in a loop of revisiting, analyzing, and condemning their own thoughts. Each memory becomes a battleground, a place where the past is constantly questioned and critiqued, turning into a source of shame and self-recrimination. The speaker’s mind is overwhelmed by the tangled mess of their own thoughts, unable to find peace or clarity.

The structure of the poem reflects this mental confusion. The fragmented lines, interruptions, and repetitions mirror the speaker’s inability to string together coherent thoughts. The constant shift between “What I thought” and “What’s the coordinance?” shows how the speaker is stuck in a cycle of overthinking, where not only their memories but the very act of thinking itself becomes disjointed and unreliable. This kind of disorientation is central to the experience the poem captures—it’s not just that the speaker is struggling to locate themselves within their thoughts, but that their thoughts themselves are fractured and elusive. The repeated use of “Shame” amplifies this feeling, acting as a hammering reminder of self-judgment that the speaker can’t escape. It’s as if the speaker is locked in a mental loop, unable to let go of the negative thoughts and judgments they place on themselves.

What’s striking in the poem is the way judgment doesn’t just come from others—it comes from within. The speaker is at war with their own mind, constantly trying to make sense of their thoughts but only digging themselves deeper into confusion. Lines like “What’s the hypothesis” show that the speaker is attempting to approach their mental state rationally, almost scientifically, as if trying to distance themselves from the emotional chaos. But this rational approach only highlights the impossibility of escaping the mental fog. The mention of “coordinance,” a term usually associated with order and direction, shows the speaker’s desperate need for a way to navigate through their own mind. Yet, despite all this searching, the answer remains elusive. The poem ends as it began, with the speaker still lost, unable to find the mental clarity they so desperately seek.

The sense of being trapped within their own judgment is also evident in the language the speaker uses. Terms like “dirty names,” “kink,” and “scum” show how the speaker feels disgusted by their own thoughts. They’re not just struggling with their past actions but with the very nature of their thoughts, rejecting them as something inherently wrong. There’s an internal battle here—not just between the past and present, but between the speaker’s sense of self and the shame they carry. “Who have I become?” expresses the confusion and loss of identity that comes from constantly dissecting oneself. The speaker doesn’t just regret past mistakes—they regret the thoughts that led to those mistakes, and they cannot separate themselves from the judgment of those thoughts.

The poem doesn’t offer any easy answers. It doesn’t provide a way out of the maze of thoughts that the speaker is trapped in. Instead, it invites the reader into the same disorienting space, where clarity is just out of reach, and every attempt to understand or make sense of things only adds to the confusion. The struggle is raw, unrelenting, and uncomfortable, but it’s also deeply human. It’s about living in a mind that constantly judges itself, where every thought and memory is scrutinized to the point of self-loathing.

At its core, “Mangled” captures the inner turmoil of trying to reconcile one’s thoughts with one’s sense of self. The speaker is caught in a cycle of judgment, unable to escape the mental chaos that clouds their perception. There’s no easy way out, and that’s what makes the poem so effective—it doesn’t offer comfort or resolution. Instead, it pulls the reader into the raw, messy, uncomfortable reality of living with a mind that refuses to stop questioning, analyzing, and criticizing itself. The poem is a reflection of the struggle that many of us face, trying to make sense of our thoughts and memories without getting lost in the judgment we place on them.

Photo by Sean Pierce on Unsplash

ARDOURS AND ENDURANCES – Reviewed

Robert Nichols

COMRADES: AN EPISODE

Before, before he was aware
The ‘Verey’ light had risen … on the air
It hung glistering….
And he could not stay his hand
From moving to the barbed wire’s broken strand.
A rifle cracked.
He fell.
Night waned. He was alone. A heavy shell
Whispered itself passing high, high overhead.
His wound was wet to his hand: for still it bled
On to the glimmering ground.
Then with a slow, vain smile his wound he bound,
Knowing, of course, he’d not see home again—
Home whose thought he put away.
His men
Whispered: “Where’s Mister Gates?” “Out on the wire.”
“I’ll get him,” said one….
Dawn blinked, and the fire
Of the Germans heaved up and down the line.
“Stand to!”
Too late! “I’ll get him.” “O the swine!
When we might get him in yet safe and whole!”
“Corporal didn’t see ‘un fall out on patrol,
Or he’d ‘a got ‘un.” “Sssh!”
“No talking there.”
A whisper: “‘A went down at the last flare.”
Meanwhile the Maxims toc-toc-tocked; their swish
Of bullets told death lurked against the wish.
No hope for him!
His corporal, as one shamed,
Vainly and helplessly his ill-luck blamed.

Then Gates slowly saw the morn
Break in a rosy peace through the lone thorn
By which he lay, and felt the dawn-wind pass
Whispering through the pallid, stalky grass
Of No-Man’s Land….
And the tears came
Scaldingly sweet, more lovely than a flame.
He closed his eyes: he thought of home
And grit his teeth. He knew no help could come….

The silent sun over the earth held sway,
Occasional rifles cracked and far away
A heedless speck, a ‘plane, slid on alone,
Like a fly traversing a cliff of stone.

“I must get back,” said Gates aloud, and heaved
At his body. But it lay bereaved
Of any power. He could not wait till night….
And he lay still. Blood swam across his sight.
Then with a groan:
“No luck ever! Well, I must die alone.”

Occasional rifles cracked. A cloud that shone,
Gold-rimmed, blackened the sun and then was gone….
The sun still smiled. The grass sang in its play.
Someone whistled: “Over the hills and far away.”
Gates watched silently the swift, swift sun
Burning his life before it was begun….

Suddenly he heard Corporal Timmins’ voice:
“Now then,
‘Urry up with that tea.”
“Hi Ginger!” “Bill!” His men!
Timmins and Jones and Wilkinson (the ‘bard’),
And Hughes and Simpson. It was hard
Not to see them: Wilkinson, stubby, grim,
With his “No, sir,” “Yes, sir,” and the slim
Simpson: “Indeed, sir?” (while it seemed he winked
Because his smiling left eye always blinked)
And Corporal Timmins, straight and blonde and wise,
With his quiet-scanning, level, hazel eyes;
And all the others … tunics that didn’t fit….
A dozen different sorts of eyes. O it
Was hard to lie there! Yet he must. But no:
“I’ve got to die. I’ll get to them. I’ll go.”

Inch by inch he fought, breathless and mute,
Dragging his carcase like a famished brute….
His head was hammering, and his eyes were dim;
A bloody sweat seemed to ooze out of him
And freeze along his spine…. Then he’d lie still
Before another effort of his will
Took him one nearer yard.

The parapet was reached.
He could not rise to it. A lookout screeched:
“Mr. Gates!”
Three figures in one breath
Leaped up. Two figures fell in toppling death;
And Gates was lifted in. “Who’s hit?” said he.
“Timmins and Jones.” “Why did they that for me?—
I’m gone already!” Gently they laid him prone
And silently watched.
He twitched. They heard him moan
“Why for me?” His eyes roamed round, and none replied.
“I see it was alone I should have died.”
They shook their heads. Then, “Is the doctor here?”
“He’s coming, sir; he’s hurryin’, no fear.”
“No good….
Lift me.” They lifted him.
He smiled and held his arms out to the dim,
And in a moment passed beyond their ken,
Hearing him whisper, “O my men, my men!”

In Hospital, London,
Autumn, 1915.

© by owner. provided at no charge for educational purposes 

You may find the complete collection preserved as a part of the Gutenberg project here.

These poems are a part of the collection ARDOURS AND ENDURANCES, and can be found on Goodreads here, with this review posted here.

Analysis

Robert Nichols’ Ardours and Endurances is a vivid and unflinching poetry collection that captures the emotional and physical realities of war. Nichols, a soldier himself, writes from direct experience, and this gives the collection a rawness that feels immediate. The poems reflect the chaos, pain, and fleeting moments of beauty that arise in wartime, creating a body of work that is both personal and universal.

The central theme of the collection is the duality of war: its horrors and its strange, fleeting beauty. Nichols doesn’t shy away from the brutality of combat, describing the fear, destruction, and loss that define life on the battlefield. Yet, he also finds moments of transcendence—an appreciation for comradeship, the resilience of the human spirit, and the stark beauty of nature even in the midst of devastation. This tension between suffering and endurance is at the heart of the collection, as seen in poems like “The Assault,” which captures the frenzied energy and terror of an attack.

Nichols’ use of structure varies throughout the collection. Some poems follow traditional forms, with tight rhyme schemes and regular rhythms, while others adopt free verse, reflecting the unpredictability and fragmentation of war. The formal poems, like sonnets, create a sense of order and control, while the looser structures convey disarray and raw emotion. This variety mirrors the highs and lows of wartime experience, from moments of reflection to the chaos of battle.

The tone shifts across the collection, but there is always an undercurrent of intensity. At times, Nichols writes with a sense of awe, as if overwhelmed by the magnitude of what he’s witnessing. Other times, the tone becomes stark and almost detached, as if the speaker is trying to process events too vast to comprehend fully. There are also moments of tenderness, especially when Nichols reflects on the relationships between soldiers or the fragile beauty of life amidst destruction.

Nichols’ language is direct and evocative, often painting vivid images of the battlefield and its surroundings. He uses sound and rhythm effectively, with pounding cadences that mimic the roar of artillery or the adrenaline of a charge. Even in quieter moments, there’s a sense of urgency, as if the speaker is driven to capture fleeting impressions before they are lost to time.

What makes Ardours and Endurances stand out is its honesty. Nichols doesn’t romanticize war or present it as a noble adventure. Instead, he shows its complexity—the way it strips humanity bare, revealing both its worst and best aspects. The poems are deeply personal, yet they speak to a shared experience, making the collection feel both intimate and expansive.

This is a collection that doesn’t just recount war; it grapples with what it means to endure it. Nichols’ poems are powerful because they confront the reader with the stark realities of conflict while also finding moments of hope and meaning in the endurance of the human spirit.

Photo by National Library of Scotland on Unsplash

ARDOURS ANDENDURANCES – Reviewed

Robert Nichols

COMRADES: AN EPISODE

Before, before he was aware
The ‘Verey’ light had risen … on the air
It hung glistering….
And he could not stay his hand
From moving to the barbed wire’s broken strand.
A rifle cracked.
He fell.
Night waned. He was alone. A heavy shell
Whispered itself passing high, high overhead.
His wound was wet to his hand: for still it bled
On to the glimmering ground.
Then with a slow, vain smile his wound he bound,
Knowing, of course, he’d not see home again—
Home whose thought he put away.
His men
Whispered: “Where’s Mister Gates?” “Out on the wire.”
“I’ll get him,” said one….
Dawn blinked, and the fire
Of the Germans heaved up and down the line.
“Stand to!”
Too late! “I’ll get him.” “O the swine!
When we might get him in yet safe and whole!”
“Corporal didn’t see ‘un fall out on patrol,
Or he’d ‘a got ‘un.” “Sssh!”
“No talking there.”
A whisper: “‘A went down at the last flare.”
Meanwhile the Maxims toc-toc-tocked; their swish
Of bullets told death lurked against the wish.
No hope for him!
His corporal, as one shamed,
Vainly and helplessly his ill-luck blamed.

Then Gates slowly saw the morn
Break in a rosy peace through the lone thorn
By which he lay, and felt the dawn-wind pass
Whispering through the pallid, stalky grass
Of No-Man’s Land….
And the tears came
Scaldingly sweet, more lovely than a flame.
He closed his eyes: he thought of home
And grit his teeth. He knew no help could come….

The silent sun over the earth held sway,
Occasional rifles cracked and far away
A heedless speck, a ‘plane, slid on alone,
Like a fly traversing a cliff of stone.

“I must get back,” said Gates aloud, and heaved
At his body. But it lay bereaved
Of any power. He could not wait till night….
And he lay still. Blood swam across his sight.
Then with a groan:
“No luck ever! Well, I must die alone.”

Occasional rifles cracked. A cloud that shone,
Gold-rimmed, blackened the sun and then was gone….
The sun still smiled. The grass sang in its play.
Someone whistled: “Over the hills and far away.”
Gates watched silently the swift, swift sun
Burning his life before it was begun….

Suddenly he heard Corporal Timmins’ voice:
“Now then,
‘Urry up with that tea.”
“Hi Ginger!” “Bill!” His men!
Timmins and Jones and Wilkinson (the ‘bard’),
And Hughes and Simpson. It was hard
Not to see them: Wilkinson, stubby, grim,
With his “No, sir,” “Yes, sir,” and the slim
Simpson: “Indeed, sir?” (while it seemed he winked
Because his smiling left eye always blinked)
And Corporal Timmins, straight and blonde and wise,
With his quiet-scanning, level, hazel eyes;
And all the others … tunics that didn’t fit….
A dozen different sorts of eyes. O it
Was hard to lie there! Yet he must. But no:
“I’ve got to die. I’ll get to them. I’ll go.”

Inch by inch he fought, breathless and mute,
Dragging his carcase like a famished brute….
His head was hammering, and his eyes were dim;
A bloody sweat seemed to ooze out of him
And freeze along his spine…. Then he’d lie still
Before another effort of his will
Took him one nearer yard.

The parapet was reached.
He could not rise to it. A lookout screeched:
“Mr. Gates!”
Three figures in one breath
Leaped up. Two figures fell in toppling death;
And Gates was lifted in. “Who’s hit?” said he.
“Timmins and Jones.” “Why did they that for me?—
I’m gone already!” Gently they laid him prone
And silently watched.
He twitched. They heard him moan
“Why for me?” His eyes roamed round, and none replied.
“I see it was alone I should have died.”
They shook their heads. Then, “Is the doctor here?”
“He’s coming, sir; he’s hurryin’, no fear.”
“No good….
Lift me.” They lifted him.
He smiled and held his arms out to the dim,
And in a moment passed beyond their ken,
Hearing him whisper, “O my men, my men!”

In Hospital, London,
Autumn, 1915.

© by owner. provided at no charge for educational purposes 

You may find the complete collection preserved as a part of the Gutenberg project here.

These poems are a part of the collection ARDOURS AND ENDURANCES, and can be found on Goodreads here, with this review posted here.

Analysis

Robert Nichols’ Ardours and Endurances is a vivid and unflinching poetry collection that captures the emotional and physical realities of war. Nichols, a soldier himself, writes from direct experience, and this gives the collection a rawness that feels immediate. The poems reflect the chaos, pain, and fleeting moments of beauty that arise in wartime, creating a body of work that is both personal and universal.

The central theme of the collection is the duality of war: its horrors and its strange, fleeting beauty. Nichols doesn’t shy away from the brutality of combat, describing the fear, destruction, and loss that define life on the battlefield. Yet, he also finds moments of transcendence—an appreciation for comradeship, the resilience of the human spirit, and the stark beauty of nature even in the midst of devastation. This tension between suffering and endurance is at the heart of the collection, as seen in poems like “The Assault,” which captures the frenzied energy and terror of an attack.

Nichols’ use of structure varies throughout the collection. Some poems follow traditional forms, with tight rhyme schemes and regular rhythms, while others adopt free verse, reflecting the unpredictability and fragmentation of war. The formal poems, like sonnets, create a sense of order and control, while the looser structures convey disarray and raw emotion. This variety mirrors the highs and lows of wartime experience, from moments of reflection to the chaos of battle.

The tone shifts across the collection, but there is always an undercurrent of intensity. At times, Nichols writes with a sense of awe, as if overwhelmed by the magnitude of what he’s witnessing. Other times, the tone becomes stark and almost detached, as if the speaker is trying to process events too vast to comprehend fully. There are also moments of tenderness, especially when Nichols reflects on the relationships between soldiers or the fragile beauty of life amidst destruction.

Nichols’ language is direct and evocative, often painting vivid images of the battlefield and its surroundings. He uses sound and rhythm effectively, with pounding cadences that mimic the roar of artillery or the adrenaline of a charge. Even in quieter moments, there’s a sense of urgency, as if the speaker is driven to capture fleeting impressions before they are lost to time.

What makes Ardours and Endurances stand out is its honesty. Nichols doesn’t romanticize war or present it as a noble adventure. Instead, he shows its complexity—the way it strips humanity bare, revealing both its worst and best aspects. The poems are deeply personal, yet they speak to a shared experience, making the collection feel both intimate and expansive.

This is a collection that doesn’t just recount war; it grapples with what it means to endure it. Nichols’ poems are powerful because they confront the reader with the stark realities of conflict while also finding moments of hope and meaning in the endurance of the human spirit.

Photo by National Library of Scotland on Unsplash

IN FLANDERS FIELDS – Reviewed

John McCrae

Equality

I saw a King, who spent his life to weave
Into a nation all his great heart thought,
Unsatisfied until he should achieve
The grand ideal that his manhood sought;
Yet as he saw the end within his reach,
Death took the sceptre from his failing hand,
And all men said, “He gave his life to teach
The task of honour to a sordid land!”
Within his gates I saw, through all those years,
One at his humble toil with cheery face,
Whom (being dead) the children, half in tears,
Remembered oft, and missed him from his place.
If he be greater that his people blessed
Than he the children loved, God knoweth best.

In Flanders Fields

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.

The Anxious Dead

O guns, fall silent till the dead men hear
Above their heads the legions pressing on:
(These fought their fight in time of bitter fear,
And died not knowing how the day had gone.)

O flashing muzzles, pause, and let them see
The coming dawn that streaks the sky afar;
Then let your mighty chorus witness be
To them, and Caesar, that we still make war.

Tell them, O guns, that we have heard their call,
That we have sworn, and will not turn aside,
That we will onward till we win or fall,
That we will keep the faith for which they died.

Bid them be patient, and some day, anon,
They shall feel earth enwrapt in silence deep;
Shall greet, in wonderment, the quiet dawn,
And in content may turn them to their sleep.

© by owner. provided at no charge for educational purposes 

You may find the complete collection preserved as a part of the Gutenberg project here.

These poems are a part of the collection IN FLANDERS FIELDS, and can be found on Goodreads here, with this review posted here.

Analysis

John McCrae’s In Flanders Fields is a brief but deeply impactful poetry collection that reflects the profound emotions and realities of World War I. Known primarily for its title poem, the collection explores themes of sacrifice, loss, remembrance, and the enduring spirit of those who fought in the war. McCrae’s work resonates because of its simplicity and directness, making the emotions feel immediate and raw.

The main theme of the collection is the cost of war, not only in lives lost but in the emotional weight carried by those left behind. In “In Flanders Fields,” McCrae uses the image of poppies growing among soldiers’ graves to symbolize both death and rebirth. The poem captures the tension between mourning the dead and honoring their legacy by continuing the fight. There’s a sense of urgency in the poem, as if the voices of the fallen are calling out, demanding not to be forgotten.

Another recurring theme is the connection between nature and war. McCrae often contrasts the peaceful beauty of the natural world with the violence of human conflict. In poems like “The Anxious Dead,” there’s a sense that the earth itself becomes a witness to the sacrifices made. This blending of nature with human struggle gives the poems a universal quality, making the themes feel timeless.

The structure of McCrae’s poems is straightforward and traditional, often using regular rhyme and meter. This formal structure adds to the gravity of the content, giving the poems a hymn-like quality. The rhythm and rhyme make the emotions more accessible, almost like they’re meant to be spoken aloud or remembered collectively.

The tone throughout the collection is a mix of solemnity, resolve, and hope. While the poems reflect on death and loss, there’s also an underlying sense of duty and purpose. McCrae writes as both a mourner and a soldier, someone deeply affected by what he’s seen but determined to give meaning to the sacrifices made. This dual perspective gives the collection a unique voice—personal yet representative of a larger collective experience.

What stands out in McCrae’s work is its ability to balance simplicity and depth. The language is clear and unadorned, but the emotions run deep. He doesn’t try to intellectualize war or disguise its pain; instead, he presents it plainly, letting the weight of the words speak for itself.

In Flanders Fields is a powerful reflection on war and its consequences. McCrae’s poems honor the fallen while challenging the living to carry forward their memory and purpose. The collection’s brevity only adds to its impact, leaving readers with images and emotions that linger long after the final line.

Photo by Quaritsch Photography on Unsplash

Ode to nirvana – Reviewed

Jude Itakali

The year begins

I taste nirvana with chapped lips
As Dry-season wraps January in a delirium of dreams
My mind capitulates to the sweaty climax of goals and gains
Yet even now I think of April rains
Of the chapped lip that draws a dewy gaze
Of the parched tongue that tastes a salty tear
Of the loose limb craving the grip of a single lover:
The feel of One
The growth as One
The Kiss that blurs history with a bevy of augured futures

…

You may find the rest of the poem here.

Ode to nirvana

© by owner. provided at no charge for educational purposes 

Analysis

“Ode to Nirvana” captures the complex, unrelenting search for truth and fulfillment, a thirst that grows with time but seems just out of reach. The poem sets this search within the cycle of a new year, beginning with the dry season—a time that symbolizes both the literal and emotional parched state of the speaker. The imagery of thirst, from “chapped lips” to a “parched tongue,” highlights the deep craving for something more—peace, love, understanding—but also the frustration that no matter how hard the speaker tries, they cannot fully quench that thirst.

The speaker’s pursuit of nirvana is presented against the backdrop of a fresh start, typical of the beginning of a new year. The opening lines, where the speaker tastes nirvana with “chapped lips,” immediately reveal a disconnect between desire and reality. Nirvana, the ideal of peace or ultimate fulfillment, is something the speaker longs for but cannot fully grasp. The “dry season” mirrors the inner state of wanting, where dreams and ambitions are plentiful, but there’s still something missing. The “delirium of dreams” in January emphasizes how our minds race toward new goals, but despite the intense energy and desire to achieve, the satisfaction remains elusive.

The poem then shifts between this yearning for nirvana and the imagined relief offered by “April rains.” The rain represents renewal, refreshment, and hope—a contrast to the dryness of January. But this relief is always just out of reach, no matter how often the speaker repeats the line, “Even now I think of April rains.” This repetition emphasizes the cyclical nature of desire and disillusionment: the rains, or the satisfaction of desires, might come, but they remain distant, as if always just beyond the horizon. The constant pull between what the speaker wants and what they can have reflects the human experience of always striving for something greater, yet often falling short.

In the middle of the poem, the speaker’s contemplation deepens as they explore the barriers to nirvana. The lines about shunning “tattletales that expose the great lies” and burying their head “in the sands of unconsecrated virtues” suggest that the speaker recognizes that their search for truth is complicated by distractions, lies, and illusions. The temptation to believe in comforting falsehoods is strong, but the speaker also knows that these lies hinder true fulfillment. The idea of “affirmations” and “consolations” points to the easy comforts we turn to, the superficial sources of reassurance that ultimately don’t satisfy our deeper hunger.

As the poem progresses, the tension between seeking the truth and the desire to avoid it grows stronger. The phrase “truth becomes incendiary” in the final stanza reveals that confronting the truth is not only difficult but potentially destructive. Truth, in this sense, is painful and unsettling, capable of burning away the illusions that provide temporary comfort. The “beautiful lie” dressed in “paper robes” symbolizes the fragility and emptiness of these false comforts, suggesting that while they may appear attractive, they are ultimately hollow.

By the end, nirvana feels farther away than ever. The speaker is left in the tension between a persistent longing for something greater and the realization that it may always remain out of reach. The desire for fulfillment is constant, but the path to it is clouded by lies and distractions, making it impossible to attain. The poem doesn’t resolve this struggle but leaves the reader with the feeling that the search for peace, truth, or nirvana is an ongoing, often frustrating journey.

Through its repeated references to “April rains” and its exploration of the difficulty of confronting truth, “Ode to Nirvana” speaks to the human condition—the tension between what we want and what we can have. The poem reflects the desire for connection, understanding, and peace, yet it also acknowledges the obstacles that prevent us from achieving these goals. It’s about the complexity of our desires and how the very things we seek—truth, love, fulfillment—are often hidden behind distractions and illusions. In this way, the poem captures both the motivation and the suffering that come with striving for something elusive and unattainable.

Photo by Colton Duke on Unsplash

I sit at the creek – Reviewed

Grace Vanderpool

“I sit at the creek,
its surface holding the sky’s forgetting
time drifts
like a leaf
before me,
edges curling, soft with surrender.
a sadness floats beneath my ribs,
not a wound, but a slow ripple, folding
into the quiet, until even my stillness fades.

…

You may find the rest of the poem here.

© by owner. provided at no charge for educational purposes 

Analysis

In “I sit at the creek,” the poet weaves nature and emotion together in a way that allows the creek to not just serve as a backdrop but to reflect the speaker’s inner world. The poem is less about a dramatic emotional outpouring and more about a quiet moment of reflection where sadness, time, and transformation all flow together. By sitting by the creek, the speaker connects with both the natural world and their own emotional landscape, allowing the creek’s rhythm to mirror the slow ebb and flow of their feelings.

The theme centers on the quiet, often unnoticed currents of emotion and the passage of time. The speaker doesn’t experience their sadness as a sharp pain or a sudden shock, but as something that lingers, moving through them like a “slow ripple,” gradually folding into the surrounding quiet. This image suggests that sadness isn’t a wound to be healed, but rather a constant presence that the speaker must coexist with. The creek, with its surface reflecting the sky’s “forgetting,” becomes the perfect vessel for this emotion, absorbing it in a way that’s neither forceful nor dramatic. The creek doesn’t fix the sadness, but rather gently pulls it into its depths, suggesting that emotions, like everything else in life, will flow through and eventually settle.

The poem’s structure mirrors the creek’s movement. It’s fragmented and loose, almost like the flowing of water itself. There’s no rigid form, no insistence on precision or order. Each line folds softly into the next, just as the speaker’s thoughts and emotions seem to drift in and out of focus. The lack of strong punctuation reinforces this sense of time drifting slowly, in no particular rush. The poem doesn’t attempt to organize the speaker’s thoughts but rather lets them unfold naturally, much like how time and emotions unfold in real life.

In the pastoral tradition, nature is often a space where human emotions are reflected and processed. The creek in this poem doesn’t provide an escape from the speaker’s sadness, but a place to experience it fully. Nature, in many pastoral poems, is seen as a refuge or a source of solace, but here it’s a more honest reflection of life’s cycles—sometimes calm, sometimes sorrowful, but always moving. The creek doesn’t wash away the sadness, but instead accepts it, folding it into its flow. This connection between the natural world and the speaker’s emotional state emphasizes that sadness, like nature, is constantly shifting and transforming. The speaker doesn’t fight their feelings but lets them sink into the creek, becoming part of its “glittering depth.”

The poem also touches on the cyclical nature of time. The sadness, as it “sinks gently down,” becomes part of the creek, swallowed up by the natural flow of things. There’s a subtle transformation here: the sadness doesn’t disappear, but it changes, blending into the environment. The speaker seems to find peace not by ridding themselves of sadness, but by allowing it to become part of the ongoing rhythm of life. The line “tomorrow begins” at the end suggests that with each moment, things move forward, even as they sink into the past. The creek’s flow doesn’t stop, and neither does time. The sadness, too, is part of that ongoing motion.

What stands out in this poem is the way the speaker doesn’t resist their feelings but allows nature to absorb them. The creek symbolizes not only the natural world but also the process of accepting and letting go. The sadness isn’t an obstacle to be overcome; it’s something to be experienced and then released, much like the leaf drifting on the water’s surface. In this way, the poem uses nature as both a mirror and a companion, allowing the speaker to reflect on their sadness while also offering a quiet space for it to transform and fade.

The poet doesn’t present the creek as a perfect, idealized escape from the complexities of life. Instead, it’s a place where the speaker can sit with their sadness, accept its presence, and allow it to become part of something bigger than themselves. The connection to the pastoral tradition is here, but it’s more about quiet acceptance than about finding refuge or peace. The creek, like nature itself, is a constant presence, a reminder that life is always moving, even when sadness feels like it’s standing still.

Photo by Connor Dugan on Unsplash

Marlborough and Other Poems – Reviewed

Charles Hamilton Sorley

EXPECTANS EXPECTAVI

FROM morn to midnight, all day through,
I laugh and play as others do,
I sin and chatter, just the same
As others with a different name.

And all year long upon the stage
I dance and tumble and do rage
So vehemently, I scarcely see
The inner and eternal me.

I have a temple I do not
Visit, a heart I have forgot,
A self that I have never met,
A secret shrine—and yet, and yet
This sanctuary of my soul
Unwitting I keep white and whole
Unlatched and lit, if Thou should’st care
To enter or to tarry there.

With parted lips and outstretched hands
And listening ears Thy servant stands,
Call Thou early, call Thou late,
To Thy great service dedicate.

May 1915

ROOKS

THERE, where the rusty iron lies,
The rooks are cawing all the day.
Perhaps no man, until he dies,
Will understand them, what they say.

The evening makes the sky like clay.
The slow wind waits for night to rise.
The world is half-content. But they

Still trouble all the trees with cries,
That know, and cannot put away,
The yearning to the soul that flies
From day to night, from night to day.

21 June 1913

GERMAN RAIN

THE heat came down and sapped away my powers.
The laden heat came down and drowned my brain,
Till through the weight of overcoming hours
I felt the rain.

Then suddenly I saw what more to see
I never thought: old things renewed, retrieved.
The rain that fell in England fell on me,
And I believed.

TO GERMANY

YOU are blind like us. Your hurt no man designed,
And no man claimed the conquest of your land.
But gropers both through fields of thought confined
We stumble and we do not understand.
You only saw your future bigly planned,
And we, the tapering paths of our own mind,
And in each other’s dearest ways we stand,
And hiss and hate. And the blind fight the blind.

When it is peace, then we may view again
With new-won eyes each other’s truer form
And wonder. Grown more loving-kind and warm
We’ll grasp firm hands and laugh at the old pain,
When it is peace. But until peace, the storm
The darkness and the thunder and the rain.

XXVII

WHEN you see millions of the mouthless dead
Across your dreams in pale battalions go,
Say not soft things as other men have said,
That you’ll remember. For you need not so.
Give them not praise. For, deaf, how should they know
It is not curses heaped on each gashed head?
Nor tears. Their blind eyes see not your tears flow.
Nor honour. It is easy to be dead.
Say only this, “They are dead.” Then add thereto,
“Yet many a better one has died before.”
Then, scanning all the o’ercrowded mass, should you
Perceive one face that you loved heretofore,
It is a spook. None wears the face you knew.
Great death has made all his for evermore.

© by owner. provided at no charge for educational purposes 

You may find the complete collection preserved as a part of the Gutenberg project here.

These poems are a part of the collection Marlborough and Other Poems, and can be found on Goodreads here, with this review posted here.

Analysis

Charles Hamilton Sorley’s Marlborough and Other Poems captures the voice of a young poet deeply affected by the horrors and realities of World War I. The collection reflects the mind of a soldier-poet grappling with mortality, the fragility of life, and the meaning of sacrifice. What makes Sorley’s work stand out is his honesty—there’s little romanticizing of war here. Instead, the poems carry a quiet, reflective tone, blending sorrow, anger, and a sense of disillusionment.

A dominant theme in the collection is the futility of war. Sorley doesn’t shy away from showing its brutality and senselessness. In poems like “To Germany,” he acknowledges the shared humanity of soldiers on both sides, offering a perspective that is both empathetic and critical of nationalism. His work often feels like an argument against the glorification of war, exposing the personal cost of conflict.

Another theme is the fleeting nature of life. Sorley’s awareness of his own mortality is evident throughout the collection. Poems like “Expectans Expectavi” and “When You See Millions of the Mouthless Dead” explore death not as an abstract idea but as an inevitability. His treatment of the subject is unflinching, and there’s a raw acceptance of life’s transience, often paired with a quiet defiance in the face of it.

Structurally, the poems tend to follow traditional forms, with regular rhyme schemes and measured rhythms. This formal approach adds a sense of order to content that often feels chaotic and overwhelming. Sorley’s control of structure contrasts with the unpredictable nature of war, perhaps reflecting his desire to impose some sense of understanding or clarity on the experiences he describes.

The tone of the collection is reflective and often somber, but it’s not without moments of sharp critique or bitter irony. In “All the Hills and Vales Along,” the rhythm almost feels like a marching song, but the words reveal a stark commentary on the mechanized slaughter of war. Sorley’s voice is calm but deeply resonant, carrying a sense of both resignation and quiet rebellion.

What sets Sorley apart is the maturity of his voice. Despite his youth, there’s a weight to his words, as if he’s already lived and seen far more than his years would suggest. His language is direct and clear, avoiding flowery or sentimental expressions, which only makes the emotions hit harder.

Marlborough and Other Poems is more than a collection of war poetry—it’s a window into the mind of a soldier who saw through the illusions of glory and patriotism. Sorley’s words carry the weight of someone who understood the cost of war all too well, and his poems leave a lasting impression of both the tragedy and the humanity of those who fought and fell.

Photo by Amirrasim Ashna on Unsplash

Fairies and Fusiliers – Reviewed

Robert Graves

THE CRUEL MOON

The cruel Moon hangs out of reach
Up above the shadowy beech.
Her face is stupid, but her eye
Is small and sharp and very sly.
Nurse says the Moon can drive you mad?
No, that’s a silly story, lad!
Though she be angry, though she would
Destroy all England if she could,
Yet think, what damage can she do
Hanging there so far from you?
Don’t heed what frightened nurses say:
Moons hang much too far away.

SORLEY’S WEATHER

When outside the icy rain
Comes leaping helter-skelter,
Shall I tie my restive brain
Snugly under shelter?

Shall I make a gentle song
Here in my firelit study,
When outside the winds blow strong
And the lanes are muddy?

With old wine and drowsy meats
Am I to fill my belly?
Shall I glutton here with Keats?
Shall I drink with Shelley?

Tobacco’s pleasant, firelight’s good:
Poetry makes both better.
Clay is wet and so is mud,
Winter rains are wetter.

Yet rest there, Shelley, on the sill,
For though the winds come frorely,
I’m away to the rain-blown hill
And the ghost of Sorley.

TWO FUSILIERS

And have we done with War at last?
Well, we’ve been lucky devils both,
And there’s no need of pledge or oath
To bind our lovely friendship fast,
By firmer stuff
Close bound enough.

By wire and wood and stake we’re bound,
By Fricourt and by Festubert,
By whipping rain, by the sun’s glare,
By all the misery and loud sound,
By a Spring day,
By Picard clay.

Show me the two so closely bound
As we, by the red bond of blood,
By friendship, blossoming from mud,
By Death: we faced him, and we found
Beauty in Death,
In dead men breath.

© by owner. provided at no charge for educational purposes 

You may find the complete collection preserved as a part of the Gutenberg project here.

These poems are a part of the collection Fairies and Fusiliers, and can be found on Goodreads here, with this review posted here.

Analysis

Robert Graves’ Fairies and Fusiliers is a striking mix of war’s harsh realities and the whimsical, otherworldly charm suggested by the title. Written during and after his experiences in the trenches of World War I, the collection captures the contrasts of a world torn between beauty and destruction, light and darkness, and hope and despair. The poems are personal and vivid, blending the brutality of war with imaginative flights into myth and fantasy.

One of the central themes is the collision between innocence and violence. Poems like “Goliath and David” reframe Biblical and mythic narratives in a wartime context, drawing parallels between ancient battles and the grim realities of modern warfare. At the same time, there’s an undercurrent of disillusionment—Graves doesn’t romanticize war. Instead, he presents it as a harsh and dehumanizing experience, often laced with irony. “A Dead Boche” captures the stark reality of a soldier’s perspective, stripped of sentimentality.

Another recurring theme is the pull between the past and the present. Graves weaves myth and folklore into his work, as seen in “The Cruel Moon,” creating a sense of timelessness. This is juxtaposed with the very immediate and visceral imagery of war. The title itself suggests this duality: “Fairies” invokes whimsy and escape, while “Fusiliers” grounds the collection in the military life and its hardships. This contrast highlights how imagination becomes a refuge from trauma.

Structurally, the poems vary, but many lean toward traditional forms, with clear rhyme schemes and rhythm. This structured approach adds a sense of control to themes that are often chaotic and overwhelming. The formality of the structure doesn’t dull the impact; instead, it makes the content feel sharper, as if the rules of the poem are holding back a flood of raw emotion.

The tone shifts throughout the collection, from playful to bitter, wistful to grim. In “Cherry-Time,” there’s a lightheartedness that feels almost like a reprieve, while in “The Last Post,” the sorrow is heavy and unrelenting. The poems often carry a layer of irony, reflecting Graves’ awareness of the absurdities and contradictions of war. Even his lighter works often contain an edge, a subtle reminder of the darker backdrop against which they’re set.

What ties these poems together is Graves’ ability to balance opposites. He brings the horrors of war into sharp focus without losing sight of beauty and humanity. His language is clear and unadorned, but his imagery lingers, whether he’s describing a battlefield or a moonlit night. This balance makes Fairies and Fusiliers not just a collection of war poetry but a testament to resilience and the power of imagination in the face of destruction. It’s a reminder that even amid chaos, there’s space for wonder, reflection, and the possibility of something beyond the immediate pain.

Photo by Claire Thatcher on Unsplash