There was a time – Reviewed
Edward Thomas
There was a time when this poor frame was whole
And I had youth and never another care,
Or none that should have troubled a strong soul.
Yet, except sometimes in a frosty air
When my heels hammered out a melody
From pavements of a city left behind,
I never would acknowledge my own glee
Because it was less mighty than my mind
Had dreamed of. Since I could not boast of strength
Great as I wished, weakness was all my boast.
I sought yet hated pity till at length
I earned it. Oh, too heavy was the cost!
But now that there is something I could use
My youth and strength for, I deny the age,
The care and weakness that I know—refuse
To admit I am unworthy of the wage
Paid to a man who gives up eyes and breath
For what would neither ask nor heed his death.
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Analysis
“There was a time” reflects on youth, strength, regret, and the emotional weight of survival in the aftermath of war. The speaker, a soldier, looks back on a time when their body was whole and life seemed simpler, though even then dissatisfaction clouded their ability to appreciate vitality and joy. The poem explores the journey from youthful arrogance to the hard-earned wisdom of experience, shaped by the physical and emotional toll of war.
The poem begins with memories of youthful confidence and ambition. The speaker recalls dismissing moments of joy because they didn’t match the grand ideals they had imagined. This youthful pride, described in the lines “I never would acknowledge my own glee / Because it was less mighty than my mind / Had dreamed of,” sets the stage for a reflection on the cost of such arrogance. Regret grows as the speaker admits to seeking pity while despising it, leading to the acknowledgment that the price of such indulgence was too high.
As the poem progresses, the tone shifts from self-criticism to somber reflection on survival and loss. The speaker confronts the guilt of living while others, who seemed more deserving, did not. The line “I deny the age, / The care and weakness that I know” shows an effort to reject feelings of inadequacy, but it also reveals the internal struggle of measuring their worth against the sacrifices of others. The phrase “unworthy of the wage” underscores this guilt, with the “wage” symbolizing survival and the cost of enduring when others could not.
The final lines emphasize the soldier’s awareness of the ultimate sacrifice made by their peers—those who “give up eyes and breath / For what would neither ask nor heed their death.” This stark recognition of the impersonal nature of war heightens the speaker’s feelings of unworthiness, leaving the reader with a profound sense of the burdens carried by those who survive.
The poem’s structure, with its formal quatrains and measured rhythm, creates a balance between raw emotion and restraint. This formality contrasts with the vulnerability of the speaker’s reflections, reinforcing the tension between outward composure and inner turmoil. The tone moves between regret, self-awareness, and somber acknowledgment, capturing the complex emotions tied to survival and loss.
“There was a time” is a poignant exploration of the human cost of war, focusing on the guilt and responsibility borne by those who outlive their peers. It reflects on the fragility of youth, the sacrifices required to grow up, and the enduring struggle to find meaning in survival. The poem resonates as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the weight of living in a world shaped by loss.
Photo by Nadine Eggenberger on Unsplash
