Comparisons

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Hawk Roosting

next to of course god america i - this poem is also a political speech. It also examines the language that politicians use and the reasons they use it. The voices in the poems use different means (the hawk is much more open about its use of force to persuade). But both suggest the same conclusion: violence and death for the weak.

The Falling Leaves - this poem also uses nature as a source of negative imagery about conflict. Ideas about ordinary people dying in war are inspired by the sight of falling leaves. In a similar way, the image of a hawk is used not to express ideas about flight or speed or beauty, but political exploitation. While the use of language and the tone of each poem are very different, one effect is the same. Nature offers a timeless, unchanging backdrop to the recurring tragedies of mankind.

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next to of course god america i

The Right Word - this poem offers a complete contrast. The politician in Cumming's poem doesn't think about the words he uses, instead he just rattles on like a machine gun. Whereas Dharker worries painfully over every word she uses. She understands the power of language and the hidden prejudices that lie within words. She wants to overcome division, yet she knows that it is language that keeps warring parties apart.

Belfast Confetti - this poem is similar in form and language. This poem also expresses the emotional and moral effects of conflict by showing how language becomes almost meaningless when faced with violence. In Carson's poem, form and structure are shattered as he tries to form a single, meaningful sentence to describe the riot and his response to it. In Cummings' work, the speaker is trying to rouse people to the same kind of violence but his language has no clear structure and his words become meaningless.

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'Come on, Come back'

Mametz Wood - the link in this poem is the use of imagery. Both poems create strong images to convey a deep sense of hidden emotional meaning. Sheers draws much of his imagery from the earth, while Smith draws much of his imagery from water. Both use music to contrast with the loud violence of war. Both also contrast the horror or war with the everyday sense of comedy that makes us human: Sheers sees the skeletons arm-in-arm in their 'dance-macabre' and Smith gives us echoes of vaudeville stage entertainment.

Poppies - both Weir and Smith express feelings of sadness and anger at conflict by focusing not on images of violence, but symbols of beauty and innocence. For Weir it is memories of her son's childhood which transform into the symbol of the dove. For Smith it is images of the scared, lonely girl soldier which transform into symbols of love and embracing. In their search for positive imagery, however, both poems are only searching for consolation in the face of death.

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The Falling Leaves

Futility - this poem is also about the First World War and expresses an anger at the death that war brings. It is written from a different point of view: Owen was in the trenches, Cole was still living in England. Both poets, however, use nature imagery to move from the particular deaths of men in the trenches to express a greater anger at the tragedy to Mankind in general.

Poppies - this is another poem that adds a powerful female voice to the presentation of war in poetry. The poet's relationship with the subject matter is different. Weir describes a mother mourning her child. Cole's sadness is more a general mourning for all Mankind. Both poets, however, express the deep, difficult emotion felt by being at such a distance from the events that bring them grief.

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Bayonet Charge

Futility - this is another poem about the First World War trenches. It also deals with the horror of war, but from a different point of view. Owen considers the futility of war in a moment of peace. Hughes places his poem in the heat of the action. Futility is about mourning. Bayonet Charge is about dying. Both poems, however, use a contrast between war and nature to express their feelings.

Belfast Confetti - this poem also tries to express the actual experience of conflict. It uses a range of language techniques to present feelings of fear and confusion. It also uses form and structure to convey the energy and noise of conflict. Being poets, both Carson and Hughes also show how language and thought become impossible when challenged by action and violence.