DULCE ET DECORUM EST(1)
Bent double, like old beggars under sacks,
Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge,
Till on the haunting flares(2) we turned our backs
And towards our distant rest(3) began to trudge.
Men marched asleep. Many had lost their boots
But limped on, blood-shod. All went lame; all blind;
Drunk with fatigue; deaf even to the hoots(4)
Of tired, outstripped(5) Five-Nines(6) that dropped behind.
Gas!(7) Gas! Quick, boys! – An ecstasy of fumbling,
Fitting the clumsy helmets(8) just in time;
But someone still was yelling out and stumbling,
And flound'ring like a man in fire or lime(9) . . .
Dim, through the misty panes(10) and thick green light,
As under a green sea, I saw him drowning.
In all my dreams, before my helpless sight,
He plunges at me, guttering,(11) choking, drowning.
If in some smothering dreams you too could pace
Behind the wagon that we flung him in,
And watch the white eyes writhing in his face,
His hanging face, like a devil's sick of sin;
If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood
Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs,
Obscene as cancer, bitter as the cud(12)
Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues,
My friend, you would not tell with such high zest(13)
To children ardent(14) for some desperate glory,
The old Lie; Dulce et Decorum est
Pro patria mori.(15)
via WILFRED OWEN - DULCE ET DECORUM EST, Text of poem and notes.
I was intrigued by the phrase "Five-Nines" in the 8th line. Some of you gave thoughtful answers, 5/9ths of the regiment were killed, or they were called the "Five-Nines". I had to look it up - 5.9 inch artillery shell!
ReplyDeleteNow read -
"deaf even to the hoots(4)
Of tired, outstripped(5) Five-Nines(6) that dropped behind."
So tired they couldn't hear the bombs
"If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood
ReplyDeleteCome gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs,
Obscene as cancer, bitter as the cud
Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues"
This shows the inhumane treatment of people in war.
Summarize this poem in one sentence.
ReplyDeleteIt isn't always sweet and glorious to die for your country.
Summarize this poem in one sentence: The war was rough, so don't tell me that dying for your country is sweet.
ReplyDeleteThe government is lying to young boys telling them that it is sweet and proper to die for your country; there is nothing sweet and proper and glorious about war.
ReplyDeleteSummarise this poem in one sentence: Some might think it is glorious and honourable to die for their country, but they almost never know how bad it really is, if they did, they would never tell the lie to children.
ReplyDeleteIt is not glorious to die in wars, so don't fall for the old lie: it is sweet and honorable to die for your country.
ReplyDeleteSummarised in one sentence: It isn't sweet and glorious to die for your country, don't tell that old lie and convince young people that going to war would be amazing.
ReplyDeleteSummarizing this poem in one sentence: War is never glorious!!
ReplyDeleteSummarizing: "War should not be fought for someone always gets hurt"
ReplyDeletesummarize: dying for your country is not sweet, it is a deadly war. so don't fall for the old child lie.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite stanza is
ReplyDelete"My friend, you would not tell with such high zest
To children ardent for some desperate glory,
The old Lie; Dulce et Decorum est
Pro patria mori." because it is telling the truth about how younger people are recruited to the army.