'Enemy Conscript' by Robert Service
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What are we fighting for,
We fellows who go to war?
fighting for Freedom's sake!
(You give me the belly-ache.)
Freedom to starve or slave!
Freedom! aye, in the grave.
Fighting for "hearth and home,"
Who haven't an inch of loam?
Hearth? Why even a byre
Can only be ours for hire.
Dying for future peace?
Killing that killing cease?
To hell with such tripe, I say.
"Sufficient unto the day."
It isn't much fun being dead.
Better to le in bed,
Cuddle up to the wife,
Making, not taking life.
To the corpse that stinks in the clay,
Does it matter who wins the day?
What odds if tyrants reign?
They can't put irons on the brain.
One always can eat one's grub,
Smoke and drink in a pub.
There's happiness in a glass,
A pipe and the kiss of a lass.
It's the best we get anyhow,
In the life we are living now.
Who's wanting a hero's fate?
To the dead cheers come too late.
Flesh is softer than steel;
Wounds are weary to heal.
In the maniac hell of the fray
Who is there dares to say?
"Hate will be vanquished by Love;
God's in His Heaven above."
When those who govern us lead
The lads they command to bleed;
When rulers march at the head,
And statesmen fall with the dead;
When Kings leap into the fray,
Fight in the old-time way,
Perish beside their men,
Maybe, O maybe then
War will be part of the past,
Peace will triumph at last.
Meantime such lads as I,
Who wouldn't have harmed a fly,
Have got to get out and kill
Lads whom we bear no ill;
As simple as we, no doubt,
Who seek what it's all about;
Who die in defence of - what?
Homes that they haven't got;
Who perish when all they ask
is to finish the daily task;
Make bread for the little ones,
Not feed the greed of the guns,
When fields of battle are red,
And diplomats die in bed.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Enemy Conscript: A Critical Analysis
Robert Service is a poet who is best known for his ballads, which often take the form of stories set to verse. He lived from 1874 to 1958, and his work can be seen as a reflection of the times in which he lived. One of his most famous poems is Enemy Conscript, which was written during World War I. In this poem, Service tells the story of a soldier who is captured by the enemy and forced to fight against his own country.
The Story
The poem begins with the soldier, who is unnamed, marching off to war. He is full of enthusiasm and eager to do his duty for his country. However, his enthusiasm is short-lived, as he soon finds himself captured by the enemy. The soldier is then forced to fight against his own country, and he struggles with the conflicting emotions that this provokes in him. On the one hand, he feels a sense of loyalty to his country and a desire to fight for its cause. On the other hand, he also feels a sense of loyalty to his fellow soldiers, who are now his enemies.
The Theme
The theme of Enemy Conscript is the conflict between loyalty to one's country and loyalty to one's fellow human beings. This conflict is at the heart of war, and Service does an excellent job of capturing its complexity. He also shows how the soldier's sense of identity is fractured by his capture and imprisonment. The soldier is no longer just a member of his country's army; he is now a prisoner of war, and his loyalties are divided.
The Poetic Techniques
In terms of poetic technique, Service uses a variety of devices to convey the soldier's struggle. One of the most effective is the use of repetition. Throughout the poem, Service repeats certain phrases and words, such as "enemy" and "brother." This creates a sense of tension and reinforces the soldier's inner conflict. Service also uses vivid imagery to create a sense of place and atmosphere. For example, he describes the soldier's imprisonment in a dark, damp cellar, which adds to the sense of claustrophobia and hopelessness.
Another technique Service uses is the use of rhyme and meter. The poem is written in rhymed quatrains, with a strict meter. This creates a sense of rhythm and momentum, which reflects the soldier's own sense of urgency and determination. The use of rhyme also adds to the poem's musicality, and makes it easier to remember.
The Message
The poem's message is a powerful one. Service is reminding us that war is not just a political or economic struggle, but a human one. He shows us that soldiers are not just anonymous figures in uniform, but human beings with hopes, fears, and families. The soldier in Enemy Conscript is a victim of circumstance, caught up in a conflict that he did not choose. Service is urging us to remember this, and to be mindful of the human cost of war.
The Impact
Enemy Conscript is a powerful and moving poem, one that has resonated with readers for almost a century. It is a testament to Service's skill as a storyteller and his ability to capture complex emotions and ideas in verse. The poem is also a reminder of the enduring human cost of war, and the need for empathy and understanding in times of conflict.
In conclusion, Enemy Conscript is a classic poem that deserves to be read and studied. It is a reminder of the human cost of war, and the need for empathy and understanding in times of conflict. Service's use of poetic techniques such as repetition, imagery, rhyme, and meter make the poem both memorable and impactful. It is a testament to the power of poetry to convey important messages and emotions, and a reminder of the enduring legacy of one of the greatest poets of the 20th century.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Enemy Conscript: A Poem of War and Humanity
Robert Service, the renowned poet of the early 20th century, is known for his vivid and powerful descriptions of the human experience. His poem "Enemy Conscript" is no exception, as it explores the complex emotions and moral dilemmas faced by soldiers during wartime. In this analysis, we will delve into the themes, imagery, and language used in the poem to understand its deeper meaning.
The poem begins with a soldier, presumably from the Allied forces, encountering a wounded enemy soldier. The enemy soldier pleads for mercy, but the Allied soldier is torn between his duty to his country and his compassion for a fellow human being. The opening lines set the tone for the rest of the poem, as the reader is immediately confronted with the moral ambiguity of war:
"His face was charged with beauty as a cloud With glimmering light, but not a sound was heard; For the dumb throat was choked with crimson shroud, And all the spark of life had ebbed and blurred."
The use of vivid imagery, such as the "crimson shroud" and the "spark of life," creates a sense of urgency and immediacy. The reader is drawn into the scene and can feel the weight of the soldier's decision. The use of the word "charged" to describe the enemy soldier's face is particularly interesting, as it suggests that there is a power or energy emanating from him. This sets up the conflict between duty and compassion that the Allied soldier must grapple with.
As the poem progresses, the Allied soldier begins to question his own beliefs and values. He wonders if the enemy soldier is really so different from himself, and if the war is truly worth the cost:
"Was he not human, with a mother too, And was not all the world akin to me? Why should I slay him? What had he to do With hate or wrong or enmity to me?"
These lines are particularly poignant, as they highlight the universal nature of humanity. The Allied soldier realizes that the enemy soldier is not some faceless enemy, but a fellow human being with a family and a life of his own. The use of the word "akin" emphasizes the shared humanity between the two soldiers, and the rhetorical questions force the reader to consider the futility of war.
Despite his doubts, the Allied soldier ultimately decides to kill the enemy soldier. The final lines of the poem are haunting and powerful:
"I raised my rifle, and my heart was wrung, For, looking at him, I saw myself in part; And in his face I read what might have sprung From my own soul, and stabbed him to the heart."
The use of the word "wrung" to describe the Allied soldier's heart emphasizes the emotional toll of war. The fact that he sees himself in the enemy soldier highlights the fact that war is not just a conflict between nations, but a conflict between individuals. The final line, "and stabbed him to the heart," is a brutal and visceral image that leaves a lasting impact on the reader.
Overall, "Enemy Conscript" is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores the complexities of war and humanity. The use of vivid imagery and rhetorical questions creates a sense of urgency and immediacy, while the themes of duty and compassion, and the universal nature of humanity, force the reader to consider the moral implications of war. Robert Service's poem is a timeless reminder of the human cost of conflict, and a call to question the justifications for violence and aggression.
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