|
Poet: Stephen Crane
Poem: 1.
Do not weep, maiden, for war is kind
Volume: War is Kind & Other Lines
Year: Published/Written in 1899
Comment 26 of 26, added on April 9th, 2008 at 11:34 AM.
This poem goes back and forth between the view of the civilian and the soldier. The maiden, the soldier, the child, the soldier, and the mother.
The poem shows the excuses we give to those left behind and what that the soldiers are told. They died for the greater good, they died for glory, they died well - in excellence and virtue. "The unexplained glory flies above them...point for them the virtue of slaughter, make plain to them the excellence of killing..." Soldiers go believing that they are doing what's best and for glory and to be a hero. But the only kingdom is that of the war god, his subjects a thousand corpses. At the end all this excuses are for naught, they're still just corpses. All they leave behind are the tears of those who loved them.
So is war worth it?
Pat from United States
Comment 25 of 26, added on February 11th, 2008 at 3:46 PM.
The poem War is Kind, is a great poem, and you could say that the poem is ironic, but I think that you could give a better argument about how the poem is more sarcastic. But overall the poem is a great poem.
kyle from United States
Comment 24 of 26, added on May 22nd, 2007 at 11:59 PM.
I agree with those who described Crane's poem as ironic more than sarcastic, but a paradox seems to much to describe it. Oh, and I'm a sophomore too! Poem of choice for school projects I guess :p. But seriously, I really like this poem and admire Crane greatly for his ability to express his opinions so effectively.
Natalie from United States
Are you looking for more information on this poem? Perhaps you are trying to analyze it? The poem, Do not weep, maiden, for war is kind, has received 26 comments. Click here to read them, and perhaps post a comment of your own. Of course you can also always discuss poems by Stephen Crane with others on the American Poems poetry forum!
|
This poem goes back and forth between the view of the civilian and the soldier. The maiden, the soldier, the child, the soldier, and the mother.
The poem shows the excuses we give to those left behind and what that the soldiers are told. They died for the greater good, they died for glory, they died well - in excellence and virtue. "The unexplained glory flies above them...point for them the virtue of slaughter, make plain to them the excellence of killing..." Soldiers go believing that they are doing what's best and for glory and to be a hero. But the only kingdom is that of the war god, his subjects a thousand corpses. At the end all this excuses are for naught, they're still just corpses. All they leave behind are the tears of those who loved them.
So is war worth it?
Pat from United States