11/11

[altariel]

For by my glee might many men have laughed,
And of my weeping something had been left,
Which must die now. I mean the truth untold,
The pity of war, the pity war distilled.
Now men will go content with what we spoiled,
Or, discontent, boil bloody, and be spilled.
They will be swift with swiftness of the tigress.
None will break ranks, though nations trek from progress.

From Strange Meeting by Wilfred Owen

And do read the poems posted by the_wild_iris.

Comments

[aervir.livejournal.com]

Sorry, I missed this post of yours...
Oh, don't worry about that. No offence intended, none taken. :)

Unfortunately, I haven't got anything smart, innovative or enlightening to add. I can only tell you that I like your interpretation very much, especially your conclusion:
Either way, I think both retellings suggest that the Abraham story is no longer quite sufficient, after the trenches.

I absolutely agree. Values like obedience and sacrifice tend to lose their glamour in the face of carnage, and this once more reminds me of the truism what sense of disillusionment the First World War must have created and what a crucial event it was, as far as political, economical and mental consequences are concerned. I noticed this first when I learnt in my English and French classes that it is still called The Great War or La Grande Guerre in these countries. (In my view of history, the Second World War always tends to obliterate it.)