Bombardment

Four days the earth was rent and torn
By bursting steel,
The houses fell about us;
Three nights we dared not sleep,
Sweating, and listening for the imminent crash
Which meant our death.

The fourth night every man,
Nerve-tortured, racked to exhaustion,
Slept, muttering and twitching,
While the shells crashed overhead.

The fifth day there came a hush;
We left our holes
And looked above the wreckage of the earth
To where the white clouds moved in silent lines
Across the untroubled blue.

Analysis (ai): This poem depicts the horrors of war through the lens of a soldier's experience. The relentless bombardment creates a living hell, forcing the soldiers to live in a constant state of fear and exhaustion. The poem's brevity starkly conveys the intensity of the experience, leaving no room for romanticization.

Compared to Sassoon's other works, this poem is more direct and less overtly emotional. While his earlier poems often employed vivid imagery and lyrical language, here, he adopts a more matter-of-fact tone, effectively emphasizing the grim realities of war.

The poem also reflects the disillusionment and anti-war sentiments prevalent during World War I. Sassoon's depiction of the soldiers' suffering and the futility of their sacrifice serves as a powerful indictment of the conflict. The contrast between the chaos of the bombardment and the serene aftermath highlights the devastating impact of war on both individuals and the natural world. (hide)