A Dead Boche

By Robert von Ranke Graves

Narrative Poem
    To you who'd read my songs of War     And only hear of blood and fame,     I'll say (you've heard it said before)     "War's Hell!" and if you doubt the same,     Today I found in Mametz Wood     A certain cure for lust of blood:     Where, propped against a shattered trunk,     In a great mess of things unclean,     Sat a dead Boche; he scowled and stunk     With clothes and face a sodden green,     Big-bellied, spectacled, crop-haired,     Dribbling black blood from nose and beard.

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Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Analysis & Notes:
This poem presents a stark critique of the romanticization of war, exposing the harsh realities of its brutality and futility. The speaker's voice is confrontational and matter-of-fact, addressing readers who have only heard the glorified accounts of war and its heroes. The use of a single stanza, with irregular line length and no rhyme scheme, contributes to the poem's sense of urgency and informality, mirroring the chaos and disorder of war. The speaker's tone shifts from a warning to a description of a gruesome scene, where a dead enemy soldier serves as a stark reminder of the horrors of war. The poem's use of vivid imagery, particularly in the description of the dead Boche, creates a powerful and unsettling atmosphere, underscoring the speaker's point about the dehumanizing effects of war. The inclusion of specific details, such as the soldier's sodden green clothes and spectacles, adds to the sense of realism and underscores the poem's anti-war message. The observation that the soldier's presence serves as a certain cure for lust of blood is a searing indictment of the romanticized notion of war as a heroic and noble endeavor.

Exploring Narrative Poetry

Narrative poetry is a form of poetry that tells a story, often making use of the voices of a narrator and characters as well. Unlike lyric poetry, which focuses on emotions and thoughts, narrative poetry is dedicated to storytelling, weaving tales that captivate readers through plot and character development.

Narrative poems are unique in their ability to combine the depth of storytelling with the expressive qualities of poetry. Here are some defining characteristics:

  • Structured Plot: Narrative poems typically have a clear beginning, middle, and end, following a plot that might involve conflict, climax, and resolution, much like a short story or novel.
  • Character Development: Characters in narrative poems are often well-developed, with distinct voices and personalities that drive the story forward.
  • Descriptive Language: The language used in narrative poetry is vivid and descriptive, painting a clear picture of the scenes and events, while also conveying the emotions and atmosphere of the story.

From ancient epics like "The Iliad" and "The Odyssey" to more modern narrative poems, this form continues to engage readers by blending the art of storytelling with the beauty and rhythm of poetry.