After Combat

By Alfred Lichtenstein

Sonnet
    In the sky the howitzers no longer explode,     The cannoneers rest next to their guns.     The infantry pitch tents now,     And the pale moon slowly rises.     On yellow fields in red trousers, the French are ablaze,     Ashen pale from death and powder.     Among them German medics squat.     The day becomes grayer, its sun redder.     Field kitchens steam.    Towns are put to the torch.     Broken carts stand at roadsides.     Panting cyclists, hot and tanned, loiter     At a scorched wooden fence.     And orderlies are already moving     From regiment to division.

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Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Analysis & Notes:
This poem depicts the eerie calm of a war-torn landscape, where the absence of combat is more unsettling than the violence itself. The structure, a single stanza of fourteen lines, mimics a sonnet but subverts its traditional resolution, offering no transcendence. The iambic meter creates a steady, march-like rhythm, while the lack of rhyme mirrors the poem’s unrelenting bleakness. The imagery contrasts the stillness of the sky and resting soldiers with the lingering devastation burning fields, scorched fences, and towns reduced to ashes. The tonal shift occurs mid-poem, as the initial pause in hostilities gives way to the grim aftermath: steam rising from field kitchens, broken carts, and the relentless movement of orderlies. The poem’s final lines underscore the cyclical nature of war, where even moments of reprieve are temporary. The absence of human emotion in the descriptions heightens the horror, leaving the reader with the stark realization that war’s devastation outlives its battles. The poem’s power lies in its refusal to romanticize or resolve, instead presenting war as an inescapable, mechanical force.

Understanding the Sonnet

The sonnet is one of the most enduring and celebrated forms of poetry, known for its strict structure and profound themes. With a history spanning centuries, sonnets have been used to explore love, beauty, politics, and mortality, all within the confines of just 14 lines.

Sonnets are characterized by their precise form and rhyme scheme, which vary depending on the type of sonnet. Here’s a closer look:

  • Shakespearean (English) Sonnet: Composed of three quatrains followed by a final couplet, with a rhyme scheme of ABABCDCDEFEFGG. This form often builds a complex argument or narrative, culminating in a powerful closing statement.
  • Petrarchan (Italian) Sonnet: Divided into an octave (eight lines) and a sestet (six lines), with a typical rhyme scheme of ABBAABBA for the octave, followed by various patterns in the sestet such as CDECDE or CDCDCD. The octave usually presents a problem, with the sestet providing a resolution.
  • Meter: Sonnets are traditionally written in iambic pentameter, which gives the poem a rhythmic and melodic quality that enhances its emotional impact.

The sonnet’s enduring appeal lies in its ability to condense complex emotions and ideas into a small but potent package, making it a favorite form for poets seeking to explore profound themes with precision and elegance.