White Brother

By William Arthur Dunkerley (John Oxenham)

Narrative Poem
    Midway between the flaming lines he lay,     A tumbled heap of blood, and sweat, and clay;          --God's son!     And none could succour him.    First this one tried,     Then that ...    and then another ...    and they died;          --God's sons!     Those others saw his plight, and laughed and jeered,     And, at each helper's fall, laughed more, and cheered;          --God's sons?     So, through the torture of an endless day,     In agonies that none could ease, he lay;          --God's son!     Then, as he wrestled for each hard-won breath,     Bleeding his life out, craving only death;--          --God's son!     --Came One in white, athwart the fiery hail,     And in His hand, a shining cup--The Grail;          --God's Son!     He knelt beside him on the reeking ground,     And with a touch soothed each hot-throbbing wound;          --God's Son!     Gave him to drink, and in his failing ear     Whispered sweet words of comfort and good cheer;          --God's Son!     The suffering one looked up into the face     Of Him whose death to sinners brought God's grace;          --God's Son!     The tender brow with unhealed wounds was scarred,     The hand that held The Cup, the nails had marred;          --God's Son!     "Brother, for thee I suffered greater woes;     As I forgave,--do thou forgive thy foes,                 --God's son!"     "Yea, Lord, as Thou forgavest, I forgive;     And now, my soul unto Thyself receive,                 --God's Son!"     Thick-clustered in the battered trench, amazed,     They gazed at that strange sight ...    and gazed ...    and gazed;                 --God's sons!     --The Christ of God, come down to succour one     Of their own number,--their own mate--                 --God's son!     And none who saw that sight will e'er forget     How once, upon the field of death, they met                 --God's Son.

Share & Analyze This Poem

Spread the beauty of poetry or dive deeper into analysis

Analyze This Poem

Discover the literary devices, structure, and deeper meaning

Create Image

Transform this poem into a beautiful shareable image

Copy to Clipboard

Save this poem for personal use or sharing offline

Share the Love of Poetry
More Poems
More Narrative Poems
Daily Poem

Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Analysis & Notes:
This poem dramatizes the paradox of divine sacrifice through the lens of wartime suffering, using a stark, rhythmic structure to heighten its emotional impact. The irregular meter and uneven lineation create a sense of disorientation, mirroring the chaos of battle, while the repeated refrains God's son and God's sons anchor the poem in a liturgical cadence. The voice shifts from detached observation to intimate reverence as the wounded soldier is tended by Christ, whose arrival marks a tonal volta. Imagery of blood, wounds, and the Grail underscores the fusion of earthly agony and divine redemption, while alliteration and assonance (tumbled heap, hard-won breath) reinforce the poem's incantatory quality. The final stanza resolves the tension between human cruelty and divine mercy, leaving the reader with a haunting meditation on the cost of forgiveness. The poem's power lies in its insistence that transcendence is found not in the battlefield's horror, but in the quiet, transformative moment of grace.

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.