Who's for the Game? - Jessie Pope

Who's for the game, the biggest that's played,

The red crashing game of a fight?

Who'll grip and tackle the job unafraid?

And who thinks he'd rather sit tight?

Who'll toe the line for the signal to Go?

Who'll give his country a hand?

Who wants a turn to himself in the show?

And who wants a seat in the stand?

Who knows it won't be a picnic - not much -

This line gives a bit of insight into Pope herself, she is very clearly not able to be a solider yet finds it admirable and heroic for the men who are sacrificing their lives. She encourages the foolish bravery and obliviousness of the young men, embraces it even further by comparing the upcoming carnage as not much unlike a picnic. A picnic is a universal sign of comfort, tranquillity, and peace. Pope is wanting the boys to perceive war to be a game they are able to tap out of easily so that they enlist, and enlist in large quantities. She is feeding into their optimistic, hopeful, and unfortunately naïve mindset that the war will not be on for long and that you simply need to wield a gun to defend yourself as your opposing side is the only danger. Pope describing war to be, to an extent, similar to a picnic with the phrase "not much" is distinctly manipulative and cunning yet not blaringly so, letting boys be swiftly influenced by the propaganda into joining so they can join in on the fun.

Yet eagerly shoulders a gun?

Who would much rather come back with a crutch

Then lie low and be out of the fun?

Come along, lads -

The language/utilisation of 'along' indicates there being already a large mass of enthusiastic participants that you would join along with, along to. This emphasises how glorified and fulfilling each man or boy believes war to be. In a way it is igniting our inner Herd Mentality with each boy knowing he will be ridiculed if he is not an element of the incoming bloodshed.

The use of the word "lads" highlights (spotlights) the target audience, young, proud, prideful, and foolish lads.

But you'll come on all right -

This line is clear evidence of Pope moulding the optimism that everyone, for the sake of their sanity and health, held onto tightly. It is the hopefulness that you will be able to go into a dangerous situation and be invincible, immortal, untouchable because you are unlike no other.

The direct pronouns Pope uses in the poem are no mistake, the pronouns 'you', 'yours', etc were put in this poem for men and boys alike at the time to feel targeted personally by Pope, she is assuring him that she has faith in him and that he will come back practically untouched apart from a bit more blood under his shoes.

She is moulding this optimism to say to the readers without explicitly writing it, "you're capable of being strong enough to come home while others might not. You are able to do this while others cannot. You will come home." She has faith in him, even if she does not know who he is.

For there's only one course to pursue,

Direct implication that war is the one thing you should, must do. Pope is almost guilting the reader into thinking his only purpose is to be a weapon for his country, his home and leave that home to possibly die alone and painfully.

Your country is up to her neck in a fight,

And she's looking and calling for you.

FLIRTY: Form/fixture, Language, Imagery, Rhythm/rhyme, Tone/thematic concern, Your interpretation of the poem