Loved and were loved, and now we lie, In Flanders fields.
Her and the last two lines of the poem are the only lines that do not rhyme. Most of the poem remains consistent with a rhyme scheme, however, the end of the last two stanzas through that off. This forces the reading to slow down and actually let the poem sink in. It is all about what occurred at Flanders fields, and that's where the poem slows down
the poppies blow Between the crosses,
There is a hidden dichotomy between the poppies and the crosses. The poppies are very lively, bold flower especially when there are a lot of them accumulated within one area. However, the crosses are a very somber symbol that indicates death. This could also attribute to the hope: despite the death and destruction, there will be beauty and goodness coming from it
Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Here, there is a distinct separation between the sky (where the larks are) and the below the ground (the crosses imply the Dead). The separation between the two indicates the two sides of the war: loss of hope and the gain of hope. The loss of hope lies directly with the crosses, but the singly larks are up in the sky, flying. Where everyone else is at this moment is in the middle ground where their opinions can fall either way.
By John McCrae
John McCrae was a Canadian solider and physician who tended to the injured in the Second Battle of Ypres in April 1915. He wrote this poem shortly after the conclusion of the battle. He ultimately wrote this poem to pay tribute to a friend who died in the war.
In Flanders Fields
The poem was written/takes place after a battle on Flanders Fields. John McCrae, the author, also fought in the battle.
torch
The torch not only symbolizes the passing of responsibility to the next group of soldiers, but also a symbol of life and death. Fire is typically a symbol of life, so those who passed in the battle no longer has the light, but their death can give motivation and, therefore, life to the next.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
Addressing the next group of solider that are fighting the enemy
Dead
Interesting to make the word "dead" a proper noun. I wonder if McCrae capitalized the D to give tribute to those who fell during the war and is lost towards history.
crosses
The poem is clearly set after the battle since the crosses are planted into the ground for remembrance of the soldiers who died in the battle
To put a tree between us when he lighted, And say no word to tell me who he was Who was so foolish as to think what he thought. He thought that I was after him for a feather— The white one in his tail; like one who takes Everything said as personal to himself. One flight out sideways would have undeceived him. And then there was a pile of wood for which I forgot him and let his little fear Carry him off the way I might have gone,
There is no specific rhyme pattern or scheme. It is free verse. In fact, it is almost like the speaker (or the person in the poem) is recounting a story, and it is just formed like a poem.
feather— The white one in his tail
As this is the only physical descriptor of the bird, it is significant. The white feather might symbolize innocence or life. I am leaning more towards the life aspect, but I am not sure why, yet.
And then there was a pile of wood for which I forgot him
another note about the fear of being forgotten I think it is significant to note that the bird, a lively animal that the person gave human characteristics to, was forgotten for a pile of wood. The pile of wood brought the person's attention away from the fearful bird.
One flight out sideways would have undeceived him.
I am not entirely sure what this line means even breaking it down word by word. I know it is in reference to the several lines before and "undeceiving" the bird that thinks it is going to lose its feather on its tail, but what does "one flight out sideways" mean?
like one who takes Everything said as personal to himself.
Typically, I would think of this as a phrase that implies cockiness within the bird, but because of the bird's fearful nature and his delicate nature (lighted instead of landed), this make be a phrase built off of anxiety.
Who was so foolish as to think what he thought.
After making some other annotations, I think the person in the poem is fearful of death and even being forgotten afterwards. This ties into the loneliness the person feels. Since he is lonely, he will not have any person carrying his legacy/name after he is dead. He will be forgotten by everyone.
I forgot him
Fear of being forgotten
pile of wood
It is interesting that this is the first time the pile of wood shows up, but it is the title of the poem. What is the wood pile representative of, and why is it significant that it is showing up just now.
he
The specific italicize of "he" right here is interesting. There is no other word in the poem that is italicized which really emphasizes the "he" in this context. Could this be a way that the person in the poem wants the reader to know that the "he" is actually an "I?" In describing the bird, he may be describing himself
small bird
Could be a symbol of fear and innocence, possibly. The bird is not given any physical descriptions, only the one about his white feather in his tail which could possibly be a symbol of innocence and/or life. The color of the bird is unknown. The only personified descriptor of the bird is that he is fearful. Could the person in the poem see himself in the bird?
I forgot him and let his little fear Carry him off the way I might have gone,
He gives a bird an entire character. The bird has human emotions and feelings. The bird carries on his day extremely fearful of his feather being taken from him
And say no word to tell me who he was Who was so foolish as to think what he thought.
The person in the poem realizes how ridiculous it is to personify the bird, so why would he do it? Could it be emerging from a sense of loneliness. At the beginning of the poem, his decision to go further into the woods is implied that he said it out loud. Here, he is giving the bird characteristics that only a human can possess. He could be compensating his loneliness through these actions
lighted
landed
He was careful To put a tree between us when he lighted,
said like the bird purposefully landed in a tree with some distance away
He thought that I was after him for a feather— The white one in his tail; like one who takes Everything said as personal to himself.
The bird is being humanized-- the bird is given a ego
Maybe representative of a particular group of people or someone from his past?
Now off with those shoes, and then safely tread In this love’s hallow’d temple, this soft bed.
Take off your shoes and come to bed
By calling the bedroom a temple, Donne is calling it a holy space
In such white robes, heaven’s Angels used to be Received by men; Thou Angel bringst with thee A heaven like Mahomet’s Paradise; and though Ill spirits walk in white, we easily know, By this these Angels from an evil sprite, Those set our hairs, but these our flesh upright.
She is wearing a white robe just as Angels approached men in white robes. Thus, she is an Angel, but she is a particular angel that leads him to a paradise (that paradise is filled with beautiful virgins to have sex with). But, demons also dress in white. But, she is not a demon because demons make their hair stands up on their arms, but she gives him an erection
Off with that wiry Coronet and shew The hairy Diadem which on you doth grow
Take that headpiece off and show your hair that is better than jewels
Your gown going off, such beauteous state reveals, As when from flowery meads th’hill’s shadow steals
As you take your gown off, your body is beautiful as a shadowless meadow.
Just like the shadow covers the beauty of the meadow, her dress conceals her beauty