Category Archives: Conflict Poetry

Conflict has inspired poems since the beginning of time.

Boston Marathon Murders: ‘No Man is an Island’ Conflict Poem by John Donne (1572-1631)

Posted on April 16, 2013 by

I am this morning, after the murders in Boston, reminded of John Donne’s marvelous poem ‘No Man is an Island’ that also inspired the title and theme of Ernest Hemingway’s (1899-1961) book about the Spanish Civil War: ‘For Whom the … Continue reading →

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Luck in Sarajevo: Conflict Poem by Izet Sarajlic (1930-2002) translated by Charles Simic

Posted on April 11, 2013 by

In Sarajevo In the spring of 1992,  Everything is possible: You go stand in a bread line And end up inn an emergency room With your leg amputated. Afterwards, you still maintain That you were very lucky.

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The Persian Version: Conflict Poem by Robert Graves (1895-1985)

Posted on April 9, 2013 by

‘The first casualty of war is truth‘ Hiram Johnson to US Senate in 1917 The Persian Version Truth-loving Persians do not dwell upon The trivial skirmish fought near Marathon. As for the Greek theatrical tradition Which represents that summer’s expedition Not as … Continue reading →

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Conflict Poem:’The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner’ by Randall Jarrell (1914-65)

Posted on April 6, 2013 by

I sometimes think that because we find change hard, rather than use systematic ways to better address our conflicts, we would rather go on killing each other, suing each other, divorcing each other, depressing each other, and generally doing all … Continue reading →

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No Man is an Island: Conflict Poem by John Donne (1571-1632)

Posted on December 24, 2012 by

In this era of extreme individualism and contempt for society as a living whole, it is good to recall John Donne’s famous poem:  No Man Is An Island No man is an island, Entire of itself. Each is a piece … Continue reading →

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Mametz Wood: Conflict Poem by Owen Sheers (1974-) and Conflict Art by Christopher Williams

Posted on October 14, 2012 by

Long ago I worked in Cardiff Royal Infirmary as a hospital porter. There was a ward called Mametz and I was often curious about the origin of its name. I recently came across this poem about Mametz Wood, a part … Continue reading →

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Alternative Christian Fundamentals?

Posted on August 11, 2012 by

We have become used to the term Muslim or Islamic Fundamentalism, though Muslims rightly object to the use of the term as it was invented in around 1910 in the US as part of a return to Christian Fundamentals movement. … Continue reading →

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Aftermath (1919) by Siegfried Sassoon (1886-1967): Conflict Poetry

Posted on July 17, 2012 by

Have you forgotten yet?… For the world’s events have rumbled on since those gagged days, Like traffic checked while at the crossing of city-ways: And the haunted gap in your mind has filled with thoughts that flow Like clouds in … Continue reading →

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Shiloh: A Requiem (1865) by Herman Melville (1819-1891): Conflict Poetry

Posted on July 17, 2012 by

Skimming lightly, wheeling still,    The swallows fly low Over the field in clouded days,    The forest-field of Shiloh — Over the field where April rain Solaced the parched ones stretched in pain Through the pause of night That followed the … Continue reading →

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First Elegy from the Duino Elegies by Rainer Maria Rilke (1875-1926)

Posted on June 23, 2012 by

I have always enjoyed the poetry of Rainer Maria Rilke, though I only read him in translation, especially the marvelous translations of Stephen Mitchell. Here is Stephen’s rendering of the first part of the First Elegy from the Duino Elegies. … Continue reading →

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