Poems about soldiers pay tribute to their bravery, sacrifice, and resilience in the military. They explore the emotional challenges soldiers face on the battlefield, the bond among comrades, and the impact of war on soldiers and their families.
These poems may also address the complexities of conflict and the human toll of warfare, discussing themes of heroism, patriotism, and the cost of defending freedom.
‘Strange Meeting’ by Wilfred Owen explores soldiers’ disillusionment with war, their moral dilemma, and shared humanity.
The poem challenges narratives that exploit soldiers' deaths for pro-war agendas by placing the dead soldier in hell instead of dignified in heaven. Furthermore, the soldiers' conversation in the poem underscores their moral dilemma as they question the purpose of the war and the justification of their ruined or lost lives. The agony of soldiers' moral paradox is foregrounded as they contemplate killing each other without apparent reason. Thus, the poem forces the readers to confront the ethical complexities of the war while prompting reflection on the human toll of conflict that soldiers bear.
‘Boots’ by Rudyard Kipling is a memorable poem. In it, Kipling uses repetition to emphasize the struggle of soldiers on a forced march.
In the canon of soldier poetry, 'Boots' revolutionizes the genre by ignoring battlefield glory to focus on psychological torment. Through authentic dialect and intimate portrayal of mental strain, Kipling captures the common soldier's experience with unprecedented realism, influencing generations of war poets in their depiction of military life.
We're foot—slog—slog—slog—sloggin’ over Africa!
Foot—foot—foot—foot—sloggin’ over Africa—
(Boots—boots—boots—boots—movin’ up and down again!)
‘Anthem for Doomed Youth’ by Wilfred Owen presents an alternate view of the lost lives during World War I against nationalist propaganda.
The poem offers an anthem for the soldiers or the 'doomed youth' as they are pushed to meet brutal ends 'like cattle' on the battlefield. The anthem, with sounds of 'monstrous anger of the guns' and the 'rattle' of 'stuttering rifles,' presents a realistic picture of soldier life instead of romantic exaltation to portray the harrowing reality of the war. It doesn't undermine the sacrifice of soldiers; rather, it uncovers the monster beneath the vainglorious nationalism and makes the society face the real horrors before they push the youth into the doom of war again.
‘Apologia Pro Poemate Meo’ by Wilfred Owen defends a truthful portrayal of war in poetry, showing soldiers’ struggles and sacrifices.
The poem presents the soldiers grappling with paradoxical challenges and experiences of the war while dealing with the constant threat of death. The brutal effects of war dehumanize soldiers as they are forced to murder for survival, leading to desensitization. Yet, soldiers forge formidable bonds with their comrades, finding solace and friendship amidst the devastation. Owen's portrayal underscores the immense psychological toll of war on soldiers, emphasizing its capacity to strip away humanity and inflict unimaginable pain while underscoring soldiers' strength and resilience.
I, too, saw God through mud—
The mud that cracked on cheeks when wretches smiled.
War brought more glory to their eyes than blood,
And gave their laughs more glee than shakes a child.
‘Dulce et Decorum Est’ by Wilfred Owen is a poignant anti-war poem that exposes the harsh reality of World War I.
Written by a soldier, the poem provides an unvarnished portrayal of battlefield experiences, shedding light on the grim hardships endured by soldiers. It dismantles the idealized image of soldiers, humanizing them through depictions of their physical and emotional suffering. It also critically examines the romanticized portrayal of soldiers' deaths, employing graphic details and shocking imagery. The poem condemns influential people for perpetuating false ideals of war and soldiers, targeting the young. Lines such as 'Bent double, like old beggars under sacks, Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge' authentically capture the harsh realities of warfare and the soldiers' life.
Bent double, like old beggars under sacks,
Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge,
‘Suicide in the Trenches’ is an incredibly tragic poem. Siegfried Sassoon explores the mental deterioration of a young soldier in the trenches of WW1 and his suicide.
The poem criticizes the smug-faced crowds who cheer on soldiers as they march off to war but are indifferent to their suffering and sacrifice. The poem also suggests that society is ignorant of the realities of war and does not appreciate the sacrifices made by soldiers. This poem is one of many Sassoon wrote about war which clearly criticizes it.
‘Disabled’ by Wilfred Owen explores the suffering, alienation, and traumatic life of a disabled soldier who participated in the Great War.
The poem, narrated by a soldier, encapsulates the disillusionment, trauma, loss, suffering, and sacrifices of the soldiers while presenting the society's and authorities' indifferent response toward them who pushed them into the hellish war. It undercuts the vainglorious descriptions of the war and soldiers by serving as a collective experience of soldiers impacted by the harrowing consequences of the war, bearing its physical and psychological toll. The poem exposes the vulnerability and struggles of soldiers, which dominant narratives camouflage, concealing the dehumanization.
‘Insensibility’ by Wilfred Owen explores the psychological trauma and dehumanization experienced by soldiers during World War I.
The poem emphasizes the lasting impact of war on soldiers' psyche as they witness the haunting combat. It challenges simplistic notions of heroism and sacrifice by presenting soldiers, particularly WWI soldiers, as victims of the dehumanizing effects of the war as they are reduced to mere war machinery in an apathetic system. Owen presents soldiers as individuals who, through constant exposure to violence and suffering, become emotionally detached as a means of survival while being judged by the apathetic gaze of those living safely outside the battle.
‘Two Armies’ by Stephen Spender describes two armies on a devastating battlefield where every individual is suffering. Their common humanity is highlighted.
The soldiers are an important part of this poem. They are unnamed and undescribed besides their suffering and loneliness.
‘Spring Offensive’ by Wilfred Owen portrays the harrowing realities of World War I and the ensuing trauma endured by soldiers.
The poem shows the soldiers' irreversible transformation wrought by the brutality of war. On the battlefield, soldiers experience dehumanization, facing extreme violence, death, and overwhelming fear. Survivors are left grappling with lifelong scars, both physical and psychological, as they struggle to reconcile in their everyday lives due to the haunting memories of violence and loss of comrades. The poem is a stark reminder of armed conflict's tragic, traumatic, and lasting repercussions on the soldiers who fight it.
‘Futility’ by Wilfred Owen shows the vain efforts to revive a fallen soldier, representing the futility of World War I.
The poem shows the death of a soldier and the futile attempts of fellow soldiers to revive the deceased, showing the human toll of the conflict and emphasizing soldiers' vulnerability as they witness the brutality of war and bear its human cost. It prompts reflection on the lasting physical and physiological scars of war on soldiers and their families, presenting the true costs of armed conflict instead of vainglorious descriptions of soldiers.
‘The Soldier’ is a poem by famed war poet Rupert Brooke. It celebrates the sacrifices of soldiers during World War I.
The poem celebrates the sacrifice and bravery of soldiers who fight and die for their country. The poem suggests that soldiers who die for their country contribute to the beauty and richness of England and that their sacrifice should be remembered and celebrated.
‘Charge of the Light Brigade’ by Alfred Lord Tennyson is a historically important poem that tells of the incredible bravery of the British cavalry during the Battle of Balaclava.
This poem centers on British cavalry soldiers who carried out a command they knew might cost them their lives. Tennyson uses repetition and rhythm to show how these men acted with full commitment. Though the mission was a mistake, the poem never blames the soldiers. Instead, it honors them as a united group who followed orders with strength and discipline. Their identity as soldiers comes through clearly—they are remembered for their loyalty, not the outcome.
‘August 1945’ by Hayden Carruth takes the reader into a scene at the end of World War 2, as four soldiers come to terms with their experiences.
This poem is all about a group of four soldiers, and their experiences at the end of World War Two when they find themselves in a town in Italy, filled with uncertainty about what will happen next. The poem shows how their experiences have affected them, and how there was a great deal of chaos around the soldiers at the end of the war.
Sweating and greasy in the dovecote where one of them lived
four young men drank "buzzy" from canteen cups, the drink
made from warm beer mixed half-and-half with colorless Italian
distilled alcohol. A strange fierce taste like bees in the mouth.
‘On This Day I Complete My Thirty-Sixth Year’ by Lord Byron reflects on the poet’s passionate life and his desire for an honorable end, filled with themes of glory and heroism.
Byron talks about wanting a soldier’s grave and uses battle-related words like sword, field, and shield. He sees soldiers as strong and honorable, and he wants to face the end of his life with that same courage. To him, dying like a soldier would give his life meaning. This idea becomes a goal for him. It’s not about war itself, but more about the bravery and strength that come with being a true soldier.
Our Poem Guides, PDFs, Study Tools, and Articles are created by a team of qualified poetry experts to provide an unparalleled in-depth look into poetry.
