In 1915, amidst the harrowing trenches of World War I, British soldier Patrick Shaw-Stewart penned a poem that speaks to both the timeless nature of war and the enduring power of classical education. Titled unofficially “I Saw a Man This Morning”, this poem offers a deeply personal reflection on mortality, senseless violence, and the values instilled through the Western canon. (Patrick Shaw-Stewart poem)
It’s a hauntingly beautiful piece, laden with references to Homer’s Iliad, that transports readers from the cold reality of 20th-century trench warfare to the mythic landscapes of ancient Troy. Let’s begin by reading the poem in full:
I Saw a Man This Morning
I saw a man this morning who did not wish to die.
I ask and cannot answer if otherwise wish I.
Fair broke the day this morning against the Dardanelles.
The breeze blew soft, the morning’s cheeks were cold as cold sea-shells,
But other shells are waiting across the Aegean Sea—
Shrapnel and high explosive shells, and hells for me.
Oh hell of ships and cities, hell of men like me,
Fatal second Helen, why must I follow thee?
Achilles came to Troyland, and I to Chersonese;
He turned from wrath to battle, and I from three days’ peace.
Was it so hard, Achilles, so very hard to die?
Thou knowest, and I know not; so much the happier I.
I will go back this morning from Imbros over the sea;
Stand in the trench, Achilles, flame-capped, and shout for me.
Historical and Personal Context
Patrick Shaw-Stewart, like many educated young men of his time, was steeped in the works of Homer and the Western canon. His classical training gave him an acute lens through which to process the horrors of WWI, particularly during the Gallipoli campaign, a brutal and ultimately disastrous attempt by the Allies to seize control of the Dardanelles.
The poem reflects Shaw-Stewart’s personal torment as he prepared to return to the front lines after a brief respite on the island of Imbros. He draws explicit parallels between his experience and that of Achilles in Homer’s Iliad, particularly the moment when the Greek hero, fueled by grief and rage, returns to the battlefield after the death of his dear friend Patroclus.
Tragically, Shaw-Stewart himself would not survive the war, dying in battle not long after writing this poem. This lends the piece an additional layer of poignancy, as it serves as both a meditation on mortality and a haunting premonition of his own death.
Analysis of the Poem
Themes
The central theme of the poem is the inevitability of death and the senselessness of war. Shaw-Stewart’s opening lines—“I saw a man this morning who did not wish to die. / I ask and cannot answer if otherwise wish I.”—immediately confront the reader with the soldier’s inner conflict. Is he willing to die for the cause? Or is he merely resigned to his fate?
The poem also explores the tension between duty and despair. The invocation of Helen of Troy—“Fatal second Helen, why must I follow thee?”—underscores the futility of the war. Just as Helen’s abduction sparked the Trojan War, the events leading to WWI seemed to Shaw-Stewart equally arbitrary and destructive.
Finally, the poem speaks to the power of myth and literature as a means of understanding and coping with human experience. By aligning himself with Achilles, Shaw-Stewart finds a sense of purpose and identity in a situation otherwise devoid of meaning.
Structure and Meter
The poem is written in loose iambic tetrameter, with lines containing four beats or stresses. This rhythm gives the poem a conversational yet reflective tone, suitable for its introspective subject matter. For example:
“I saw a man this morning who did not wish to die.”
While the meter is not strictly maintained throughout, its variations add to the emotional resonance of the poem. The line “Oh hell of ships and cities, hell of men like me” disrupts the rhythm with an abrupt intensity, mirroring the chaos and anguish of war.
Imagery and Language
Shaw-Stewart’s use of imagery is stark and evocative. The contrast between the serene natural setting—“The breeze blew soft, the morning’s cheeks were cold as cold sea-shells”—and the looming violence of war—“But other shells are waiting across the Aegean Sea”—heightens the poem’s emotional impact. The imagery of shells serves a dual purpose, symbolizing both the fragility of life and the destruction wrought by war.
The phrase “Stand in the trench, Achilles, flame-capped, and shout for me” is perhaps the most striking image in the poem. It directly references the moment in The Iliad when Achilles, crowned with divine fire, terrifies the Trojans with his battle cry. Here, Shaw-Stewart invokes Achilles as a protector and champion, a figure who might inspire courage in the face of fear.
Rhyme and Sound
The poem employs subtle rhyme, often slant or imperfect, to create a sense of cohesion without sacrificing naturalness. For instance:
“Achilles came to Troyland, and I to Chersonese;
He turned from wrath to battle, and I from three days’ peace.”
The gentle pairing of “Chersonese” and “peace” reflects the soldier’s resignation, while the repetition of harsh sounds in “hell of ships and cities, hell of men like me” reinforces the poem’s tone of despair.
Conclusion
“I Saw a Man This Morning” is a remarkable synthesis of personal experience and classical allusion. By invoking Achilles, Patrick Shaw-Stewart situates his own struggles within the broader narrative of human history, finding both solace and despair in the shared experience of warriors across millennia.
Through its rhythmic subtlety, vivid imagery, and timeless themes, the poem offers a poignant reminder of the human cost of war and the enduring relevance of the Western canon. It is a work that demands to be read, analyzed, and remembered, not only for its historical significance but also for its profound insights into the human condition.I Saw a Man This Morning: A WWI Soldier’s Reflection on War and Mortality
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