Poems: Insensibility by Wilfred Owen
Insensibility is a collection of poems by Wilfred Owen, a British soldier and poet who served in World War I. The poems in this collection explore the horrors of war and the psychological effects it has on soldiers. The poems are written in a variety of styles, from traditional rhyme and meter to free verse. The collection is divided into two sections: “The Poems” and “The Letters.” The poems in the first section are mostly about the physical and psychological effects of war on soldiers, while the letters in the second section are written by Owen to his family and friends. The collection is a powerful exploration of the human cost of war and the psychological toll it takes on those who fight it.
By Wilfred Owen · First published 1918 · Genre: Poetry, War Literature, Modernist Literature · 467 words
First lines
I Happy are men who yet before they are killed Can let their veins run cold. Whom no compassion fleers Or makes their feet Sore on the alleys cobbled with their brothers. The front line withers, But they are troops who fade, not flowers For poets' tearful fooling: Men, gaps for filling Losses who might have fought Longer; but no one bothers.
II And some cease feeling Even themselves or for themselves. Dullness best solves The tease and doubt of shelling, And Chance's strange arithmetic Comes simpler than the reckoning of their shilling. They keep no check on Armies' decimation.
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Poems: Insensibility is listed on Textopian as a poem by Wilfred Owen, dated 1918 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Wilfred Owen
- Date: 1918 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, War Literature, Modernist Literature, Romanticism
- Length: 467 words
- Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
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Similar titles
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Genres
- Poetry — The title of the book is 'Poems: Insensibility', indicating that the book is a collection of poems.
- War Literature — Wilfred Owen was a soldier in World War I, and his poems often reflect his experiences in the war.
- Modernist Literature — Wilfred Owen's writing style is often considered to be modernist, as it often focuses on themes of alienation and despair.
- Romanticism — Wilfred Owen's poetry often contains romantic elements, such as a focus on nature and emotion.
Tags
1914-1918 · 20th century · English poetry · Poetry · War poetry · World War · attack · blood · cease · check · cold · decimation