Poems: The Send-off by Wilfred Owen
The Send-off is a poem by Wilfred Owen, a British soldier and poet who wrote during World War I. The poem is about a group of soldiers who are being sent off to war, and the reactions of the people who are seeing them off. The poem is written in the form of a dramatic monologue, with the speaker being an observer of the scene. The poem begins with the speaker describing the soldiers as they march off to war, noting their enthusiasm and the cheers of the crowd. The speaker then reflects on the reality of war, noting the sadness of the families of the soldiers and the fact that many of them will not return. The poem ends with the speaker noting that the soldiers will soon be forgotten, and that their deaths will be in vain.
By Wilfred Owen · First published 1918 · Genre: Poetry, War Literature, Modernist Literature · 160 words
First lines
Down the close, darkening lanes they sang their way To the siding-shed, And lined the train with faces grimly gay.
Their breasts were stuck all white with wreath and spray As men's are, dead.
Dull porters watched them, and a casual tramp Stood staring hard, Sorry to miss them from the upland camp. Then, unmoved, signals nodded, and a lamp Winked to the guard.
So secretly, like wrongs hushed-up, they went. They were not ours: We never heard to which front these were sent.
What this Textopian page supports
Poems: The Send-off 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
- Length: 160 words
- Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
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Similar titles
- Poems The End by Wilfred Owen
- Poems Exposure by Wilfred Owen
- Poems Wild With All Regrets by Wilfred Owen
- Poems The Dead Beat by Wilfred Owen
- Poems Anthem For Doomed Youth by Wilfred Owen
- Poems Futility by Wilfred Owen
Genres
- Poetry — The title of the book is 'Poems: The Send-off', indicating that the book is a collection of poems written by Wilfred Owen.
- War Literature — Wilfred Owen was a soldier in World War I, and his poems often reflect his experiences in the war. 'The Send-off' is a poem about soldiers leaving for war, so it is likely that the other poems in the collection will also be related to war.
- Modernist Literature — Wilfred Owen was a modernist poet, and his works often reflect the themes and writing styles of modernist literature.
Tags
1914-1918 · 20th century · English poetry · Poetry · War poetry · World War · beatings · bells · breasts · casual · creep · darkening