The Drum

I hate that drum’s discordant sound,Parading round, and round, and round:To thoughtless youth it pleasure yields,And lures from cities and from fields,To sell their liberty for charmsOf tawdry lace, and glittering arms;And when Ambition’s voice commands,To march, and fight, and fall, in foreign lands.

unpleasant

Suggests it can’t be trusted

Freedom – they lose this when they become soldiers

Alliteration highlights how quickly they will die

I hate that drum’s discordant sound,Parading round, and round, and round:To me it talks of ravaged plains,And burning towns, and ruined swains,And mangled limbs, and dying groans,And widows’ tears, and orphans’ moans;And all that Misery’s hand bestows,To fill the catalogue of human woes.

Repetition reflects the constant beat of the drum

Words to emphasise the horror and suffering of war

Repetition of And suggests that the list of horrors goes on and on

Understanding the Poem…..

1. What contrast is shown between the first stanza and the second stanza?

The first stanza shows the false associations that people had with the drum sound. It made people think of going to war as being glamorous.

The second stanza shows the reality of what, which was not glamorous at all.

What is the effect of the regular rhythm and rhyme?

It reflects the steady beat of the drum. The up-beat feel reflects how young men were encouraged to go to war by being promised glory, honour and status.

In the second stanza, the regular rhyme and rhythm helps to reflect how constant and continual the real suffering of war was.

Links to other poems…

• War – Exposure

• Physical conflict – Exposure, Belfast Confetti, Our Sharpeville

• Anger – Half-caste, The Class Game, Cousin Kate

• Contrasts – Cousin Kate, The Class game