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Figurative Language Poem 2

I Sing the Battle						
By Harry Kemp

I SING the song of the great clean guns that belch forth death at will. 
"Ah, but the wailing mothers, the lifeless forms and still!" 

I sing the song of the billowing flags, the bugles that cry before. 
"Ah, but the skeletons flapping rags, the lips that speak no more!"

I sing the clash of bayonets, of sabres that flash and cleave. 
"And wilt thou sing the maimed ones, too, that go with pinnedup sleeve?”

I sing acclaimed generals that bring the victory home. 
"Ah, but the broken bodies that drip like honey-comb!" 

I sing of hosts triumphant, long ranks of marching men. 
"And wilt thou sing the shadowy hosts that never march again?" 	

Review Questions 

Directions: Respond to these questions to the best of your ability.  Answer the questions completely.  If you need more space, use the back or a separate sheet.

1.  Identify two examples of personification: explain what is being personified how.

2.  Identify an example of simile: explain which two things are being compared.

3.  Identify an example of metaphor: explain which two things are being compared.

4.  Find an example of alliteration.  List the alliterative words.

5.  Why is every other line contained in quotation marks?  What is the effect of this technique?

6.  In the third stanza of the poem, the speaker references “pinnedup sleeves”: why would someone pin their sleeves?  To what is the speaker referring and how do you know? Use evidence from the text.

7.  What is the mood of this poem?  How does it make you feel and why does it make you feel this way?

8.  What is the thematic message of this poem?  In other words, what lesson is the author attempting to express with this poem?  Explain your answer.