In Flanders Fields and Other Poems of the First World War

by brian-comp-busby

Discover poetry from the First World War with an undying power to move and inspire, including the work of Hamish Mann, Leslie Coulson, Rupert Brooke, Wilfred Owen and many others

Genres: Poetry, War, History, Nonfiction, World War I, Adult, Classics

192 pages, Hardcover

First published November 30, 2005

Reviews

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This anthology is a little different from others in that the men who wrote the poems would rather not have had their work published here. In order to have a poem published in this mix you had to satisfy two criteria: 1) you had to write about WWI; and 2) you had to have died during that conflict. The editor was able to find thirty such poets!

Some of the names in here will be instantly familiar. Names like John McCrae, who penned what is probably the most easily recognizable WWI poem In Flanders Fields. And Wilfred Owen, whose Dulce et Decorum Est could be a contender for best WWI poem. And Joyce Kilmer! Jesus, Joyce Kilmer!! I had no idea! I remember memorizing his poem Trees in grade school. I had no idea he had been killed in the Great War. Hell, I had no idea he was even a man, as I had never met anyone by name of Joyce who had the biological requirements for manhood.

I won't go into any quotes from poems, as the subject matter will be predictable: death, lost friends, wonder who's kissing her now, cruel enemies and blundering bosses. Most of the poetry I had encountered before in other publications. What got me was this: WWI wasted the lives of what was probably the most literate generation ever to stalk the planet. I was shocked to learn that not less than six world-class poets died in the Battle of the Somme alone! Six!! In one battle! At least as many died at Ypres, but since there were something like three battles for Ypres that statistic may be less staggering. I doubt that one soldier in ten serving today would be able to read and understand the sentiments these doomed wordsmiths consigned to paper. Thirty doomed poets in this book, and it's just a sampling.

Mr Busby was kind enough to illustrate his book with WWI artwork, and generously provided both an Index of Titles and an Index of First Lines. Best of all, he provided a brief biography of each poet including place and manner of death. A nice little book, well-planned and very nicely laid out.

[Charlie Hasler · Rating 5 out of 5]

It felt right to finish this moving collection of poems on this day of remembrance. I was moved by all the words in this book. I was particularly moved by the Leslie Coulson poem, Who Made The Law?

[Maxwell Thornton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This should be a mandatory read for every Canadian. The poetry in this, especially Lt-Col John McCrae's poems is remarkable. 🇨🇦🇬🇧🪖💂‍♂️

#Canadaremembers
#LeCanadasesouvient
#Lestweforget
#Noublionsjamais

[leona · Rating 4 out of 5]

“dulce et decorum est pro patria mori.” it is noble to die for one’s country.

“some cheered him home, but not as crowds cheer goal. only a solemn man who brought him fruits
thanked him; and then enquired about his soul.”
-wilfred owen

“there is no worthier grave
to hold the bodies of the brave
than this place of pain and pride
where they nobly fought and nobly died.”
-joyce kilmer

this collection of poems was so well done. each was individually heartbreaking and descriptive of the author’s experiences during world war 1. and i think it is necessary to say that thomas michael kettle really gave his all to “to my daughter betty, the gift of God.”

[Jerry Peace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bitter, triumphant, maudlin, resigned, disillusioned, courageous. These poems, all by men, primarily British, killed in the First World War, elicit the full range of emotions from the reader. The "best" or most "artistic" poetry? Certainly not. But no poetry is more honest nor more heartbreaking. Consider this-seven published British poets died on July 1, 1916, the first day of the Battle of the Somme. This collection is a must. Who for? Perhaps everyone.

[Tracey P · Rating 5 out of 5]

A bittersweet read when you open the book knowing every poet dies in the war. It’s poignant to read about their hopes and dreams of post-war life. Some truly beautiful writing. I wonder what they would have written if their lives hadn’t been cut short.

[Francis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Somber collection of World War I poetry from a collection of poets. Each one of these poets was killed during the war. Some I had read before (In Flanders Fields and Dulce et Decorum Est) but many were new to me. I didn’t realize there was that much first account writing about WWI.

[The Reading Bibliophile · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some poems are heart wrenching.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading this poems but it is sad that the soldiers who wrote these poems in the first world war died before their could see the poems being published.

[Lindsay Lane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well organized.

[Julie Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A relatively small collection of poems, but it took me forever to read them all. That is because these poems made me cry, stare at the ceiling deep in thought, and prompted re-reading and savoring. Each poem was written by someone who died in WWI, and they are beautiful, haunting, and poignant. The compilation conveys a variety ways the poets grappled with the horror and violence they experienced in war, and it was touching to see how differently they all viewed death, their fates, the meaning of courage, the value of joining the war effort...

The amount of soldier poets who were pro-war and feeling that their suffering and deaths were important contributions toward peace surprised me. Wilfred Owen,whose poems are at the end of the book, deals with what we call PTSD, regret, and disability (the affects on the survivors), and it was a good way to end. I'm definitely purchasing a copy of this book for myself and the high school library.

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've always found the poems of the First World War to be the most dramatic. They show the transition from the sense of war glorification to a horrified view of what this new, industrialized global war was all about. The most potent poems for me are those by Wilfred Owen. We studied some of his when I was in Gr. 8 and I will never forget the way his poems changed my perspective on the First World War. This is not a happy book of poems as you can imagine but it is a very moving collection of poems complete with powerful illustrations.

[Nat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I find a fair few poems are missing, but it is still a nice collection.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent collection of war poetry from a variety of authors. I genuinely love these poems, they're so visceral and full of feeling. Highly recommended!