Peoms Unit I

Arms And The Boy
by Wilfred Owen (1893-1918)

After reading the poem I noticed that the poem is a lyric. Although I am not sure, i think it is an epigram, since it talks about a mean and angry topic. What i noticed is that it talks about different weapons, and how the boy doesnt know what the danger of the weapons is and what they are capable of doing. I think the poem is trying to say that young children (boys) should not be handling weapons, but instead should be staying at home. Since it talks alot about weapons,it must be talking about war.

Poem:

Let the boy try along this bayonet-blade
How cold steel is, and keen with hunger of blood;
Blue with all malice, like a madman's flash;
And thinly drawn with famishing for flesh.

Lend him to stroke these blind, blunt bullet-heads
Which long to muzzle in the hearts of lads.
Or give him cartridges of fine zinc teeth,
Sharp with the sharpness of grief and death.

For his teeth seem for laughing round an apple.
There lurk no claws behind his fingers supple;
And God will grow no talons at his heels,
Nor antlers through the thickness of his curls.