Arms And The Boy - A poem by Wilfred Owen

Wilfred Owen - Arms And The Boy

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.

Added: on April 5th, 2006 at 7:02 PM | Viewed: 3096 times | Comments (8)

Arms And The Boy - Comments and Information
Poet: Wilfred Owen Poem: Arms And The Boy Poem of the Day on: Sep 9 2004 Comment 8 of 8, added on May 30th, 2006 at 10:42 AM. i think there was irony intended in the '.....ohh' and Janet is the one who needs the iq test. hheelo from United Kingdom Comment 7 of 8, added on April 17th, 2006 at 8:33 PM. Owen may be anti-war, but I feel he is pro-humanity. "Let the boy try" war and killing, but God has not made a child prone to do so. A child is given "for laughing round an apple" with teeth to eat and enjoy -- not "fine zinc teeth, / Sharp with the sharpness of grief and death." The last stanza offers hope that though humans may attempt evil, God does not make humans for that purpose. In making living beings, both animals and humans, God makes distinctions in his creatures. I believe this aspect of evil is the difference. Susan from United States Comment 6 of 8, added on April 5th, 2006 at 7:02 PM. The last stanza does not say that the boy is not a devil because he is innocent and young. It describes him as a pig, "For his teeth seem for laughing round an apple." A roasted pig is often seen as having an apple in its mouth. This is saying that he is to be slaughtered as a pig. Owen then goes on to contrast the boy with "fingers supple" to the images of animal-like warriors who have claws, talons, and antlers. Michael from United States More Comments >> Are you looking for more information on this poem? Perhaps you are trying to analyze it? The poem, Arms And The Boy, has received 8 comments. Click here to read them, and perhaps post a comment of your own. Of course you can also always discuss poems by Wilfred Owen with others on the Poetry Connection poetry forum!

Poem Info
Arms And The Boy Last read: 2008-07-19 22:01:07 Poem of the Day on: Sep 9 2004 Viewed 3096 times. Added on April 5th, 2006 at 7:02 PM.

Owen Info
Biography More Poems (30 poems) Books