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The contents of these two poems describe the grieving emotions that each of the poets possess for their loved ones who died in battle during World War I. They reflect the sense of loss and loneliness following the death of a loved-one. The meanings of the poems demonstrate that even though nature goes on and things are reborn even though the beloved deceased have passed away, they celebrate the continuity of life after death.
Perhaps- was dedicated to Vera Brittain's fianc�, Lieutenant Roland Aubrey Leighton (1895-1915), who served in World War I as a nurse.
This poem begins each stanza by establishing the flamboyant idea of the restoration of life:
"And I shall see that still the skies are blue" (l.2)
This explains that life is re-established to the world and it still goes on without her because she never recovers. Vera Brittain approaches this poem with an excellent attitude because she does not seem to condemn the government, the generals or the patriotism.
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She gives the impression that she is on the apex that she is over the loss of her fianc� but remains in desolate and grief.
"Again, because my heart for loss of You was broken, long ago." (l.19)
The effect this last line has on the poem presents an inconsolable mood where the hope and love is undermined and has created an abyss in her life and left her in a melancholy mood.
The technique exploited by Brittain is by using the iambic rhythm and the ABAB rhyming scheme that indicated a four line stanza in which the first and third lines rhyme, as do the second and fourth; this creates a vivid effect upon the poem.
Additionally, Brittain exemplifies the frequency of the capitalisation of "You" which is a common biblical reference therefore she could be talking about how, after the death of Roland, she realises that there is a possibility that there is no God.
In general, this poem uses a lot of natural imagery to describe the way that life carries on which enlightens the mood of the poem:
"And I shall find the white May Blossoms sweet," (l.7)
But this is then reflected with the following line that struck the heart of the poem with depression:
"Though You have passed away." (l.8)
Furthermore the techniques devote their overall effects to the grieving scenes and help us understand the emotional excruciating pain that Brittain has suffered through to try and get over the death of Roland which she has managed to on some extent.
The poem Spring in War-Time by Edith Nesbit reflects the sense of loss and loneliness following the death of a loved-one. The poem consists of four line stanzas with the first two lines unfolding the beauty of nature:
"Now the sprinkled blackthorn snow
Lies along the lover's lane"
This is then followed by the last two lines illustrating the downhearted moods that reflect the restoration of nature because of her loss and knowing that she cannot be with her true love anymore:
"Where last year we used to go - (l. 3-4)
Where we shall not go again."
Nesbit's approaches this poem with a similar attitude as Brittain's because she does not blame the authorities or the devotion of war in her poem. She is slowly getting over her loss of her lover by including soothing tranquilities to denote that her sentiments are beginning to calm after the preliminary shock such as 'In the hedge the buds are new'. She explains that nature has begun a new course to pacify her emotions.
The techniques used in this poem by Nesbit are similar to Brittain's Perhaps- because of the metaphors used for effect such as 'But we never built our nest', 'Will make all the garden gay' and the choice of vocabulary:
"Every bird has heart to sing (l. 9-12)
Of its nest, warmed by its breast;
We had heart to sing last spring,
But we never built our nest."
Here, she remembers the previous spring when she and her lover were, like the birds, ready to build a home or a "nest" as it is interpreted in this stanza. The comparison of the lovers to the nesting birds emphasises the lost opportunities of the women left behind.
She chooses a ballad form for the poem which is foreshortening alternating four stress lines "ballad metre" and simple repeating rhymes with each last line describing an agonising scene.
Additionally the language is fairly easy to understand and Nesbit uses reminiscent images of nature to have something to look forward to in her life such as 'Presently red roses blown'.
Overall, the effects used in this poem devotes to the meanings because of the way that Nesbit uses natural images to promote the calm feeling followed by the strong, poignant lines to dishearten the fact that her true lover is gone.
In comparison, I find that Perhaps- has the greater effect among displaying strong emotions because the ending is more poignant and optimistic at the same time and reflects the British manner of resilience during the period of the Great War. Spring in War-Time being as short and poignant at the same time is less expressed as opposed to Brittain's Perhaps- because she seems to conceal most of her feelings:
Perhaps- (l.18-19)
"...There is one greatest joy I shall not know
Again, because my heart of loss of You"
Brittain communicates to the reader more fluently on a personal state and helps the reader to understand how open the poet is. Whereas Spring in War-Time:
Spring in War-Time (l. 7-8)
"Just like last year's violets, too,
But they have no scent this year."
Although, Nesbit explains the situation, she has not fully expressed her emotions to the reader by describing the nature and keeping her personal emotions to herself.
Together, both of these poems are eloquently written for readers to realise what grief these poets are suffering from. This would have been experienced by many young women at the time of World War I since such a large number of men died during the war. As a result the birth rate dropped drastically and many women lived their lives widows or remained single.
Perhaps - by Vera Brittain and Spring in War -Time by Edith Nesbit. (2020, Jun 02). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/perhaps-vera-brittain-spring-war-time-edith-nesbit-new-essay
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