Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

In "World War II," Edward Field provides a vivid account of a near-death experience during the war. The poem reads like a narrative, recounting the speaker's journey from a dangerous bombing mission over Berlin to a harrowing crash landing in the North Sea. Field captures the chaos, fear, and moral dilemmas of war while highlighting the fragility of human life. The poem explores themes of survival, heroism, and the randomness of fate.

The poem begins with the speaker describing a bombing mission over Berlin: "It was over Target Berlin the flak shot up our plane / just as we were dumping bombs on the already smoking city." The plane is hit by anti-aircraft fire ("flak"), and the crew is forced to abandon their formation, losing speed and altitude.

The speaker, who is the navigator, tries to chart a course back to England "with trembling hands on the instruments." With only two functioning engines and fuel leaking from the wing tanks, the crew sets out alone across Europe.

The crew decides not to land in Poland, despite the briefing warning them against it. Instead, they choose to return to England. They attempt to lighten their load by throwing out "guns and ammunition, my navigation books, all the junk."

Over the North Sea, a third engine fails, and the crew drops low over the water. With fuel nearly exhausted, they manage to keep the last engine running by tilting the plane's nose down. Eventually, the last engine stops, and the plane crashes into the sea "with a crash, / just like hitting a brick wall."

The crew tries to escape through a door in the roof while the plane fills with water. They deploy two life rafts, but one only "half inflated," and the other is overcrowded. The radio operator and the speaker are the last to escape and must swim to the rafts.

The radio operator heads toward the half-inflated raft but can't swim well. The speaker swims to the overcrowded raft and clings to its side. The pilot ends up in the half-inflated raft, lying in water that sloshes over him.

The speaker reflects on his choice to hang onto the raft, despite there being little room: "My raft? It was their raft—they got there first so they would live." He considers himself lucky that a "little rat-faced boy from Alabama" takes his place in the water, allowing the speaker to climb onto the raft. The boy insists on removing his flying clothes, which proves fatal in the icy waters.

Shortly after, the pilot begins to "gurgle green foam from his mouth," possibly from injuries sustained in the crash. Both the pilot and the young gunner die before they are rescued. The speaker feels guilt over not remembering the boy's name: "That boy who took my place in the water, / who died instead of me, / I don't remember his name even."

The speaker compares his survival to those who escaped the Holocaust by letting others "go into the ovens in their place." He acknowledges that he chose to live rather than be a hero, despite his belief in heroism.

The poem ends with the crew being rescued by a British air-sea rescue boat. The survivors are taken to a hospital, while the dead are "rolled up in blankets." After two weeks in a rest camp, the crew returns to their base in England and resumes bombing missions over Europe.

Themes and Interpretation:

1. Survival vs. Heroism: The poem explores the tension between survival and heroism. The speaker admits to choosing survival over heroism, despite his belief in "saving the world."

2. Randomness of Fate: Field emphasizes the randomness of fate in war. The young gunner who takes the speaker's place dies, while the speaker lives. The pilot and radio operator also meet tragic ends.

3. War and Trauma: The poem captures the trauma and chaos of war. The crew experiences fear, desperation, and moral dilemmas as they navigate the dangers of combat and survival.

4. Guilt and Memory: The speaker struggles with guilt over the death of the young gunner and his inability to remember his name. He acknowledges the sacrifices made by others for his survival.

Structure and Tone:

The poem is written in free verse, allowing Field to adopt a conversational and narrative tone. The language is straightforward yet evocative, capturing the harrowing emotions of war.

Conclusion:

"World War II" by Edward Field is a powerful and poignant reflection on the moral dilemmas and trauma of war. Through vivid imagery and a narrative structure, Field captures the chaos, fear, and randomness of fate that soldiers experience. The poem invites readers to reflect on the complexities of heroism, survival, and memory in the face of unimaginable challenges.

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