Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

The poem "Company Commander" by Guillaume Apollinaire is a complex meditation on the discordant emotional realities borne out of wartime experience. Considering that Apollinaire was a wounded veteran of World War I, this poem transcends mere poetic imagery to function as a semi-autobiographical account of the psychological and emotional battles that are fought within. The poem becomes a testimony, a vivid portrait that captures the chaos of internal and external worlds, married in the singular experience of warfare.

The opening line, "My mouth will flame the sulphurs of the Pit," is a stunning introduction to the violence and existential despair to come. The "Pit" alludes to the trenches, where soldiers are almost reduced to the status of the damned. Here, the mouth becomes not just a body part but a metaphorical weapon, the vocal machinery of war, capable of spitting fire, commands, and curses.

When Apollinaire writes, "You will find my mouth a hell of sweetness and seduction," we are led into a complicated emotional terrain. The mouth that commands troops to go "over the top" into almost certain death is the same mouth that whispers words of love, sings songs of home and better days, and perhaps prays for deliverance. The juxtaposition of "hell," "sweetness," and "seduction" points to the tangled web of emotions and duties that define the soldier's experience. Love and hell exist side by side in the trench, both demanding their due.

Moreover, the line "Your soul will shake like a terrain in an earthquake" serves as a vivid representation of the profound impact that this mouth-this source of command and emotion-has on its listeners. Apollinaire seems to suggest that the experience of war isn't just physical but also a seismic event that shakes the soul, leaving an indelible mark that changes the landscape forever.

Apollinaire also delves into the surreal aspects of war. His mouth becomes "an army against you, a stumbling awkward army / Tricky as a magician with his sleight of changing shapes." This anthropomorphism of the mouth into an "awkward army" captures the unpredictable, even farcical, nature of war, where the very tools meant to bring order can sow chaos. It also alludes to the multiple roles a soldier must assume, from warrior to caretaker, from cynic to believer.

The final lines of the poem, "It murmurs to you now from far away / While I stand here eyes fastened to my watch waiting for the exact moment to go over the top," are a stark return to reality. The ethereal musings give way to the concrete, the ticking seconds that stand between life and death. Here, Apollinaire captures the cruel banality of war, where moments of existential questioning are punctuated by the very real demands of survival.

In conclusion, "Company Commander" is a multi-layered exploration of the complexities of human emotion in the crucible of war. Apollinaire's own experiences deepen the impact of the poem, infusing it with an authenticity that makes it a compelling study of the human condition under extreme circumstances. Through vivid imagery, metaphorical complexity, and emotional dexterity, Apollinaire succeeds in painting a portrait of war that is both universal and intensely personal.

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