How does Gillian Clarke express strong feelings about the death and devastation described in this poem 
How does Gillian Clarke express strong feelings about the death and devastation described in this poem? What devices does she use, and why? Analyse and evaluate…
Lament by Gillian Clarke is a poem written after the 1991 Gulf War. The word
‘Lament’ serves as the title of the poem but is also used to start list of people, places and animals which were devastated by the war and are lamented for in the poem.
Clarke expresses her feelings through the structure, wording, and imagery featured throughout the poem.
Firstly, the structure of the poem is one way through which Clarke expresses her feelings. The poem is structured as a list of lamented people, places, and creatures hurt in the war. Clarke lists the various forms of sea life “struck dumb” by the impact of war, telling us how they now struggle in “their nest of sickness” and
“funeral silk”. She also mentions the “iridescence on the sand”, the “shadow on the sea” and other environmental effects. These make up the majority of the poem. The impact on human life is only mentioned a few times – in the third and forth stanzas.
Clarke speaks about “the soldier in his uniform of fire…the boy fusilier...the farmer’s sons…” which could possibly all be examples of people who lost their lives.
She indicates that there the effects are far more outspread than they may seem. By structuring the poem like this, Clarke is able to express her strong belief that man is not the only one who suffers and dies from war.
Secondly, imagery is used to conveys Clarke’s disapproval towards war. Her descriptive explanations of effected animals and places are her reasons backing this opinion. Clarke describes how ‘the ocean’s lap with its mortal stain’, a deadly wound that may even bring death to the ocean, which can be related to the loss of human life. She illustrates that ‘the veiled sun and the stink of anger’ is a results of burning oil, making smoke which has covered the sky that hides the sun. Clarke also shows us that as a result of
Lament by Gillian Clarke is a poem written after the 1991 Gulf War. The word
‘Lament’ serves as the title of the poem but is also used to start list of people, places and animals which were devastated by the war and are lamented for in the poem.
Clarke expresses her feelings through the structure, wording, and imagery featured throughout the poem.
Firstly, the structure of the poem is one way through which Clarke expresses her feelings. The poem is structured as a list of lamented people, places, and creatures hurt in the war. Clarke lists the various forms of sea life “struck dumb” by the impact of war, telling us how they now struggle in “their nest of sickness” and
“funeral silk”. She also mentions the “iridescence on the sand”, the “shadow on the sea” and other environmental effects. These make up the majority of the poem. The impact on human life is only mentioned a few times – in the third and forth stanzas.
Clarke speaks about “the soldier in his uniform of fire…the boy fusilier...the farmer’s sons…” which could possibly all be examples of people who lost their lives.
She indicates that there the effects are far more outspread than they may seem. By structuring the poem like this, Clarke is able to express her strong belief that man is not the only one who suffers and dies from war.
Secondly, imagery is used to conveys Clarke’s disapproval towards war. Her descriptive explanations of effected animals and places are her reasons backing this opinion. Clarke describes how ‘the ocean’s lap with its mortal stain’, a deadly wound that may even bring death to the ocean, which can be related to the loss of human life. She illustrates that ‘the veiled sun and the stink of anger’ is a results of burning oil, making smoke which has covered the sky that hides the sun. Clarke also shows us that as a result of