The Realization of War
The Realization of War Every war brings about fear in its participants. However, in poems by Alan Seeger and Edward Thomas and in a song by Metallica, a startling realization is brought to light: many soldiers expect to die. In Seeger’s “Rendezvous” and in Thomas’ “Rain,” the poets relate weather and seasons to a soldier’s early anticipation of death. In Metallica’s “One,” a soldier actually wishes and expects death, but narrowly avoids it as his body is greatly damaged by a landmine. Therefore, in all three of these segments, the soldier expects death as he witnesses others around him die. The soldier in Alan Seeger’s “Rendezvous” believes he is destined to encounter death. The soldier refers to spring as “he” and says spring will “take his hand and lead [him] into his dark land” where he is destined to die.