Analysis of Battlegrounds



In the meadows rich with corn,
Where once the battlegrounds were born,
The soldiers bravely gave their all,
Until they heard the bugle's call.

By the ponds round orchards sweep
Apples and lemons fruited deep.
The mounted armies plundered forth
To strike their blows a'fore heading north.

The clustered spires of churches,
Green-walled by grand silver-birches
Bear their solitary witness
To the stench, the blood and the mess.

All day long in mudded troughs
The spirits of the fallen plead - enough!
'Til horses' hoofs shall beat no more
Nor too the bodies by the score.

Herald honour in the ranks;
The cry of many fallen Yanks,
For those who served and lost their lives,
"For what?" the crying call of wives.

In soft, yellow carpet grass,
Abundant now with daisy mass
Have all forgotten those who died -
Their bodies lying side by side.


Scheme AABB CCDD EEXX XXFF GGXX HHII
Poetic Form Quatrain  (50%)
Metre 001111 1101001 01010111 0111011 1011101 1001011 01010101 111101101 0101110 1111101 1110010 10101001 111011 0101010101 11011111 11010101 101001 01110101 11110111 11010111 0110101 01011101 11010111 11010111
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 841
Words 166
Sentences 9
Stanzas 6
Stanza Lengths 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4
Lines Amount 24
Letters per line (avg) 28
Words per line (avg) 6
Letters per stanza (avg) 111
Words per stanza (avg) 24

About this poem

In memory of all who have fallen at the hands of war, and in recognition of ANZAC Day 25th April 2024.

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Submitted by susannaelliott on April 03, 2024

50 sec read
110

Susanna Elliott-Newth

Susanna is a teacher, living near the coastal fringes of the Illawarra Coastline in NSW, Australia. Her environment is her stimulus for her writing. She has published four books of short stories, as well as her own memoir book, and writes educational resources for teachers. more…

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