The Sonnet-Ballad Comments

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War! ! ! Destruction! ! Lamentation! War will never bring us peace. Thanks for sharing this poem with us.

Dear a lamenting for tall sons, Such such a superior poem ***** thanks muse

A very nice poem for the poem of the day

gwen has made something fresh with this traditional form. lover's tallness, empty heart-cup, and walking grandly out the door are fresh and vivid images using simple (accessible) language. coquettish death is a bit fancier but is true to the adrenaline-rush that lures many. and to top it all off, this poem while a sonnet has the feel of the blues—something close, i expect, to gwen's roots. -gk

A touching account of one impacted by the war since her love had gone to fight in it as a soldier.

Where is happiness.. a very fine poem. thank u dear.. tony

A sad view of war from those who remain behind but suffer as well. All told in the true sonnet form.

CONGRATULATIONS for PH choice AS THE MODERN POEM OF THE DAY, Hurray! Fascinating poem but full of melancholy and best worded. Thank you for sharing this lovely but sad poetry.

oh happiness you are flirty mind! where you are in the war! in the lap of mother! lives no one there in true answer..../// beautiful poem

War certainly snatches away happiness to beloved ones in the world! The sorrow of loss of beloved in war too is insurmountable indeed! That the poet says with great force and feeling by this wonderful sonnet kind of ballad! Thanks for sharing here!

This is an excellent poem by Brooks. It is almost a cross between ancient language and modern vernacular. The sonnet flows nicely. Basically, the poem is about a woman who's man went off to war and her heart is breaking. It shows the worries and heartbreak that many feel when a loved one leaves. But Brooks took an interesting twist on the 8th line. Instead of saying something along the lines of 'I fear he will die', she personifies death as a flirtatious woman. She describes death as having 'possessive arms' and also 'beauty'. If the man were in serious pain and about to die, he WOULD welcome death to take him out of his misery. That is why I consider the strongest line 'Can make a hard man hesitate-and change'. This pause between the lines is quite powerful. There have been many incidents where people seem to lose their identities in horrible moments of war. They never come back as the same person. There have been many soldiers who suffer from nightmares and post-traumatic stress disorder. Brooks nicely ends with the last two lines. Excellent sonnet.