Charles Sorley
We swing ungirded hips,
And lightened are our eyes,
The rain is on our lips,
We do not run for prize.
We know not whom we trust
Nor whitherward we fare,
But we run because we must
Through the great wide air.
The waters of the seas
Are troubled as by storm.
The tempest strips the trees
And does not leave them warm.
Does the tearing tempest pause?
Do the tree-tops ask it why?
So we run without a cause
’Neath the big bare sky.
The rain is on our lips,
We do not run for prize.
But the storm the water whips
And the wave howls to the skies.
The winds arise and strike it
And scatter it like sand,
And we run because we like it
Through the broad bright land.
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Analysis (AI Assisted)
This war poem captures a chaotic, almost surreal experience of running through a storm, both physically and metaphorically. It evokes a sense of being caught up in forces beyond control—whether these forces are the weather, the storm, or war itself. The speaker’s detachment from the cause of their movement is evident from the beginning, where they describe running without knowing who or what they are running for. This lack of clarity, both in purpose and direction, mirrors the confusion and disorientation often felt in wartime.
The repeated image of rain on the lips is important because it suggests the constant, unavoidable presence of hardship. The rain isn’t just a backdrop for the poem; it’s part of the landscape that is endured rather than fought against. It’s on their lips, meaning it’s not something they can escape or avoid. The phrase “we do not run for prize” reinforces the idea that the act of running is not about reward or achievement, but something more essential—survival or simply movement in the face of forces too big to challenge.
The natural imagery, with storm-tossed seas, stripped trees, and rising winds, is stark and dramatic. The “tempest” and “wave howls” suggest a larger, uncontrollable force, which in the context of war, can represent the unpredictable, destructive nature of conflict. Yet, despite this chaos, the runners continue, driven by a force that is not entirely understood but is undeniably compelling. The line “we run because we like it” complicates the narrative, suggesting a strange sense of freedom or exhilaration in the act of running, even if that running is in the face of destruction.
There’s a sense of liberation in the movement, despite the storm. The wind “strikes” and “scatters” things like sand, creating an image of violent but natural chaos. It’s as if, in the face of the storm’s fury, the runners experience both destruction and a peculiar form of release. This paradox of destruction and release is a common theme in war literature, where even amidst devastation, there can be moments of clarity or freedom, as if the participants are in tune with something larger than themselves.
In many ways, the poem conveys the futility and randomness of war. The speaker acknowledges that they don’t know who they trust or where they’re going, but they must keep moving, much like soldiers caught in the momentum of battle, not necessarily for a greater cause but because they are driven by the rhythm of the fight, the storm, or the call to action. The relentless action of running, even in the face of an overwhelming force, symbolizes endurance and resilience, even when the cause or purpose remains unclear.
Ultimately, the poem doesn’t offer any clear answers or resolutions. Instead, it captures the sense of being swept up in something bigger than oneself—something uncontrollable and often destructive. Through the imagery of storms, waves, and winds, it explores the tension between human agency and the uncontrollable forces of nature and war. The runners may not know exactly why they are running, but they do so because they must, because the storm, like war, leaves them little choice but to keep moving forward.