Ewart Alan Mackintosh
Out on the hillside the wild birds crying,
A little low wind and the white clouds flying,
A little low wind from the southward blowing.
What should I know of its coming and going ?
Over the battle the shrapnel crying
A tune of lament for the dead and the dying,
And a little low wind that is moaning and weeping
For the mouths that are cold and the brave hearts sleeping.
I and my man were happy together
In the summer days and the warm June weather —
What is the end of our laughter and singing ?
A little low wind from the southward winging.
The hearth is cold and my house is lonely,
And nothing for me but waiting only,
Feet round the house that come into it never,
And a voice in the wind that is silent for ever.
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Analysis (AI Assisted)
This poem speaks of loss, mourning, and the devastating contrast between the simple pleasures of life and the harshness of war. It uses nature imagery to convey a mood of both tranquility and sorrow, blurring the lines between the peaceful world before the war and the grim reality of the aftermath. The repetition of the “little low wind” ties the poem together, acting as both a physical presence in the landscape and a metaphor for the emptiness and inevitability of loss.
The opening stanza sets the stage with an idyllic description of nature: “Out on the hillside the wild birds crying, / A little low wind and the white clouds flying.” The peaceful image of the wind blowing southward contrasts with the violent imagery to come, setting up a poignant tension between the natural world and the chaos of war. The speaker expresses a kind of ignorance to this natural shift, asking, “What should I know of its coming and going?” This line introduces a sense of helplessness, as if the speaker is powerless to prevent the inevitable changes, symbolized by both the wind and the course of history.
Then, the poem moves into the harsh reality of war: “Over the battle the shrapnel crying / A tune of lament for the dead and the dying.” The shrapnel’s cry is likened to a “tune of lament,” emphasizing the sorrow and finality of death on the battlefield. This sorrow is mirrored in the “little low wind” that moans and weeps, almost as if nature itself is mourning the lives lost. The contrast between the earlier peaceful wind and this mournful one shows how war disrupts the natural order and brings with it an unending sadness.
The personal loss of the speaker is highlighted in the third stanza: “I and my man were happy together / In the summer days and the warm June weather.” The imagery of warmth and happiness, evoking a time of peace and joy, is juxtaposed with the painful emptiness of the present: “What is the end of our laughter and singing?” The simple pleasures of life—laughter, companionship, and the warmth of summer—are gone, replaced by the cold, silent wind that symbolizes the irrevocable change caused by war.
The final stanza deepens the speaker’s sense of isolation and loss. “The hearth is cold and my house is lonely,” she says, referring to the emotional and physical emptiness of her home without her companion. There is no one to fill the silence, no footsteps to enter the house. The absence is palpable, and even the voice that once spoke is now “silent forever,” reinforcing the finality of death and the permanence of loss.
The poem’s use of nature is powerful in its ability to evoke a sense of life before and after the war. The “little low wind” is both a literal and metaphorical presence in the poem. It moves from a gentle, peaceful wind to one that mourns the dead, representing the transition from a peaceful existence to the sorrowful aftermath of conflict. The wind’s journey southward, its coming and going, echoes the passage of time and the inescapable consequences of war.
The poem doesn’t glorify war or try to make sense of it. Instead, it focuses on the personal and emotional toll, reminding us of what is lost—both on the battlefield and in the hearts of those left behind. It paints a stark picture of the devastation war causes, not just in the destruction of bodies but in the erosion of human connection and happiness. The poem leaves the reader with an overwhelming sense of grief and the recognition that life can never return to its previous simplicity once it has been touched by war.
In terms of structure, the repetition of the “little low wind” throughout the poem helps create a cyclical feel, suggesting that the wind, like grief, comes and goes, always present but never truly dissipating. The rhythm and rhyme contribute to the overall feeling of sadness and inevitability, with the gentle lilt of the words creating an almost lullaby-like effect that contrasts with the grim themes explored in the poem.
Overall, this is a powerful reflection on loss, not just of life, but of the world as it once was. It conveys the unspoken impact of war on those who survive it, leaving them with only memories, silence, and an ever-present wind that mourns for what is no more.