Guillaume Apollinaire
A woman who was crying
Eh! Oh! Ha!
Soldiers who were passing
Eh! Oh! Ha!
A lock keeper who was fishing
Eh! Oh! Ha!
The trenches that were turning white
Eh! Oh! Ha!
Shells that were exploding
Eh! Oh! Ha!
Matches that didn’t catch
And everything
Has changed so much
In me
Everything
Except my Love
Eh! Oh! Ha!
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Analysis (AI Assisted)
This war poem is striking in its simplicity and repetition, focusing on the disorienting and surreal nature of conflict. The refrain “Eh! Oh! Ha!” gives the poem a rhythmic, almost chant-like quality, conveying a sense of the frantic energy and confusion often associated with war. The repetitions act as a form of emotional release, an exhalation of grief, exhaustion, and perhaps even disbelief in the face of overwhelming destruction.
The initial images are disjointed but vivid: a crying woman, soldiers passing by, a lock keeper fishing, and the whiteness of the trenches. These scenes evoke an almost dreamlike juxtaposition—ordinary life occurring alongside the chaos of war. The “shells exploding” and the “matches that didn’t catch” suggest the randomness and futility that war imposes on the lives it touches. The focus on seemingly inconsequential details—like the matches failing to catch—highlights the absurdity of the situation, where even the smallest tasks are hindered by the overwhelming violence around them.
The most powerful line, “And everything / Has changed so much / In me,” reveals the central transformation that the speaker is experiencing. The war has altered the world around them, as well as their inner self. Yet, despite all this change, the speaker’s love remains unchanged. This contrast emphasizes the permanence and constancy of love in the face of turmoil and loss. It suggests that love is the one anchor the speaker has amidst the chaos, a source of solace that transcends the immediate horrors of war.
Ultimately, this poem captures the emotional toll of conflict—how it transforms people and the world they inhabit, leaving behind a sense of detachment and disillusionment. Yet, amid this transformation, the speaker’s love persists, untouched by the violence surrounding them. The poem contrasts the relentless, external forces of war with the quiet, personal strength of love, making it a poignant reflection on the endurance of human emotion in times of extreme hardship.