Guillaume Apollinaire
The cannons thunder in the night
They look like stormy waves
Hearts where a great boredom points
Boredom that always repeats itself
He watches the prisoners coming over there
The hour is so sweet
In this great muffled noise very low
Very low that grows without a jolt
He holds his helmet in his hands
To salute the memory
Of the lilies of the roses of the jasmines
Blossomed in the gardens of France
And under the masked hood
He thinks of such dark hair
But who is waiting for him on the quayside
Oh vast sea with mauve shadows
Beautiful nuts of the living walnut tree
The great madness in vain you gaul
Brunette listens to twitter
The titmouse on your shoulder
Our love is a glow
That a projector of the heart directs
Towards the equal ardor of the heart
Which on the high Lighthouse is erected
Oh flower-lighthouse my memories
Madeleine’s black hair
The atrocious glow of the shots
Add their sudden clarity
To your beautiful eyes oh Madeleine
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Analysis (AI Assisted)
This war poem captures a complex emotional landscape, weaving together imagery of war with personal longing and nostalgia. The opening lines immediately set the tone with the “cannons thunder in the night,” evoking the constant noise and violence of war. The comparison of the cannons to “stormy waves” suggests a sense of chaos and overwhelming force, mirrored in the speaker’s internal experience. This is not just the physical violence of war, but a representation of the mental and emotional tumult that the soldier endures—where “great boredom” reigns, constantly repeating itself, perhaps suggesting a feeling of being trapped in the repetitive nature of warfare.
The poem then shifts focus to the prisoners, a stark contrast to the noise and chaos, as the speaker reflects on the “sweet” hour amidst the muffled sounds. This juxtaposition of external noise and internal reflection highlights the complexity of war, where even in the midst of destruction, there are moments of quiet thought. The speaker holds his helmet in his hands “to salute the memory,” invoking the symbolism of sacrifice, possibly reflecting on the fallen soldiers or the life left behind in the gardens of France.
A sense of longing emerges as the speaker’s thoughts turn to “dark hair” and “quayside,” hinting at a love or a past relationship left behind, possibly with someone named Madeleine. The imagery shifts again with references to nature—the “mauve shadows” of the sea, “nuts of the living walnut tree,” and the “titmouse on your shoulder.” These images introduce a contrast to the harshness of war, pulling the speaker back to more peaceful, idyllic memories.
The recurring motif of love as a “glow” that is “directed” towards the heart suggests a kind of light or guiding force amidst the darkness of war. The “lighthouse” imagery, in particular, ties into this idea, representing both guidance and the enduring memory of love. The poem closes with a poignant reference to “Madeleine’s black hair” and the “atrocious glow of the shots,” where the memory of love and the harsh reality of war intersect. The image of Madeleine’s eyes holds a complex emotional weight, where love, longing, and the pain of war come together.
The poem intricately blends the external world of war with the internal world of love, memory, and longing. It contrasts the destructive force of cannons with the tenderness of past relationships, using vivid natural imagery to create a sense of loss, nostalgia, and the persistent hope that love can offer even in the darkest of times. The speaker’s internal struggle with both the horrors of war and the yearning for what was lost is conveyed with depth and subtlety, making the poem a reflection on both the external violence and the internal emotional conflicts of those at war.