Guillaume Apollinaire
It was a blessed time we were on the beaches
Go away early in the morning barefoot and without a hat
And fast as a toad’s tongue
Love wounded the hearts of fools and wise men
alike Did you know Guy at the gallop
When he was a soldier
Did you know Guy at the gallop
When he was a gunner
In the war
It was a blessed time The time of the quartermaster
We are much more crowded than in the buses
And stars passed that mimicked the shells
When in the night came the equestrian battery
Did you know Guy at the gallop
When he was a soldier
Did you know Guy at the gallop
When he was a gunner
In the war
It was a blessed time Vague days and vague nights
The pots gave the logs jackpots
Some aluminum where you contrived
To file improbable rings until evening
Did you know Guy at the gallop
When he was a soldier
Did you know Guy at the gallop
From the time he was an artificer
At the war
It was a blessed time The war continues
The Servants have filed the ring over the months
The Driver listens sheltered in the woods
The song that an unknown star repeats
Did you know Guy at the gallop
From the time he was a soldier
Did you know Guy at the gallop
From the time he was an artificer
At the war
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Analysis (AI Assisted)
This poem reflects on the contradictions of war, blending nostalgia with the brutal realities of conflict. Its refrain, “Did you know Guy at the gallop,” gives a personal and rhythmic focus, drawing attention to the human element amidst the chaos. Through vivid imagery and repetition, the poem creates a layered portrayal of camaraderie, the passage of time, and the indelible marks war leaves on memory.
The poem begins with a wistful tone, recalling “a blessed time” on the beaches, barefoot and carefree. This idyllic image sharply contrasts with the mention of love wounding “the hearts of fools and wise men alike,” hinting at the universal vulnerability of human emotion. The shift to war introduces a jarring juxtaposition—youthful freedom is replaced by the relentless demands of service.
The refrain grounds the poem in a specific figure, Guy, whose galloping actions symbolize both the literal movement of a soldier and the fleeting nature of those wartime moments. Guy’s roles as a soldier, gunner, and artificer emphasize his transformation through the war, while the repetition underscores the persistence of memory.
The poem’s imagery conveys the monotony and creativity of wartime survival. Soldiers “contrive to file improbable rings until evening,” turning mundane moments into small acts of resistance or artistry. Meanwhile, the equestrian battery and “stars that mimicked the shells” paint a surreal picture of war, blending beauty and destruction.
The final stanza returns to the refrain, but with a tone of resignation. “The war continues,” and the soldiers, like the rings they file, are shaped by time and the demands of duty. Yet, even in the woods, the Driver listens to “the song that an unknown star repeats,” suggesting a fragile connection to beauty and hope amid hardship.
This poem captures the complex interplay of nostalgia, duty, and loss. It highlights the human capacity to find meaning and creativity in even the bleakest circumstances, while mourning the innocence and freedom lost to war. Its rhythmic repetition and vivid imagery leave a lingering sense of both the personal and collective impact of conflict.