Guillaume Apollinaire
Central branch of combat
Contact by listening
Or pull in the direction of “the noises heard”
The young people of the class of 1915
And these electrified wires
Do not cry over the horrors of war
Before it we had only the surface
Of the earth and the seas
After it we will have the abysses
The subsoil and the aviary space
Masters of the helm
After after
We will take all the joys
Of the victors who relax
Women Games Factories Commerce
Industry Agriculture Metal
Fire Crystal Speed
Voice Look Tact apart
And together in the tact come from far
From even further
From Beyond this earth
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Analysis (AI Assisted)
This war poem reflects a stark juxtaposition between the immediate experience of conflict and the larger, potentially catastrophic consequences it will bring. It is a meditation on the aftereffects of war—how it alters both the physical landscape and the way human beings interact with the world. The first stanza speaks to the tension and anxiety present in war, with the “contact by listening” and “pull in the direction of ‘the noises heard.'” The imagery of “electrified wires” suggests a world charged with conflict, emphasizing the technological aspect of modern warfare and its pervasive, almost invisible, influence.
The mention of the “young people of the class of 1915” evokes a generational perspective, acknowledging the human cost of war while also suggesting a lost sense of innocence or opportunity. The tone shifts toward a disillusioned acceptance of the horrors of war, urging the reader not to “cry over the horrors of war” because the transformation of the world, once the dust settles, is inevitable. This suggests a resignation to the idea that war is an inescapable force that shapes the future, regardless of how painful its immediate effects may be.
In the second stanza, the poem takes a more reflective and philosophical turn. The imagery shifts from the physical (the “surface of the earth and the seas”) to the more abstract and infinite (“the abysses, the subsoil and the aviary space”). This transformation points to the larger consequences of war—its far-reaching effects on both the natural world and human civilization. The “masters of the helm” suggest that those who survive the war will have control over a new world, one that will look vastly different from the world before. The mention of “victors who relax” indicates that despite the violence and devastation of war, the aftermath may still offer some comfort or stability for the fortunate few.
The final lines of the poem offer a vision of a future that is almost entirely detached from the earth itself. The imagery of “women, games, factories, commerce, industry, agriculture” serves as a stark contrast to the initial references to war and destruction. These “joys” of the victors are both familiar and unsettling, as they appear to be disconnected from the very human costs of war. The final phrase, “From Beyond this earth,” suggests that the future may not just be a continuation of current human endeavors but something entirely new—an existence that is removed from the earth itself, perhaps pointing toward the possibility of space exploration or a more mechanized, dehumanized world.
Overall, the poem captures a sense of fatalism, resignation, and even hope, but it also underscores the great cost of war—not just in terms of human life but in how it fundamentally alters the course of human civilization. The speaker reflects on the cyclical nature of history and how, after war, a new world emerges, one in which humanity is both connected and disconnected from its past. The future is uncertain, but it will inevitably be shaped by the horrors and victories of the present.