Poetry and War: The Versatility of WWII Letters
Letter writing has held significance in times of intense circumstances in war. Poems have been a staple format in expressing many letters found going from one to another, revealing insight and beautifully moving perspectives. The poems contained in letters written by first-hand encounters in World War II include a variety of contexts from love, and hardship of harsh realities, to optimism/hope, gaining a name for servicemen who were pioneer “soldier poets” and helped develop the genre of war poetry.
In 2011, blogger Felicia-May Stevenson posted on her site, Felicianation Ink, a poem written by her grandfather Ian Munro Stevenson, a soldier in WWII, sent to Felicia’s grandmother, the inspiration of the poem “To Florence”. Proclaiming his yearning for her and his undying love, he describes how sadly and tearfully he goes about his days in the war in memory of her, even being enlightened by the experience in realizing how important to him she truly was:
This War has made me realize
How much I need you dear
At each reveille I arise
To start the day in tears. (5-8)
Stevenson emphasizes the great lengths of emotional torture her absence inflicts in his life and dreams of her touch and physical embrace:
I long for the touch of your loving hands,
and your smile, with teeth like pearls. (15-16)
I long to be at your side again,
And feel the thrill of your lips. (19-20)
He acknowledges his absence in her life currently may spark some doubt or questioning of his devotion and care. Yet, Stevenson pleads his faithfulness and loyalty in loving her, and that this capacity has since grown extensively:
My sweet it has increased ten fold,
And you’ve no need to fear.
My sweetheart please don’t doubt my love,
I’ll never love but you,
I swear by all that’s good above,
that I will always be true. (27-32)
Love can survive various obstacles, including a significant other mile upon miles separated, their life at stake. Worries and fears for the future run rampant, no matter how inaccurate they end up being, the reaffirmation and expression of confidence between each other is so crucial in maintaining that faith that kept these individuals going strong during the war. Now their granddaughter after years of being happily reunited has the blessing of being able to present the world such a love story, continuing to emphasize the content of this poem.
With all the love in one’s heart contained during the war, many did indeed struggle to maintain a high and steady morale while facing grave conflict. James Roy d’Arcy Baker, a Pilot Officer, served overseas with Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, the Royal Canadian Air Force, and the R.C.A.F. until the war ended. He wrote most often to Marjorie, his mother. In one of his poems “To Fighter Pilot” (July 20, 1944, written during the Battle of Great Britain, 1940), archived on The Canadian Letters and Images Project, Baker writes a truly heart-wrenching piece, giving an ode of respect and recognition to the unfortunate last moments of dedicated soldiers who endure tragic fates through battle.
He draws out the lifestyle of an individual who strives with the essence of war efforts in mind. He pays tribute to this soldier (who may be a real acquaintance or a character created for the sake of his message) describing his tragic death lost in battle. Profoundly, he interprets his passing on the field as a sweet release of some sort (“And now your noble soul has found release” (11)), of making peace and being “set free” from “this hating world” (4-5). His death is posed as a sacrifice called by God (9), giving all his life (10), and joining the ranks of the war’s “gallant dead”(14). When reading through these lines, one can interpret this piece to be one of a few things. People can see his words as conveying a sense of relief for his mate, a sense of sadness for his passing and course of life, and even depression for the dropping of soldiers in such a grim, violent world war. There are many other contending ideas, and there may be no right, however, the point of truth behind the brutality of battle is certain to tug at readers as they perceive a raw and honest reality.
Amid these recollections, faith in the betterment of mankind was on the horizon. Especially among soldiers, healthy morales were detrimental to their livelihood (despite how gruesome their circumstances were). Peter Joseph Biollo was a Flying Officer who worked within various parts of the Air Force and later became an Air Bomber before his death. Most of his letters were received by his family. He sent a poem “Bombardiers-Our Song” (1943), archived on The Canadian Letters and Images Project as well. The piece encompasses a strong spirit and high hopes for the journey ahead of these soldiers, venturing into dangerous territory. He describes their mightiness in form, from being “sons of earth” (1), and alludes to birds and their abilities/symbolism to characterize them, such as possessing new wings “sturdy and strong” (5), continuing to emphasize their power of flight and freedom over the land they voyage. He boasts their heart, soul, speed, and control (13-14), and uses more bird/flight imagery in visualizing their smooth and noble movement and attack, “whip[ping] through skies grey with grief” (21). Biolo utilizes a broad range of figurative and comparative language, yet all revolving around natural and earthly elements- an inevitable force of our world. These poetic devices instill not only confidence but support and awe regarding the lengths these troops go to in service.
Many soldiers had taken part in creating their poetic masterpieces, no matter how formulated or intuitive they came to fruition. Throughout this disbursement of wartime poetry, the literary talent of soldiers was praised and renowned as well. Take American soldier-poet Karl Shapiro for instance, as he received a Pulitzer Prize for his works such as V-Letter and Other Poems (1944), a compilation of poems and letters he sent to then-fiance Evalyn Katz, who also helped organize and publish material (Springer 2006). A publication/magazine Poetry: A Magazine of Verse that ran issues during this time and was popular among soldiers/featured soldier poets also influenced this spread of artistic liberty and was a source of comfort and connection between war correspondents. Shapiro and others such as Stanely Kunitz, Randall Jarrell, Roy Fuller, Howard Nemerov, Louis Aragon, and so on were given tribute in their issue of August 1943, “Poets in the Service”(Parisi and Young, pg. 343). This poetry not only be considered war history and a valuable artifact of this age of American history but also serves as lenses for modern individuals to peer into the personal tribulations and inspirations behind the ones who are remembered as war heroes both in the service and in poetic literature.
Works Cited
“Baker, James Roy d’Arcy.” The Canadian Letters & Images
Project, Vancouver Island University, Nanaimo, Canada. January 2023. Baker, James Roy d’Arcy | Canadian Letters.
Baker, James Roy d’Arcy. “To Fighter Pilot.” 20 July 1944. The Canadian Letters & Images
Project, Vancouver Island University, Nanaimo, Canada. document 68844 | Canadian Letters.
Biollo, Peter Joseph. “Bombardiers-Our Song.”1943. The Canadian Letters & Images
Project, Vancouver Island University, Nanaimo, Canada. document 50357 | Canadian Letters.
“Biollo, Peter Joseph.”The Canadian Letters & Images
Project, Vancouver Island University, Nanaimo, Canada. January 2023. Biollo, Peter Joseph | Canadian Letters.
Oostdijk, D. The Wartime Success of Karl Shapiro’s V-Letter . Neophilologus 90, 445–462
(2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11061-006-0009-6.
Parisi, Joseph, and Stephen Young. Dear Editor : A History of Poetry in Letters : The First Fifty
Years, 1912-1962. 1st ed, Norton, 2002.
Stevenson, Felicia. “More Poetry from WWII – A soldier’s letters to his wife.”, Felicianation
Ink, Blogger.com, 2011 September 24, Felicianation Ink: More Poetry From WWII – A soldier’s letters to his wife (feliciamaystevenson.blogspot.com).
Author
hmoore@muhlenberg.edu