The Thousandth Regiment - 9. "We have rifles set and lifted in our hands"

The picture he describes is scarring, but I can not say what is more scaring the picture or the way he phrases it so clearly and impressively. He saw very early that there was a need for a change of system. And your translation illuminates his thoughts in English language. Which is awesome and I think Hans would have cherished your effort much.

He said: Will poets really be there to create all (the new world)? Sadly the answer was no at that time, but I think, this question continues.

And your hard work and your wonderful poetry makes me answer it with yes, now.

It's easy to imagine how this scene looks, more difficult is imagining how it feels. Han's paints the picture in no uncertain terms.

The enemy fires a star shell overhead, and suddenly all stealth, all subtle movement is laid bare. I can feel the momentary paralysis, every sense strained. The soldier is utterly vulnerable, illuminated in the open. The soldier feels exposed, perhaps terrified. The only safety is on the ground, in the mud, before the enemy’s lines erupt with gunfire. 

This poem perfectly illustrates the soldier’s lot in war. Thank you. 

Night patrol in woods … no moon.  They cannot see down their ranks and don't know where their comrades are really.  It is quiet, other than the creaking of trees.  There is an enemy's shell which lights up everything …  All are blinded by the light temporarily .. hard to see where the others are.  They stop to listen. 

Those not down there already are ordered into the mud and wet to hide from their enemy's bullets. 

Great poem AC. 

Soldiers stealthily marching into the unknown. Fearful, I’m sure, but alert and ready. The branches cracking, and the light from enemy fire, then the sudden order to get down, all add to the tension I feel in this translation. 

Feels almost wrong to say well done, but it is.  

On 8/17/2019 at 8:47 AM, Lyssa said:

The picture he describes is scarring, but I can not say what is more scaring the picture or the way he phrases it so clearly and impressively. He saw very early that there was a need for a change of system. And your translation illuminates his thoughts in English language. Which is awesome and I think Hans would have cherished your effort much.

He said: Will poets really be there to create all (the new world)? Sadly the answer was no at that time, but I think, this question continues.

And your hard work and your wonderful poetry makes me answer it with yes, now.

Thank you, Lyssa. I just read the entire quote yesterday -- the one he wrote in a letter about poets creating the new world (thanks to you typing up the book's Introduction for me ). It is an amazing passage, and confirms what I glean from the poems: Hans was a visionary and foresaw the outcome of the conflict would be a democratic Germany. It's another element to the tragedy that he did not live long enough to see the Wiemar Republic come about.

This poem is one of the few in the collection that can be understood as entirely "Modern," that is as in the Modern Art Movement where the emotions of the artist are not presented. Hans shows us the scene and leaves any emotional response entirely up to the sympathies of the reader. Already as an artist he was moving towards artistic trends that only began to be followed after the war. More evidence of an amazingly creative mind. 

Thanks again for all of your support and encouragement      

On 8/17/2019 at 9:10 AM, Mikiesboy said:

It's easy to imagine how this scene looks, more difficult is imagining how it feels. Han's paints the picture in no uncertain terms.

Yes, he seems to leave any sense of emotional impact out. For artistic reasons, it could be that's he recreating in the reader a "no time to react" moment in life. If so, it works really well, as the meaning of the last three lines can be understood as unfolding in a couple of different ways.  

Thank you, Tim, for reading and commenting. I know these are not easy to read sometimes

21 hours ago, Parker Owens said:

The enemy fires a star shell overhead, and suddenly all stealth, all subtle movement is laid bare. I can feel the momentary paralysis, every sense strained. The soldier is utterly vulnerable, illuminated in the open. The soldier feels exposed, perhaps terrified. The only safety is on the ground, in the mud, before the enemy’s lines erupt with gunfire. 

This poem perfectly illustrates the soldier’s lot in war. Thank you. 

Thank you, Parker. Compared to similar poems coming earlier in the series, this one stays focused on the scene. All the feelings you mentioned are "left out" of explicit commenting on in the poem. There seems to be no room, as the action is fast paced. In this regard, the poem is remarkable. 

I've come to believe the ambiguity of the ending is on purpose. It leaves the reader abruptly, with the feeling of confusion the soldiers themselves must have been experience in this scene. There seems to be some highly subtle poetry craft going on here.

Thank you, as always, for sharing your thoughts with us. Muah

16 hours ago, MichaelS36 said:

Night patrol in woods … no moon.  They cannot see down their ranks and don't know where their comrades are really.  It is quiet, other than the creaking of trees.  There is an enemy's shell which lights up everything …  All are blinded by the light temporarily .. hard to see where the others are.  They stop to listen. 

Those not down there already are ordered into the mud and wet to hide from their enemy's bullets. 

Great poem AC. 

 

Thank, Mike. Again you summarize the poem perfectly. With the final three lines, I initially wondered if there were sent to the mud because soldiers behind them were standing to fire. But now I seem to see the soldiers coming through the stubble in clusters as being from the enemy position. 

I think the ambiguity is on purpose, as if Hans is wanting to instill this feeling of confusion and dread directly into the reader.

Thanks again for reading and commenting. You're efforts are highly appreciated   

16 hours ago, Defiance19 said:

Soldiers stealthily marching into the unknown. Fearful, I’m sure, but alert and ready. The branches cracking, and the light from enemy fire, then the sudden order to get down, all add to the tension I feel in this translation. 

Feels almost wrong to say well done, but it is.  

Thank you, Def. This is a tense poem, and part of that comes from the sheer not-knowing what is going on. I think the poet tries to bring that over to the reader, to share it, in a way with the soldiers in a do or die situation. 

Thanks again for reading and commenting. I always appreciate your take on things

3 hours ago, AC Benus said:

Thank, Mike. Again you summarize the poem perfectly. With the final three lines, I initially wondered if there were sent to the mud because soldiers behind them were standing to fire. But now I seem to see the soldiers coming through the stubble in clusters as being from the enemy position. 

I think the ambiguity is on purpose, as if Hans is wanting to instill this feeling of confusion and dread directly into the reader.

Thanks again for reading and commenting. You're efforts are highly appreciated   

Honestly, ground troops are not really my area. I would think in this case they would be side by side rather than two or more rows. Especially in the dark. if someone falls, the guy behind can't see the one in front.  So, I agree with what you say about feeling confusion. I think there would have been a lot of it.. and some guys would have dropped immediately when the shell lit up the night, and others would have to have been told.

He's a great poet and he is, and we are very lucky to have you doing this. 

17 hours ago, MichaelS36 said:

Honestly, ground troops are not really my area. I would think in this case they would be side by side rather than two or more rows. Especially in the dark. if someone falls, the guy behind can't see the one in front.  So, I agree with what you say about feeling confusion. I think there would have been a lot of it.. and some guys would have dropped immediately when the shell lit up the night, and others would have to have been told.

He's a great poet and he is, and we are very lucky to have you doing this. 

Thank you, Mike!