Topic Summaries

• Poet: Simon Armitage (1963–)
• Year: 2008 
• Form: Free verse 
• Key techniques: Colloquial language, graphic imagery, repetition

About the poet

Simon Armitage is a contemporary British writer and the current Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom (2019–2029). He first worked as a probation officer, having obtained an MA in social work, before becoming a full-time writer. His poetry is known for its direct, conversational tone and focus on the experiences of ordinary people. His poems often focus on war, its psychological impact, and the inner emotional landscapes of soldiers.

Historical context

This poem reflects the experience of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) experienced by veterans, particularly British soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan during the 2000s.

Literary context

This poem is part of a collection called The Not Dead which explores the psychological scars inflicted on those who survive a war. In keeping with the rich history of war poetry as a genre from earlier conflicts, most notably the work of Wilfred Owen whose WWI poems touched on the same ideas of trauma (then called ‘shell shock’), Armitage’s work emphasises the horrors of war by depicting its impact on the human mind. He was also influenced by poets like Ted Hughes and Philip Larkin who combine sharp observations with social commentary.

Key ideas

• Psychological trauma of war
• Guilt and moral ambiguity
• Lasting effects of war
• Loss of control over one’s life