All a poet can do today is warn.
Wilfred Owen
Wilfred Owen: English Poet and Soldier
Today, we commemorate the birth of English poet and soldier Wilfred Owen, who was born on this day, March 18th in 1893. Owen’s impactful war poetry shed light on the horrors of trenches and gas warfare, heavily influenced by his mentor Siegfried Sassoon. Among his most renowned works are “Anthem for Doomed Youth,” “Dulce et Decorum Est,” and “Strange Meeting.” Owen’s poetry eloquently critiques the glorification of war while delving into themes of loss, disillusionment, and the human cost of conflict.
Poets provide us with a unique perspective, allowing us to see the world through their eyes. Through their verses, poets offer us a glimpse into their emotions, experiences, and observations. Their words have the power to transcend boundaries and connect us to different cultures, historical events, and diverse perspectives.
Poets speak to our souls, striving to provide solace, stimulate empathy, or preserve our time in history through their verses. With their words, they enlighten us and foster a deeper understanding of the human experience and the world around us.
Rebecca's Reading Room 
I will never forget the first time I read “Dulce et Decorum Est.” Just reading the title again takes me back to that intense, visceral reaction–40+ years later.
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“My friend, you would not tell with such high zest
To children ardent for some desperate glory,”
I know exactly what you feel, Liz. I have tried to recite this poem and could only read a couple of lines….
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It was the imagery that got to me.
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Rebecca, you eloquently marked the birth of a very important poet.
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Thank you, Dave! My father introduced me to Wilfred Owen and to other wartime poets. I think these poets where an influence during his time in WWII. I understand when Dad was walking down the road away from my grandparents farm to take a bus to join his regiment, he could here my grandmother on the piano playing hymns.
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What a poignant memory, Rebecca!
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William Owen was the War Poet I first discovered, and his work touched me intensely, provoking a long-term interest in the human side of the horrors of WW1. He stayed in my home town, Ripon, during training exercises, not long before his early death. and the city honours its connection with him.
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I did not know that Wilfred Owen spent time in Ripon. I had to find out more!! I read that in March 1918, Ripon became a place of inspiration and contemplation for him. His poetic endeavors flourished as he crafted and refined works like “Futility” and “Strange Meeting” during his time at the Northern Command Depot. The tranquility of Ripon Cathedral, dedicated to his namesake, St. Wilfrid of Hexham, set the stage for a meaningful observance of his 25th birthday.
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He found himself living in a spot that to this day is a tranquil part of the city, and within an easy walk of the cathedral he loved so much. His death, so shortly after seemed as unnecessary as every death in that horrendous conflict.
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