Contemporary War Poetry
First World War Poetry
War Poetry and Anti-war Poetry
The wide selection of contemporary war poetry on this website is vigorous, moving, opinionated and heart-felt. It is by both soldiers and civilians.
Opinions expressed are not always shared by the editor. My aim has been to offer a wide selection of war poetry for those who feel concerned and affected by modern warfare. Comparisons with poetry of the First World War are often illuminating.David Roberts (Editor).
War Poetry Books page - includes Iraq War, and books for writers of war poetry.
Links to discussions of issues of war, international relations, and war poetry.
New poems added 2010
Israel attacks Gaza Strip:
27 December 2008. (New poem 2010)Poems by Mike Subritsky, New Zealand's leading war poet (New)
Poems 2008. New poem by Niall Campbell added 2010.
Poems by Michael Brett
(Some new, December 2009)Second World War (Two recent discoveries)
Poems for Remembrance Day
Poems by soldiersIraq - the start of the war - 2003
Iraq and other poems late 2005
Iraq and other poems early 2005
Vietnam War (primarily by Curt Bennett)
Falklands War Poetry, Northern Ireland,
Poems of the Falklands War by Bernie Bruen
The persecution of the Palestinians.
Individual poets
Poems by Elisha Porat (Israel)
Poem by Pippa Moss
War poetry to raise funds for injured soldiers
An ex soldier, Chris Hayles, has put together a booklet of war poems to raise money for injured soldiers. It includes several poems by poets who contribute to this war poetry website.
http://royal-signals.org.uk/main/HEROES.php
On this web site
Iraq War Poems and other wars of the twentieth and twenty-first century
This site includes poems by former soldiers, people who have lived in war zones or have close connections with those involved in wars, plus people who have been deeply concerned about recent wars.
Vietnam: Poems from a US pilot, Curt Bennett, recording his Vietnam experiences. (He has also written on events in Iraq and commemoration of the Second World War.) And poems from New Zealand's leading war poet, Mike Subritzky.
Poems about wars in Africa where more people have died in conflicts than anywhere else in the world since the Second World War.
Poetry about the Falklands War 1982, including the psychological consequences which are still being experienced today.
Also included are poems relating to the Kosovo war 1999, Persecution of the Jews 1945, and persecution of the Palestinians 1948-2010.
New poets are from Britain, USA, Israel, Iraq, Canada, Belgium, Nepal, Pakistan, Vietnam and India.
Poems for Remembrance Day
Several of these have been read at Remembrance Day events in Britain. We are always pleased to hear of poems being used and will pass on news to the poets. Poets like to be asked if their poems may be used. I have never known of a refusal, or a request for payment. Please email enquiries to the address below.
War poetry blog
More links
See the Links page for more links to websites concerned with war poetry.
Comments, enquiries and suggestions about any matter to do with this web site will be welcomed.
Dear
Poets
Many thanks to all the poets from all over the world who have
contributed to this website. You show that concern for issues of war
and peace is still intensely felt and that the writing of war poetry
continues to be an important branch of literature.
My policy is to include every poem that has something to say, whether it is an insight, an observation, an expression of emotion, a comment. If you feel your poem has been overlooked in my bulging inbox don't hesitate to email again and point out the oversight.
Your War Poetry?
To submit poems or write to us on any matter please email us. The email address is
Please:
- do not use attachments with your emails as these emails are automatically deleted.
- if possible, format your text to Arial font, with single spacing and justified to the left before copying and pasting poems into your email.
-
Background information about author and/or poem is always welcome as
this can often enhance readers' appreciation of the poems.
Your contact details will not be passed on to anyone. The ownership of copyright remains with the poets. See below.
Phone and fax (UK) 01 444 232 356
This site was last updated 6 September 2010.
David Roberts, Web site Editor, www.warpoetry.co.uk
News Update - Minds at War
Minds at War is
back in print and available from the start of September. See
details below.
First World War Poetry On this web site
Information about anthologies of First World War poetry, including the largest available. Information about war poets, their lives and times (diaries and letters). War poems: from 1914-1918 (with explanatory notes), Social and historical context. Portraits of war poets. Maps of the Western Front.
First World War Poetry Index Page
End
of First World War. Attitudes, assessments and predictions by poets and
others, including some poems of the time.
Anniversaries of End of First World War - Poems and comments by poets and
others in 1918 and shortly after. Remembering the First World War.
Modern poets
who have written about
the First World War
Three newly added
poems by Greg Harper (May 2010)
Harry Patch, Last soldier of the First World
War poetry by Maureen Jones on the sinking of the troop ship, The Aragon, 1917
based on the experience of her grandfather.
War Poetry Books/DVD page
- includes information about a range of anthologies of poetry of the First World War, and
books of poetry collections, biography and critical studies for in depth
explorations of Wilfred Owen, Siegfried Sassoon and Edward Thomas.
War Poetry Anthologies
Minds
at War - the largest anthology of poetry of the First World War.
The classic poems and popular
verse, with a wealth of background information.
NEWS
Minds at War reprint.
This very successful anthology is now printed for the 7th time.
For several weeks this summer copies were available only from a few shops and online stores which had copies left in stock.
As from the first week of September Minds at War is in the distributor's warehouse and is beginning to go out to shops and online stores where there are many customers awaiting delivery. I am very sorry so many people have been kept waiting.
David Roberts,
6 September 2010.
Out in the Dark -
Anthology of First World War poetry recommended for students and the
general reader.
Classic poems,
historical contexts, explanatory notes, extracts from poets' letters
and diaries, biographical information.
Poets of the First World War
Wilfred Owen - An introduction to his life and war experience
Edward Thomas - a glimpse of his nature
The First World War and its Poets
Brief Lives of 25 War Poets
Poems of the First World War
War Poems (some with notes)
Dulce et Decorum Est by Wilfred Owen
Anthem for Doomed Youth by Wilfred Owen
Here Dead We Lie by A E Housman
Peace by Rupert Brooke
This is no case of . . . by Edward Thomas
First World War Poetry On this web site
Information about anthologies of First World War poetry, including the largest available. Information about war poets, their lives and times (diaries and letters). War poems: from 1914-1918 (with explanatory notes), Social and historical context. Portraits of war poets. Maps of the Western Front.
First World War Poetry Index Page
Links page Poetry, war poets and war and peace studies - Information and links to related useful organisations
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Bits to paste into your website
For war poetry of the First World War (and information about its poets), plus poetry about, Iraq, Falklands, Sierra Leone, Palestine/Israel, the Holocaust and Vietnam go to: www.warpoetry.co.uk
OR
To visit the War Poetry website click here www.warpoetry.co.uk
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The poetry and verse on this website can be taken as reflecting the views, observations and insights of the individual authors or views which they do not hold but want to present for others to consider. The picture shows Baghdad under US bombardment, March 2003. The UK fired a few missiles, too, in support. |
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This page copyright © David Roberts 2010 All or part of it may be freely copied for personal or non profit use.
www.warpoetry.co.uk
Copyright information
Contemporary war poetry in this website appears by permission of the authors. They retain the copyright. If you wish to use any of the poems for publication or public presentation or transmission please contact the website editor who will be pleased to approach the poets for permission to use their work. So far permission has always been granted. Use of texts by students writing in the course of their studies is permitted under copyright law and needs no special permission.
Contemporary war poetry presented on the website, www.warpoetry.co.uk is copyright, the authors©1960-2010.