![]() The ‘green hedge’ that the soldier stumbles towards is a piece of seemingly untouched nature amongst a ruined landscape or, metaphorically, a symbol of hope amongst the surrounding devastation. The image of ‘a field of clods’ (a lump of earth) describes the war-torn state of the battlefield, emphasising the brutal destructivity of war. The word ‘raw’ is a homograph, and is repeated here in different senses – firstly to describe the soldier’s emotions, namely his fear and desperation, and secondly the lack of hem to his, therefore evidently carelessly-made, ‘hot khaki’ uniform. The instantaneity with which he goes from awakening to running creates a sense of urgency, although Hughes purposefully leaves the reader unaware of its source, evoking suspense. The poem begins in media res as the soldier gains consciousness, plunging him and the reader into the action simultaneously. He plunged past with his bayonet toward the green hedge, ![]() Threw up a yellow hare that rolled like a flameĪnd crawled in a threshing circle, its mouth wide Of his still running, and his foot hung like Listening between his footfalls for the reason Like a man who has jumped up in the dark and runs Was he the hand pointing that second? He was running ![]() In what cold clockwork of the stars and the nations Sweating like molten iron from the centre of his chest, – The patriotic tear that had brimmed in his eye Stumbling across a field of clods towards a green hedgeīullets smacking the belly out of the air – ![]() In raw-seamed hot khaki, his sweat heavy, ![]()
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