Thomas Annotates Owen's "Anthem for Doomed Youth"

Gunfire & artillery becomes oppressive, before fading out slightly.

What passing-bells for these who die as cattle?

Beginning of Iambic pentameter as per sonnet verse structure.

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Only the monstrous anger of the guns.

Only the stuttering rifles' rapid rattle

Can patter out their hasty orisons.

Orison - A prayer

No mockeries now for them; no prayers nor bells;

Nor any voice of mourning save the choirs,—

The shrill, demented choirs of wailing shells;

And bugles calling for them from sad shires.

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What candles may be held to speed them all?

Beginning of sestet.

Not in the hands of boys, but in their eyes

Shall shine the holy glimmers of goodbyes.

The pallor of girls’ brows shall be their pall;

Pallor - Pale Skin
Pall - funeral cloth

Their flowers the tenderness of patient minds,

And each slow dusk a drawing-down of blinds.

Ambient room noise and gunfire fades away into silence.