Impression sketch
of a smiling Private Wilfred Owen -
by Jamie. see an original at: http://www.standpointmag.co.uk/node/5483/full
i
By
the river Garonne, of South West
France,
Bordeaux had seen itself
As
the temporary sister of Paris -
In
an invasion threat of the capital.
With
issue abated, matters turned
Back
to ordinary status - with seat
Of Government
back in Paris, some
Normality
returned to Bordeaux.
One
British resident to experience
That excitement, settled back into
A
routine as English tutor - yet matters
For
Mr W. Owen altered with spring.
While
settled within his pre-war post,
Issues of war, and an idea to fight,
Were
never far from his mind's eye -
Everywhere
talk, papers and soldiers.
ii
Idling
plans continued in thoughts
Of
his own situation - and somehow
What
he might do for the war's fight;
Those
about tried to dissuade ideas.
With
a six week plan set to take him
Back
to Britain and London’s heart -
A
pivotal centre of the war machine,
Owen
suppressed such excitement.
Yet
countered by sensibility, a need
To
earn money, he promised to return
Within
the summer months to carry
On
his duty as professor of elocution.
From
Bordeaux, a slow journey took
Wilfred
first to Paris, where he met
With
Tailhade - poet and friend -
To
take in Parisian sights and scenes.
iii
Yet
doubtless to see movements
Of
endless soldiers, both English
And French
nations pass, always
Onwards
to some fighting frontiers.
This
intensity of sights for Wilfred
Owen
increased on reaching Calais,
With
its boundless military nature
Of troop
ships, in and out of harbour.
Likely
self conscious of his civilian
Attire,
Owen probably brooded,
Within
the encircling men of his age,
Who
filled all boats and London trains.
Owen's
Arrival in a British capital,
Would
bring an alternative scene
Of previous
visits - in atmosphere
In London's life of wartime fixation.
iV
Papers
daily added with fresh
News
- to include May-times
Sinking
of the Lusitania; while
Nothing
dulled his enjoyment.
Taking his task as trader to perfume
Fair
- Kitchener posters all around,
Questioned
his reason or excuse,
Why
Owen was not yet in khaki.
Thrilled but briefly tired of London
Bustle,
the son made his return
To
Shreswbuy's Mahim - to allow
A
temporary escape to poetry.
In
whirl of satisfied travel a poet
Paused
again in London, where
A
hotel note sparked a thought, to
Invite
gentlemen to Artists Rifles.
V
Owen
speculated over ambitions,
To
see London slums in Victorian
Hangovers
- to ponder on desires
For
success as a possible poet.
Still
remaining without decision
To
join the tutor, as promised made
The
Sunday return trip to Paris;
With
mixed emotions after London.
New
stories came of campaigns
In Gallipoli
prompting Owen's vow;
If war
had no sight of improvement
To take
to an autumn enlistment.
Home communications reached him
Of a relative in khaki - to prompt
A premonition of grandchildren,
Who would ask what he had done.
Vi
Aged
21 with almost a year of war,
A summer illness of June crept
Hold
of Owen, to prompt his fitness
Vow
- a need of a soldier's regime.
A
mother's distant concerns could
Not
deter a son of independence -
To give her unwillingness to provide
His requests
of regiment's address.
His
decision was to write anyway
To
Artists Rifles, posted to a vague
London
Address - duly a reply
Came
to advise of lengthy training.
Although
aspirations may have
Been
to take a commission, Owen
Had
no means - so then initially
He
would start as ordinary Tommy.
Romantic
notions were never far
From
such a poet's head - maybe
An
alternative route could allow him
To join
the Italian Cavalry instead.
Vii
From
his letter's honesty, Susan
Owen
advised how her son might
Find
more satisfaction in a position
Of
safety, within a war office post.
With brief encounter of a sailor
Whose
familiar accent of home,
Prompted
Owen to ask passage -
In
war such ideas were impossible.
Self-guilt
grew in civilian clothes -
In summers depth came more plans,
For
routes to take him homewards;
Concerns
of friends advised him no.
Summer
of 1915 then on the wane
And
Owen had completed promise
To teach
his students - now his plan
Took
over, to make a London return.
Viii
Shrewsbury
and autumn's falling
Dead
leaves, acting as a reality
Of
what he should be his destiny;
Led him to London’s Bloomsbury.
On a
pause of steps in the shade
Of Artists
Rifle Headquarters, two
Masks
looked bleakly down on him
While Wilfred Owen stepped inside.
A keen, willing Doctor passed him
As
fit, while Owen gave happily
Provided
his word of willingness;
As
the fight for Loos had begun.
With long shrugged off hesitancy, his
Joining
up could only provide relief
To
take vow of voluntary service -
That soon would become compulsory.
That soon would become compulsory.
iX
For
a man and poet, prepared
To
give himself to a voluntary vow,
Was more
a true romantic notion
Than
hesitating, only to be pushed.
Arriving
at that point Owen set
On a
four year path in duty to king
To
shrug off unglamorous ideas,
As a man working in munitions.
Previous paths had been diverse
Such
as journalism, civil service,
The
ministry or even a scientist
Or
interpreter; he became a tutor.
Other
potential careers had even
Included
business traveller or
Consular
role, no prior thoughts
Had
seen him in role of a soldier.
Neither
man nor Doctor registered
Any
omens, wherein his previous
Medical
had not been signed off -
Owen
stripped again, to be found fit.
At 5
foot 5, a height that had once
Been
unacceptable Owen was taken
On,
having a fit heart with 6/6 vision,
He
stood with a chest of 36 1/2 inches.
X
The
deed was finally completed, when
On Thursday
21 October 1915, saw
Three men to step forward to swear
Allegiance,
to serve home and abroad.
Wilfred
Edward Salter Owen stood
Before
an officer, Captain Bloomfied,
To
read out the oath and give a virgin
Bible,
a considered and loving kiss.
Romance
takes many forms - equal
To
poets of old who might describe
Notions
of duty, man's honour, pride
Or passion
to die for one's country.
At
moments when in life bold steps
Take
a different unforeseen path,
Excitement
might rule ignorance -
A
man emerged; Private Owen 4756.
by Jamie Mann.
Hibberd, D., 2002. Wilfred Owen –
A New Biography. London. Weidenfeld & Nicolson. Ch 9, Ch 10.
Mann, J., 2015. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal
communication, 20 November 2015).
#WW1 #WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar #WW1centenary
#worldwarone #worldwaroneremembered #WW1Poets
