I Know The Music Poem by Wilfred Owen

I Know The Music

Rating: 3.1


All sounds have been as music to my listening:
Pacific lamentations of slow bells,
The crunch of boots on blue snow rosy-glistening,
Shuffle of autumn leaves; and all farewells:

Bugles that sadden all the evening air,
And country bells clamouring their last appeals
Before [the] music of the evening prayer;
Bridges, sonorous under carriage wheels.

Gurgle of sluicing surge through hollow rocks,
The gluttonous lapping of the waves on weeds,
Whisper of grass; the myriad-tinkling flocks,
The warbling drawl of flutes and shepherds' reeds.

The orchestral noises of October nights
Blowing () symphonetic storms
Of startled clarions ()
Drums, rumbling and rolling thunderous and () .

Thrilling of throstles in the keen blue dawn,
Bees fumbling and fuming over sainfoin-fields.

I Know The Music
COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Kevin Straw 26 July 2012

Anyone who thinks this is a good poem knows nothing about poetry.

2 16 Reply

Lovely poem. Could hear the music of the slow bells, the shuffle of autumn leaves etc

5 2 Reply
Ian Fraser 26 July 2011

An interesting fragment. Owen used a number of the ideas, most notably the bells, in his more famous Anthem for Doomed Youth (qv) . I'm sure someone will correct me if I am wrong but I think this might be an early piece written before his war experiences, at any rate the contrast in style is stark and most revealing.

6 1 Reply
Surhdique Adeogun 26 July 2012

a transcedent poetic piece, carefully thought out.totally like the simple diction and the endrhyme

3 2 Reply
Carlos Echeverria 26 July 2012

The sounds of life harmonize for the willing listener.

4 1 Reply
Sylvia Frances Chan 29 August 2024

The Classic poem of The Day, chosen by Poem Hunter and Team. Most deserving poem.

0 0 Reply
Sylvia Frances Chan 29 August 2024

This poem lacks explicit war imagery but shares the theme of emotional intensity. It reflects the societal emphasis on music and the arts during the early 1900s, as a means of escapism and emotional expression.TOP Marks 5 Stars and thank you so much for sharing.

0 0 Reply
Castellenas John 22 March 2019

A poem of legend. Can read a thousand times.

1 0 Reply
Cassidy Jenkins 07 June 2016

This seems elementary compared to his other peices. Still it offers perspective and detail. I wonder if maybe the simplicity in the style was manipulated to capture the idea of how simple it is to observe and find the beauty in simple things. If so, well played.

7 0 Reply
Crystal Rosser 26 July 2014

He knows the music sung by nature. Stop and smell the roses and listen to their music as well...

6 2 Reply
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Wilfred Owen

Wilfred Owen

Shropshire / England
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