Enemies

Read 'Enemies' by 'Siegfried Sassoon' and provide your summary and literary analysis in the comments section below.

Enemies by Siegfried Sassoon

 He stood alone in some queer sunless place 
Where Armageddon ends. Perhaps he longed 
For days he might have lived; but his young face 
Gazed forth untroubled: and suddenly there thronged 
Round him the hulking Germans that I shot
When for his death my brooding rage was hot. 

He stared at them, half-wondering; and then 
They told him how I’d killed them for his sake— 
Those patient, stupid, sullen ghosts of men; 
And still there seemed no answer he could make.
At last he turned and smiled. One took his hand 
Because his face could make them understand.

Form: Lyric Comments

Comments About This Poem

Share your interpretation, favorite passage, or thoughts about this famous poem. Please provide an in-depth and meaningful comment.

  • What do you think the poet was trying to say?
  • Which line had the biggest impact on you?
  • How does this poem relate to modern life?
  • What literary devices did you notice?
No comments have been posted yet. Be the first to share your thoughts.
Get a Premium Membership
Turn off ads, get more exposure for your poetry, and get more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Diverse Voices: The Poetry of Human Rights and the Pursuit of Peace