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Naming of Parts
by Henry Reed

Today we have naming of parts. Yesterday,
We had daily cleaning. And tomorrow morning,

We shall have what to do after firing. But today,

Today we have naming of parts. Japonica
Glistens like coral in all of the neighbouring gardens,
      And today we have naming of parts.

This is the lower sling swivel. And this
Is the upper sling swivel, whose use you will see,
When you are given your slings. And this is the piling swivel, Which in your case you have not got. The branches
Hold in the gardens their silent, eloquent gestures,
      Which in our case we have not got.

This is the safety-catch, which is always released
With an easy flick of the thumb. And please do not let me

See anyone using his finger. You can do it quite easy

If you have any strength in your thumb. The blossoms

Are fragile and motionless, never letting anyone see
      Any of them using their finger.

And this you can see is the bolt. The purpose of this

Is to open the breech, as you see. We can slide it

Rapidly backwards and forwards; we call this
Easing the spring. And rapidly backwards and forwards

The early bees are assaulting and fumbling the flowers:

      They call it easing the Spring. They call it easing the Spring. It is perfectly easy
If you have any strength in your thumb: like the bolt,
And the breech, and the cocking-piece, and the point of balance,

Which in our case we have not got; and the almond-blossom
Silent in all of the gardens and the bees going backwards and forwards,
      For today we have naming of parts.

Appreciation

 

Written about the First World War, this poem could just as well have been written about wars before and since. Note the ironic contrasts and comparisons between the vacuous and senseless sterility of man's weapons of war and the vitality and reality of nature. Today they have the naming of rifle parts, but the parts they have not got. In nature they call it easing the Spring; but for rifles they call it easing the spring. Clearly derived from direct personal experience.

ETAF Recommends

Here ETAF recommends books about Henry Reed and his poetry.



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