Strong Jaws

Summary

The web content reflects on the eve of WWI through an autobiographical poem and a historical photograph, highlighting the unawareness of the impending horrors among the young men and horses, with a personal connection to the author's grandfather.

Abstract

The website presents a poignant autobiographical poem titled "Strong Jaws," which contemplates the onset of WWI as captured in a photograph of the Victoria Horse Brigade, featuring the author's grandfather. The poem contrasts the youthful vigor and obliviousness of both the men and horses with the grim reality of the war that awaited them. The author, Emily Gibson, shares her emotional response to the image, particularly for the horses, and reveals the personal impact of the war through her grandfather's survival and lifelong scars. The poem is part of Gibson's "Poem a Day" challenge for 2022. Additionally, the content provides links to two related pieces from Dancing Elephant Press that explore the theme of war.

Opinions

The author expresses a deep sense of sorrow for the horses, emphasizing their innocence and unsuitability for the battlefield.
There is a clear reverence for the strength and resilience of the young men, symbolized by their "strong jaws" and "lean muscles."
The author acknowledges the human-driven nature of war, distinguishing it from the animals' involuntary involvement.
The photograph evokes a strong emotional response from the author, prompting reflection on the sacrifices made by her grandfather and his comrades.
The inclusion of the poem in the "Poem a Day" challenge suggests the author's commitment to processing and articulating historical and personal trauma through poetry.

The horrors of WWI awaited.

Young brawn. Strong jaw sturdy bone lean muscles built to toil with the soil. The men, the horses, neither knew horror lay ahead, nor nearly none would return. Bright faces face forward, yoked in unison — strong jawed young brawn.

When I found this photo, I had to sit with it for a while, understanding what these horses and young men rode into when they arrived in Europe. I was struck by the set in their jaws, both human and equine. When I look at this picture, I weep for the curious and gentle horses especially, who had no business being on that battlefield. Neither did the men, but the war was a human endeavor. My grandfather was one of the few from his unit to return, though he was terribly injured and bore his scars for the rest of his life.

This was Poem #210 of my Poem a Day challenge for the year 2022.

Here are two pieces from Dancing Elephant Press that also touch upon the topic of wars:

Autobiographical Poem/War

Strong Jaws

The horrors of WWI awaited.