Will it be so again? – Cecil Day Lewis
IEB 2025
Will it be so again
That the brave, the gifted are lost from view,
And the empty, scheming men
Are left in peace their lunatic age to renew?
Will it be so again?
Must it be always so
That the best are chosen to fall and sleep
Like seeds, and we too slow
In claiming the earth they quicken, and the old usurpers reap
What they could not sow?
Will it be so again
The jungle code and the hypocrite gesture?
A poppy wreath for the slain
And a cut-throat world for the living? that stale imposture
Played on us once again?
Will it be as before
Peace, with no heart or mind to ensure it,
Guttering down to war
Like a libertine to his grave?
We should not be surprised: we knew it
Happen before.
, - The opening line sets a reflective, almost rhetorical
tone.
- The phrase "Will it be so again?" evokes a sense of
cyclical history, suggesting a recurring pattern of
events.
Will it be so again - The repetition of the question serves to emphasize the
uncertainty and disillusionment with past outcomes. It
implies that history might repeat itself, with no real
progress.
- The line hints at a frustration with the status quo,
symbolizing a questioning of fate and destiny, and is
left open-ended, demanding the reader to reflect on the
possibility of future repetition.
- This line mourns the disappearance or obscurity of
individuals who possess courage and talent.
- The phrase "lost from view" suggests these individuals
are overlooked or ignored in society.
That the brave, the gifted - The "brave" and "gifted" are metaphors for those who
are lost from view, could potentially lead or inspire, but instead are
marginalized or forgotten.
- The line uses personification through "lost" to portray
how these qualities are disregarded or erased,
highlighting societal neglect of potential leaders.
- The tone is lamenting, revealing the disparity between
potential and reality in society.
- Here, "empty" functions as a metaphor for men who
lack substance, integrity, or purpose.
- "Scheming" suggests cunning or deceptive behavior,
implying that these individuals manipulate situations
for personal gain.
And the empty, scheming - The phrase conveys a stark contrast between those who
men possess genuine qualities and those who operate with
selfish intentions.
- The line uses anaphora with the conjunction "and" to
connect it to the previous line, amplifying the portrayal
of these men as the opposite of the "brave" and "gifted."
- It critiques societal values, emphasizing the
glorification of the wrong individuals.
- This line questions whether these deceitful men are
allowed to continue their actions unchallenged.
- "Left in peace" suggests that they are allowed to
Are left in peace their prosper without opposition.
lunatic age to renew? - The phrase "lunatic age" metaphorically describes an
irrational or chaotic time that these men contribute to,
where their actions are seen as both misguided and
dangerous.
- The use of the question mark invites the reader to
ponder whether society passively permits these
individuals to perpetuate harm.
IEB 2025
Will it be so again
That the brave, the gifted are lost from view,
And the empty, scheming men
Are left in peace their lunatic age to renew?
Will it be so again?
Must it be always so
That the best are chosen to fall and sleep
Like seeds, and we too slow
In claiming the earth they quicken, and the old usurpers reap
What they could not sow?
Will it be so again
The jungle code and the hypocrite gesture?
A poppy wreath for the slain
And a cut-throat world for the living? that stale imposture
Played on us once again?
Will it be as before
Peace, with no heart or mind to ensure it,
Guttering down to war
Like a libertine to his grave?
We should not be surprised: we knew it
Happen before.
, - The opening line sets a reflective, almost rhetorical
tone.
- The phrase "Will it be so again?" evokes a sense of
cyclical history, suggesting a recurring pattern of
events.
Will it be so again - The repetition of the question serves to emphasize the
uncertainty and disillusionment with past outcomes. It
implies that history might repeat itself, with no real
progress.
- The line hints at a frustration with the status quo,
symbolizing a questioning of fate and destiny, and is
left open-ended, demanding the reader to reflect on the
possibility of future repetition.
- This line mourns the disappearance or obscurity of
individuals who possess courage and talent.
- The phrase "lost from view" suggests these individuals
are overlooked or ignored in society.
That the brave, the gifted - The "brave" and "gifted" are metaphors for those who
are lost from view, could potentially lead or inspire, but instead are
marginalized or forgotten.
- The line uses personification through "lost" to portray
how these qualities are disregarded or erased,
highlighting societal neglect of potential leaders.
- The tone is lamenting, revealing the disparity between
potential and reality in society.
- Here, "empty" functions as a metaphor for men who
lack substance, integrity, or purpose.
- "Scheming" suggests cunning or deceptive behavior,
implying that these individuals manipulate situations
for personal gain.
And the empty, scheming - The phrase conveys a stark contrast between those who
men possess genuine qualities and those who operate with
selfish intentions.
- The line uses anaphora with the conjunction "and" to
connect it to the previous line, amplifying the portrayal
of these men as the opposite of the "brave" and "gifted."
- It critiques societal values, emphasizing the
glorification of the wrong individuals.
- This line questions whether these deceitful men are
allowed to continue their actions unchallenged.
- "Left in peace" suggests that they are allowed to
Are left in peace their prosper without opposition.
lunatic age to renew? - The phrase "lunatic age" metaphorically describes an
irrational or chaotic time that these men contribute to,
where their actions are seen as both misguided and
dangerous.
- The use of the question mark invites the reader to
ponder whether society passively permits these
individuals to perpetuate harm.
