I was only nineteen poem. Free Essay: i was only 19 2022-12-20

I was only nineteen poem Rating: 7,2/10 191 reviews

"I Was Only Nineteen" is a poignant and powerful poem that speaks to the devastating effects of war on young people. Written by Australian singer-songwriter John Schumann, the poem tells the story of a young man who is sent to fight in the Vietnam War.

The poem begins with the narrator, a 19-year-old soldier, reflecting on his youth and the innocence that he has lost. He talks about how he used to dream of adventure and excitement, but now all he wants is to go home. The first stanza ends with the powerful line, "I was only nineteen." This line not only emphasizes the young age of the narrator, but also serves as a reminder of the many other young men and women who have been sent to fight in wars throughout history.

The second stanza of the poem describes the horrors of war that the narrator has experienced. He talks about the "mad minutes" of battle and the fear that grips him as he tries to stay alive. He also mentions the "booby traps" and "sudden" deaths that he has witnessed, as well as the "bombs and the bullets" that have taken the lives of his comrades.

The third stanza of the poem focuses on the aftermath of war and the emotional toll that it takes on the narrator. He talks about how he has "seen too much" and how he struggles to sleep at night. He also mentions the "shrapnel in my knees" and the "scars" that he will carry with him for the rest of his life.

The final stanza of the poem is a plea for peace and understanding. The narrator asks that we remember the sacrifices of those who have fought in wars and work towards a world where such violence is no longer necessary. He ends the poem with the lines, "I was only nineteen / But my dreams were all shattered / The ones that I had held so dear / I was only nineteen." These lines drive home the point that war not only takes a physical toll on soldiers, but also destroys their hopes and dreams.

In conclusion, "I Was Only Nineteen" is a poignant and powerful poem that speaks to the devastating effects of war on young people. Its message of peace and understanding is one that resonates with readers of all ages, and serves as a reminder of the need to work towards a more peaceful world.

Redgum

i was only nineteen poem

These two texts are closely related as they are both about war and both closely communicate past experiences of people whilst at war and the detrimental effects it can have in later years. And what's this rash that comes and goes, can you tell me what it means? This clipping from the paper shows us young and strong and clean. This song relates to the difficult experiences soldiers encountered during the Vietnam War. I can still see Frankie, drinking tinnies in the Grand Hotel On a thirty-six hour rec leave in Vung Tau And I can still hear Frankie, lying screaming in the jungle Til the morphine came and killed the bloody row. If only all Americans could have the bond for each other that our soldiers have, we would be a much better country. God this song haunts my soul.

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Only Nineteen

i was only nineteen poem

The emotional response that the poet is wishing to evoke in the audience is that of empathy. When I loved you for nineteen years, my love for you only began to scratch the surface. The training and the passing out parade where we all waved goodbye felt like years ago but it was only weeks. No-one wants to listen to a crazed man. God help me, I was only nineteen. He may not have any other scars, but it was clear that the accident really did kill him. Neil Armstrong landed on the moon July 1969.

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I Was Only Nineteen (A Walk In the Light Green) by Redgum

i was only nineteen poem

We call this PTSD uo here. But you wouldn't let your mates down til they had you dusted off, So you closed your eyes and thought about something else. I once dated a couple of girls whose dads and uncles served in vietnam, they hated this song as it reminded them of the trauma. He describes the saying as 'The old Lie,' implying that it is a trick. Both poems are about the atrocities of war witnessed through the eyes of young soldiers and the emotional hardships and physical trauma they suffer upon their return. This was not war like the comics or movies this was something else. Also - VB does mean victorian beer, The victoria Barracks were only for generals and ordinary soldiers wouldn't refer to it casually in this sence.


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English Elephant: STETS: I WAS ONLY 19

i was only nineteen poem

It also shows that we should be there for each other, to stand beside each other and to do what is right. Retrieved 23 January 2008. I kept on seeing that boy that I killed; I kept on seeing his face. The reference to June and moon was purely to rhyming under poetical licence. Australasian Performing Right Association. These young men at the young age of fourteen believed that they could achieve anything.

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I Was Only Nineteen by Raewyn Harlum

i was only nineteen poem

The song Lorena was very popular during the Civil War due to this, as the soldiers began to think of their…. Australians did visit Khe Sanh doing the war and I used Oz artillery at times but when and where in Vietnam I do not remember. This is about the Vietnam War. I copied it to a CD and played it on ALL missions I went on in Iraq. Around 500 Ozzie's were KIA and about 2500 were wounded in Vietnam. In contrast, Redgum's poem expresses the emotion of pride in the line, Mum and Dad and Denny saw the passing out parade. A strong message is presented through this passage as it brings forth the true raw emotion of the soldiers and the reality of war; which is a major theme throughout the novel.

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I Was Only 19

i was only nineteen poem

. That day I met Frankie he became my mentor and friend. Too often war is glammed up to discount the actual pain of war, too often we hear about the "heroes" that die in war and forget the fact that someone has lost a loved one. They are typical 19-year-old, young German men at one moment. Down he went still alive looking right into my eyes — was this a child? And there's me in my slouch hat, with my SLR and greens. Maybe being half Polish and stubborn, i only have me to blame by not persuing her for an answer lol i just let it go and went back to my mates. And can you tell me, doctor, why I still can't get to sleep? He didn't have 11 months left, Frankie was due to go home in June 1969 but had his tour extended by a couple of months so he was actually supposed to have already gone home when he was wounded.

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I Was Only 19 Notes

i was only nineteen poem

Mum and Dad and Denny saw the passing-out parade at Puckapunyal It was a long march from cadets. Middle The poem again contemplates the loss of youth as a young healthy rover from the outback has his life stolen, from the maiming of his legs in WW1. The song was sung first at a concert which was performed after the Australian Vietnam Veterans' "Welcome Home Parade" which was held in Sydney on 3 October 1987. However, their age is superficial, they… Compare the Poem 'the Manhunt' and 'Quickdraw' Armatage uses imagery of war, such as 'parachute','bullet','unexploded mine'to illustrate the soldiers injuries and emotions. They ranged as far from political ideas, to heroes in war, loved one's misfortune, and plenty more. This can refer to Agent Orange, a chemical that was used on dense jungle and bush areas to burn the foliage off the trees to find the Vietnamese soldiers tunnels and networks.


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War Poems. I Was Only Nineteen by Redgum and And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda by Eric Bogle are emotional accounts of two men who fought in two different wars and the physical and emotional scaring they suffered upon their return.

i was only nineteen poem

They fight beside each as brothers and sisters for our country and protect our rights. There is irony in "Iron Youth" 18 , they are the textbook definition of youth. . Both poems are written in song form, and both clearly illustrate the scaring that young men carry after they return from war. It was similar feelings losing family,mates and my dog etc. The "Light Green" refers to the area on a map of Vietnam.

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