An old man emerged from the ditch, a creature Of mud and…
““An old man emerged from the ditch, a creature Of mud and wild autumn winds capering Like a hare across a bouldered field, across And through the stillness of time unhinged That sprawls patient and unexpected in the Place where battle lies spent, unmoving and Never again moving bodies strewn and Death-twisted like lost languages tracking Contorted glyphs on a barrow door, and he read well the aftermath, the disarticulated script Rent and dissolute the pillars of self toppled Like termite towers all spilled out round his Dancing feet, and he shouted in gleeful Revelation the truth he'd found, in these Red-fleshed pronouncements - “There is peace!” He shrieked. “There is peace!” and it was No difficult thing, where I sat in the saddle Above salt-rimed horseflesh to lift my crossbow Aim and loose the quarrel, skewering the madman To his proclamation. “Now,” said I, in the Silence that followed, “Now, there is peace.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
A war‑torn figure declares peace amidst chaos, revealing that peace can be both a revelation and a weapon, depending on perspective.
In simple terms: Peace can be declared even in the midst of violence.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the paradox of peace in conflict.
Themes
war
peace
paradox
revelation
conflict
Mood
tense
reflective
grim
Type
literary
philosophical
poetic
When to use this quote
- battlefields
- personal crisis
- political negotiations
- spiritual awakenings
Key Concepts
existentialism
nihilism
duality
Questions to Reflect On
- What does peace mean when it follows violence?
- Can peace be genuine if it is shouted as a weapon?
A Different Perspective
Peace may be fleeting and can be used to justify further violence.