Wilfred Owen

Wilfred Owen

Wilfred Edward Salter Owen MC (18 March 1893 – 4 November 1918) was an English poet and soldier, one of the leading poets of the First World War. His shocking, realistic war poetry on the horrors of trenches and gas warfare was heavily influenced by his friend Siegfried Sassoon and stood in stark contrast to both the public perception of war at the time, and to the confidently patriotic verse written by earlier war poets such as Rupert Brooke. Among his best-known works – most of which were published posthumously – are "Dulce et Decorum Est", "Insensibility", "Anthem for Doomed Youth", "Futility" and "Strange Meeting".

Read more about Wilfred Owen:  Early Life, War Service, Poetry, Relationship With Sassoon, Death, Depictions in Popular Culture

Famous quotes by wilfred owen:

    My soul’s a little grief, grappling your chest,
    To climb your throat on sobs; easily chased
    On other sighs and wiped by fresher winds.
    Wilfred Owen (1893–1918)

    There was an artist silly for his face,
    For it was younger than his youth, last year.
    Wilfred Owen (1893–1918)

    —Thus their hands are plucking at each other;
    Picking at the rope-knouts of their scourging;
    Snatching after us who smote them, brother,
    Pawing us who dealt them war and madness.
    Wilfred Owen (1893–1918)

    the white eyes writhing in his face,
    His hanging face, like a devil’s sick of sin;
    If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood
    Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs,
    Obscene as cancer,
    Wilfred Owen (1893–1918)

    To-night he noticed how the women’s eyes
    Passed from him to the strong men that were whole.
    How cold and late it is! Why don’t they come
    And put him into bed? Why don’t they come?
    Wilfred Owen (1893–1918)