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:

    —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)

    My friend, you would not tell with such high zest
    To children ardent for some desperate glory,
    The old Lie: Dulce et decorum est
    Pro patria mori.
    Wilfred Owen (1893–1918)

    The pallor of girl’s brows shall be their pall;
    Their flowers the tenderness of patient minds,
    And each slow dusk a drawing-down of blinds.
    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)

    War brought more glory to their eyes than blood,
    And gave their laughs more glee than shakes a child.
    Wilfred Owen (1893–1918)