I believe that Wilfred Owen�s poem, �Dulce Et Decorum Est,� expresses the reality of the actual dying that one does �for one�s country.� I believe it is a reality that is too often over-looked by those who do not go to war, but believe fully that we should send our kids to war. Owen uses a marvelous selection of words to express death in a very real and sickening way. The poem also suggests a loss of innocence, in that in some cases, we do send our kids to war. A main theme of the poem is very much appearance and reality, the appearance of what is seen at home, and the reality of the war- what isn�t seen or glorified in film or on television.

A great element of this poem is Owen�s selection of words. When I had read it a few times over, I felt as though I was right there with the character. Owen�s use of unattractive and sharp words such as �vile,� �froth-corrupted,� and �incurable sores,� �obscene as cancer,� and so on suggests that death isn�t a beautiful patriotic loss, but a tragic and sorry loss, quite unnecessary, and very over-looked. The man dying is reaching out to him, as if he doesn�t want to die- no one wants to die- The posters suggest that �it is sweet and fitting to die for one�s country,� and here is truth, where sweet and fitting does not enter one�s mind at all, and Owen�s use of words suggest this very clearly. I believe Owens use of these words capture the honest to goodness corruption of war.

The poem ends, right after the truth had been told about the ugliness of war with, �you would not tell with such high zest to children ardent for some desperate glory�� Owen suggests the loss of innocence, �incurable sores on innocent tongues,� an almost grotesque image which suggests that by sending our kids to war, we will be sending them to their ultimate demise. War will kill them, in one way or another; though, no one knew that back then. In the last few lines, Owen suggests that the future can be brighter if one doesn�t tell that age old lie. It is not �sweet and fitting to die for one�s country.�

The poem contrasts lies with truth- appearance and reality. The truth being the actual tragedy, the actual death, and the lies being what will be sold at posters and advertisements to persuade more young people to sign up. The quotation, �It is sweet and fitting to die for one�s country� is ironic.

Overall, I believe that poem is the most honest piece of literature I�ve read about war- after Timothy Findley�s The Wars. �Dulce Et Decorum Est� suggests a bittersweet optimism.