Advanced English

‘Homecoming’ was written in 1968. This was at the height of the Vietnam War when the tide was turning and the anti-war movement was gaining momentum. In his poem, Dawe depicts the harsh realities of war.

One of the main ideas explored in the poem is the senseless waste of human life during the war. Dawe uses many techniques to convey his message. “All day, day after day”, the repetition emphasises the futility and senselessness and creates an image of a continuous flow of bodies; it implies that the war is never ending. This is not unique to the Vietnam War, and many still face these realities in war, this means the audience connects to and feels empathy for the situation, as it still exists today.

Loss of hope is another prominent idea in the poem; the imagery in “telegrams tremble like leaves from a wintering tree” forces the reader to imagine the leaves, fragile and dying. Personification likens these leaves to the telegrams being opened. This idea is further shown in the last line “they’re bringing them home, now, too late, too early”, the paradox in the line expresses almost bitterness, a loss of hope and futility. It evokes strong emotions from the reader.

The effects of war on the environment and communities can be seen in “the steaming chow mein”, in which Dawe uses a common Vietnamese food to express the destruction of the landscape. They all felt for the soldiers and respected their efforts, even the dogs who “raised muzzles in mute salute”. The war bound many in shared grief and sadness.

‘Homecoming’ is very effective; it explores a deeply sensitive issue that is very relevant today. It evokes a strong reaction from the reader and makes us consider the costs of