Before the Battle Summary Siegfried Sassoon B. Ed. First Year English

 Before the Battle by Siegfried Sassoon

Music of whispering trees
Hushed by a broad-winged breeze
Where shaken water gleams;
And evening radiance falling
With reedy bird-notes calling.
O bear me safe through dark, you low-voiced streams.

I have no need to pray
That fear may pass away;
I scorn the growl and rumble of the fight
That summons me from cool
Silence of marsh and pool
And yellow lilies is landed in light
O river of stars and shadows, lead me through the night.

- Siegfried Sassoon (1886 - 1967)

 Siegfried Sassoon was a British army captain during World War I. while on the front lines on June 25, 1916 – just days before the Battle of Somme he wrote this poem

Summary

Before the Battle is a poem composed by Siegfried Sassoon. He wrote this poem when he was in the First World War. He didn't like war but he had to fight bravely in the war against Germans in France. The poem reflects the thoughts of the speaker before a battle.

The speaker describes a place which is near a river. It is a peaceful place and getting dark. (the time was evening) . There was quiet music of whispering trees. Due to the gentle wind,  the river's water shakes and shines. Birds are singing songs. Now it is totally dark. The speaker requested streams that are falling quietly to take him safely to the dark or he feels happy in the dark because in the darkness no one can see him. He is safe.

In the second stanza, it is dark; therefore, he is happy and fearless. He doesn't need to pray for the safety of his life. He cannot see the horror of the day. He scorns the loud irritating sound of the fight. Yellow lilies are seen in the light of stars. He prefers dark, night and wants to go in the dark, and requests stars to show him a path in the night.

We can say the speaker instead of seeing a terrific picture of war prefers death. We can connect dark with death. He thinks after death he will live a peaceful life, free from fear and heart trembling sound (काँप्ने आवाज) of the war.

The poet through this poem gives us a message that even soldiers don't like war. They also want peace. War destroys peaceful land into desert. It never brings good.

This explanation of the poem is based on personal opinion so please read the poem to find out the exact meaning of the poem. Thank you