Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

“God’s Hills” is a poem by William Noel Hodgson, a British soldier and poet who fought in World War I. This poem was written during his time on the Western Front and published posthumously in his collection “Verse and Prose in Peace and War” in 1918. The poem captures the natural beauty of the French countryside where the war was being fought, and the stark contrast between the tranquility of nature and the violence of war.

The poem is divided into three stanzas, each consisting of four lines. The first stanza paints a picture of the natural beauty of the hills, with their “rippling green” and “gleaming wheat”. The second stanza then turns to the war that rages in the valleys below, with the “crash of guns” and “tramp of men”. The final stanza brings the two contrasting images together, as the speaker imagines the hills and valleys at peace once more, and prays for the “strength to love and sing” even amidst the destruction and death of war.

The language of the poem is simple and direct, with no complex literary devices or ornate language. The poet relies on the vivid imagery of the hills and the sounds of war to create a powerful contrast. The poem’s rhyme scheme is AABB, which adds to its simple and straightforward structure.

Overall, “God’s Hills” is a poignant poem that captures the tragedy of war and the beauty of nature, and reminds us of the need to find hope and love even in the midst of destruction and despair.