Comparing Poems 'Five Day Requiem For Vietnam And Buttons'

Trauma is often associated with war. As John F. Kennedy once said, “Mankind must put an end to war before war puts an end to mankind” (“War Quotes”). A close analysis of the poems “Five Day Requiem for Vietnam” by Nan Braymer and “Buttons” by Carl Sandburg captures the trauma faced by soldiers during war. At first glance, they merely seem to describe the struggles of a soldier, but a deeper analysis also reveals their effects on the civilians who support them. The reader must also realize that although these poems share the topic of war’s repercussions, their identical literary devices assert contrasting themes. Whereas both poems include devices of pathos and rhetorical questions, “Five Day Requiem for Vietnam” conveys the idea that

Throughout the poem, the alert reader will recognize the author’s audacious and even condemnatory tone, beginning with “The Voice again, / same hollow tones, same pitch” (Braymer, 2-3). The capitalization of “Voice,” which can be inferred as the government at that time, and the entity having “hollow tones” and a “same pitch” gives off an unsettling appeal to emotion, as this peculiar voice is portrayed as having an omniscient presence. One could also argue that the connotations of “hollow” and “same” suggest that the voice lacks human qualities and remains obstinate in its actions. Furthermore, the author criticizes the war’s cause when she writes, “Again and once again / the master pulls the strings, / demands consensus, and the puppets dance” (24-26). In this scenario, pathos is established quite evidently as the word “master” once again refers to the government during the war and the phrases “pulls the strings,” “demands consensus,” and “puppets dance” portray the government’s controlling attributes. Braymer’s use of pathos to appeal to the emotions of the reader reveals the civilians’ mutual mindset in holding the government accountable for its part in fighting a