Narrator, “Mametz Wood”
The narrator of this poem is a rather omniscient being. He or she looks down upon the burial site that is Mametz Woods and comments on the massive loss of live that took place there. The narrator recounts how farmers will often discover re-surfaced bones of soldiers who died in this place during a war long ago. The narrator also contemplates the repercussions of finding these bones and likens the Earth to a living being—one who picks and chooses when she will surrender more bones.
Soldiers, “Mametz Wood”
The deceased soldiers—whose bones are featured in this poem—are arguably the most central characters, for it is their lives that the narrator writes about. The soldiers in the book have been deceased for some time. Their bones return to the surface of Earth each year, to be found by farmers tending to their fields. With each discovered bone, it is suggested by the narrator, that a new soldier is officially laid to rest and able to proclaim a final declaration of death. The soldiers in this particular poem represent all soldiers—both discovered and lost—who have died as a result of war. They serve as a physical and emotional reminder of lost lives, some of which will be recovered and some of which will remain buried for all time.
The Farrier, “The Farrier”
The farrier is the subject of this poem. The farrier is a symbol for all working craftsmen. He represents the tenacity and grit that is required to be a craftsman. He also encapsulates the idea that craftsmanship is an art. The way the man tends to his horses requires gentility and skill, just like a traditional profession. In this way, the farrier is representative of all craftsmen and encapsulates the care and precision that is required to perfect a craft.
Narrator, “The Farrier”
The narrator of this poem aims to showcase an underappreciated craftsman: the farrier. The narrator is clearly in awe of the precision and skill that farriers utilize on a daily basis and aims to share this under-appreciation with others. The narrator wants to share with readers how much skill is required to be a successful craftsman—like a farrier.
Narrator, “Marking Time”
The narrator of this poem recalls a particularly sensual and lust-filled romp with his past lover. The narrator explains to readers that physical marks can serve as powerful reminders of past events—both good and bad. The marks that are left on his lover’s back will remain there forever and, as a result, will always serve as a reminder of all that occurred on that night. In short, the narrator shares with readers the idea that physical reminders can transport one or more individuals back to a very particular time and/or memory.
Narrator’s Lover, “Marking Time”
Though the narrator’s lover does not ever speak in this poem, she is integral to it, as it is the marks on her back that remind the narrator of their sensual and lustful romp so many nights ago. This character has marks that have been permanently embedded into her back—marks that were received on the night of the sexual encounter. The marks on this woman’s back serve as a reminder to the narrator of their sensual love. She also epitomizes the idea that, though scars may fade, the marks they leave will always remain to remind us of specific memories, both good and bad.
