Wilfred Owen's poetry is known for its shocking images and snapshots of the First World War. He often describes injuries and horrific experiences in detail, emphasizing how traumatic the First World War was for the men in the trenches.
As well as this, Owen also depicted everyday life in the trenches, distant from the action. In this poem, he expresses how mundane life was for the soldiers, who were often waiting around for the action to start. This provoked a sense of anxiety in the trenches, as the men had to be prepared to fight at any minute.
This idea is expressed when Owen writes that "worried by silence, sentries whisper, curious nervous." They are feeling tremendous anxiety, anticipating what might happen next. Although the silence suggests something might happen soon, "nothing happens." This line is used to show how the men were often bored, waiting for something to happen, emphasizing the boredom and fear that characterized life in the trenches.
