Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"War Verse" by June Jordan is a biting and succinct critique of the detached nature of modern warfare, particularly the use of aerial bombings. Through this poem, Jordan conveys the irony and tragedy of technological advancements in warfare that distance the perpetrators from the human suffering they cause. The poem’s structure and repetition underscore its central themes, creating a powerful indictment of the impersonal brutality of war.

The repetition of the line "Something there is that sure must love a plane" opens and closes the poem, framing the verses with a sense of grim resignation. This line, a deliberate echo of Robert Frost's "Mending Wall," invokes a sense of inevitability and complicity. Frost's line, "Something there is that doesn't love a wall," suggests a natural force that opposes barriers between people, whereas Jordan's adaptation suggests an unnatural fascination with instruments of war that create separation and destruction.

Jordan's use of irony is evident in the juxtaposition of the cold, mechanical efficiency of aerial bombings against the human cost they incur. The line "No matter how many you kill with that kind of / bombs or how much blood you manage to spill / you never will hear the cries of pain" starkly contrasts the silent detachment of the pilots with the visceral reality on the ground. This detachment is both a physical and emotional distance, enabled by the technology of modern warfare that allows for killing without witnessing the immediate consequences.

The poem further critiques the sanitized perception of such warfare. "The pilots are never crazy or mean / and bombing a hospital's quick and it's clean" challenges the narrative that modern military actions are conducted by morally upright individuals using precise and justified means. By highlighting the bombing of a hospital—an act that should be universally condemned—Jordan exposes the absurdity of considering such actions as "quick and clean." The phrase "quick and clean" is heavily laden with irony, as it masks the horrific reality of civilian casualties and the destruction of critical infrastructure under the guise of efficiency and precision.

Jordan questions the sanity of this detached method of warfare with the line "and how could you call such precision insane?" This rhetorical question forces the reader to confront the moral and ethical implications of using technology to conduct war from a distance. The precision of modern weapons, often touted as a means to minimize collateral damage, is rendered meaningless when the act of killing becomes devoid of humanity and accountability.

The closing repetition of "Something there is that sure must love a plane!" reiterates the bitter irony of society's acceptance and even celebration of technological advancements in warfare. By framing the poem with this line, Jordan leaves the reader with a sense of unresolved tension and a call to reflect on the implications of such a love for planes, or rather, for the impersonal efficiency of modern warfare.

In conclusion, "War Verse" by June Jordan is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that critiques the detachment and dehumanization inherent in modern aerial bombings. Through her use of irony, repetition, and stark imagery, Jordan compels the reader to consider the moral costs of technological advancements in warfare and the troubling ease with which they can be used to inflict widespread suffering.

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