Wilfred Owen
Arms and the Boy
Let the boy try along this bayonet-blade,
How cold steel is, and keen with hunger of blood;
Blue with all malice, like a madman’s flash;
And thinly drawn with famishing for flesh.
Lend him to stroke these blind, blunt bullet-heads
Which long to muzzle in the hearts of lads.
Or give him cartridges of fine zinc teeth,
Sharp with the sharpness of grief and death.
For his teeth seem for laughing round an apple.
There lurk no claws behind his fingers supple;
And God will grow no talons at his heels,
Nor antlers through the thickness of his curls.
By Wilfred Owen
Let the boy try along this bayonet-blade,
How cold steel is, and keen with hunger of blood;
Blue with all malice, like a madman’s flash;
And thinly drawn with famishing for flesh.
Lend him to stroke these blind, blunt bullet-heads
Which long to muzzle in the hearts of lads.
Or give him cartridges of fine zinc teeth,
Sharp with the sharpness of grief and death.
For his teeth seem for laughing round an apple.
There lurk no claws behind his fingers supple;
And God will grow no talons at his heels,
Nor antlers through the thickness of his curls.
By Wilfred Owen
INSTRUCTIONS: Compare the alternatives presented below devised by students and determine which you think is the best, if any. Support your response with analysis as to how the alternative you have chosen may have "captured" the intended effect of the original. Also explain how each alternatives changes the effect of the original. After you have completed the above, feel free to add one more version of your own. (Note: To complete this assignment, follow the 'Ellipsis' tab to the 'more' tab and make a comment.)
( α ) alpha
Arms and the Boy
Let the boy try along this bayonet-blade,
How cold steel is, and [how it is] keen with hunger of blood;
[How it is ]Blue with all malice, like a madman’s flash;
And [how it is] thinly drawn with famishing for flesh.
Lend him to stroke these blind, blunt bullet-heads
Which long to muzzle in the hearts of lads.
Or give him cartridges of fine zinc teeth,
[teeth] sharp with the sharpness of grief and death.
For his teeth seem for laughing round an apple.
There lurk no claws behind his fingers supple;
And God will grow no talons at his heels,
Nor [will he grow] antlers through the thickness of his curls.
By Wilfred Owen
Let the boy try along this bayonet-blade,
How cold steel is, and [how it is] keen with hunger of blood;
[How it is ]Blue with all malice, like a madman’s flash;
And [how it is] thinly drawn with famishing for flesh.
Lend him to stroke these blind, blunt bullet-heads
Which long to muzzle in the hearts of lads.
Or give him cartridges of fine zinc teeth,
[teeth] sharp with the sharpness of grief and death.
For his teeth seem for laughing round an apple.
There lurk no claws behind his fingers supple;
And God will grow no talons at his heels,
Nor [will he grow] antlers through the thickness of his curls.
By Wilfred Owen
( β ) beta
Arms and the Boy
Let the boy try along this bayonet-blade,
How cold steel is, and [the steel is] keen with hunger of blood;
How it is Blue with all malice, like a madman’s flash;
And [the steel is] thinly drawn with famishing for flesh.
Lend him to stroke these blind, blunt bullet-heads
Which long to muzzle in the hearts of lads.
Or [the boy] give[s] him cartridges of fine zinc teeth,
[Teeth] sharp with the sharpness of grief and death.
For his teeth seem for laughing round an apple.
There lurk no claws behind his fingers supple;
And [there] God will grow no talons at his heels,
Nor [will God grow] antlers through the thickness of his curls.
By Wilfred Owen
Let the boy try along this bayonet-blade,
How cold steel is, and [the steel is] keen with hunger of blood;
How it is Blue with all malice, like a madman’s flash;
And [the steel is] thinly drawn with famishing for flesh.
Lend him to stroke these blind, blunt bullet-heads
Which long to muzzle in the hearts of lads.
Or [the boy] give[s] him cartridges of fine zinc teeth,
[Teeth] sharp with the sharpness of grief and death.
For his teeth seem for laughing round an apple.
There lurk no claws behind his fingers supple;
And [there] God will grow no talons at his heels,
Nor [will God grow] antlers through the thickness of his curls.
By Wilfred Owen
( γ ) gamma
Arms and the Boy
Let the boy try[,] along this bayonet-blade, [to see]
How cold steel is, and keen with hunger of blood [it is];
[How it is] Blue with all malice, like a madman’s flash;
And [how] thinly drawn [it is] with famishing for flesh.
Lend him [the pistol] to stroke these blind, blunt bullet-heads
Which long to muzzle in the hearts of lads.
Or give him cartridges of fine zinc teeth,
sharp with the sharpness of grief and death.
For his teeth seem [fit] for laughing round an apple.
There lurk no claws behind his fingers supple;
And [by] God [he] will grow no talons at his heels,
Nor antlers through the thickness of his curls.
By Wilfred Owen
Let the boy try[,] along this bayonet-blade, [to see]
How cold steel is, and keen with hunger of blood [it is];
[How it is] Blue with all malice, like a madman’s flash;
And [how] thinly drawn [it is] with famishing for flesh.
Lend him [the pistol] to stroke these blind, blunt bullet-heads
Which long to muzzle in the hearts of lads.
Or give him cartridges of fine zinc teeth,
sharp with the sharpness of grief and death.
For his teeth seem [fit] for laughing round an apple.
There lurk no claws behind his fingers supple;
And [by] God [he] will grow no talons at his heels,
Nor antlers through the thickness of his curls.
By Wilfred Owen
( δ ) delta
Arms and the Boy
[Man] Let the boy try along this bayonet-blade,
How cold [the] steel [blade] is, and [it is] keen with [the] hunger of blood;
[How it is] Blue with all [its] malice, [it is] like a madman’s flash;
And [how it is] thinly drawn with [blood,] famishing for flesh.
[Man] Lend him [guns] to stroke these blind, blunt bullet-heads
Which long to muzzle in the hearts of lads.
Or [man] give him cartridges of fine zinc teeth,
[Teeth that are] sharp with the sharpness of grief and death.
For his teeth seem [like] for laughing round an apple.
There lurk no claws behind his fingers supple;
And God will grow no talons at his heels,
Nor antlers through the thickness of his curls.
By Wilfred Owen
[Man] Let the boy try along this bayonet-blade,
How cold [the] steel [blade] is, and [it is] keen with [the] hunger of blood;
[How it is] Blue with all [its] malice, [it is] like a madman’s flash;
And [how it is] thinly drawn with [blood,] famishing for flesh.
[Man] Lend him [guns] to stroke these blind, blunt bullet-heads
Which long to muzzle in the hearts of lads.
Or [man] give him cartridges of fine zinc teeth,
[Teeth that are] sharp with the sharpness of grief and death.
For his teeth seem [like] for laughing round an apple.
There lurk no claws behind his fingers supple;
And God will grow no talons at his heels,
Nor antlers through the thickness of his curls.
By Wilfred Owen