Appearance
Excerpt
Excerpt from Rhymes of a Red Cross Man, by Robert W. Service
My! but it wis waesome on Naebuddy's Land,
And the deid they were rottin' on every hand.
And the rockets like corpse candles hauntit the sky,
And the winds o' destruction went shudderin' by.
There wis skelpin' o' bullets and skirlin' o' shells,
And breengin' o' bombs and a thoosand death-knells;
But cooryin' doon in a Jack Johnson hole
Little fashed the twa men o' the List'nin' Patrol.
For sweeter than honey and bricht as a gem
Wis the thocht o' the haggis that waitit for them.
Yet alas! in oor moments o' sunniest cheer
Calamity's aften maist cruelly near.
And while the twa talked o' their puddin' divine
The Boches below them were howkin' a mine.
And while the twa cracked o' the feast they would hae,
The fuse it wis burnin' and burnin' away.
Then sudden a roar like the thunner o' doom,
A hell-leap o' flame . . . then the wheesht o' the tomb.
"Haw, Jock! Are ye hurtit?" says Private McPhun.
"Ay, Geordie, they've got me; I'm fearin' I'm done.
It's ma leg; I'm jist thinkin' it's aff at the knee;
Ye'd best gang and leave me," says Private McPhee.
"Oh leave ye I wunna," says Private McPhun;
"And leave ye I canna, for though I micht run,
It's no faur I wud gang, it's no muckle I'd see:
I'm blindit, and that's whit's the maitter wi' me."
Then Private McPhee sadly shakit his heid:
"If we bide here for lang, we'll be bidin' for deid.
And yet, Geordie lad, I could gang weel content
If I'd tasted that haggis ma auld mither sent."
"That's droll," says McPhun; "ye've jist speakit ma mind.
Oh I ken it's a terrible thing tae be blind;
And yet it's no that that embitters ma lot--
It's missin' that braw muckle haggis ye've got."
For a while they were silent; then up once again
Spoke Private McPhee, though he whussilt wi' pain:
"And why should we miss it? Between you and me
We've legs for tae run, and we've eyes for tae see.
You lend me your shanks and I'll lend you ma sicht,
And we'll baith hae a kyte-fu' o' haggis the nicht."
Explanation
Analysis of the Excerpt from Rhymes of a Red Cross Man by Robert W. Service
Context & Background
Robert W. Service (1874–1958) was a Scottish-Canadian poet best known for his vivid, rhythmic verse, often set in harsh or war-torn environments. Rhymes of a Red Cross Man (1916) is a collection of poems inspired by his experiences as an ambulance driver and stretcher-bearer during World War I. The poem in question—likely "The Listening Patrol"—captures the grim reality of trench warfare while infusing it with dark humor, camaraderie, and a touch of Scottish folk flavor.
Service’s work often blends realism with gallows humor, reflecting the coping mechanisms of soldiers facing constant death. This excerpt is written in Scots dialect, which adds authenticity and emotional weight, as the soldiers’ voices feel raw and unfiltered.
Themes
The Brutality of War
- The opening lines paint a nightmarish battlefield: rotting corpses, exploding shells, and the ever-present threat of death. Phrases like "the deid they were rottin' on every hand" and "winds o' destruction" evoke the sensory horror of war—smell, sound, and chaos.
- The "Jack Johnson hole" (a deep shell crater used for cover) symbolizes the fragile, temporary safety soldiers cling to amid carnage.
Dark Humor & Coping Mechanisms
- Despite the surrounding death, the two soldiers—Private McPhun and Private McPhee—fixate on haggis, a traditional Scottish dish. This absurd contrast between war and comfort food highlights how soldiers use humor and nostalgia to endure trauma.
- Their obsession with haggis becomes a symbol of home and normalcy, a small rebellion against the meaninglessness of war.
Camaraderie & Sacrifice
- After the mine explosion, both men are critically wounded—McPhee loses a leg, McPhun is blinded. Yet neither abandons the other.
- Their dialogue reveals deep loyalty: McPhun refuses to leave McPhee, even though escape seems impossible. This selflessness in the face of death is a recurring theme in war literature.
Irony & Fate
- The soldiers’ moment of hope (talking about haggis) is shattered by sudden violence—a mine explodes beneath them. This juxtaposition of joy and disaster underscores the randomness of death in war.
- Their final plan—to share each other’s abilities (McPhee’s sight, McPhun’s legs) to reach the haggis—is both tragically optimistic and darkly comic, reinforcing the absurdity of their situation.
Literary Devices
Scots Dialect & Vernacular
- Words like "waesome" (woeful), "cooryin’ doon" (crouching down), "bricht" (bright), and "kyte-fu’" (belly-full) immerse the reader in the soldiers’ authentic voices.
- The dialect adds rhythm and musicality, making the poem feel like a folk ballad—a storytelling tradition that often deals with tragedy.
Imagery & Sensory Language
- Visual: "rocket-like corpse candles" (flares lighting up dead bodies), "hell-leap o' flame" (explosion).
- Auditory: "skelpin’ o’ bullets" (ricocheting), "skirlin’ o’ shells" (screaming), "wheesht o’ the tomb" (sudden silence of death).
- Olfactory/Gustatory: The haggis becomes a sensory anchor, contrasting with the stench of death.
Juxtaposition & Irony
- The beauty of their dream (haggis) vs. the horror of their reality (war).
- The sudden shift from lighthearted banter to catastrophic injury ("a hell-leap o’ flame... then the wheesht o’ the tomb").
Symbolism
- Haggis = home, comfort, survival. It’s not just food; it’s a symbol of what they’re fighting for (or what they’ve lost).
- The mine explosion = the unpredictability of war; no matter how much they plan, death is always lurking.
Rhythm & Meter
- The poem follows a ballad-like structure, with a strong, marching rhythm that mimics both military cadence and Scottish folk music.
- The repetition of sounds ("burnin’ and burnin’ away") creates a hypnotic, ominous effect, building tension before the explosion.
Significance & Interpretation
A Microcosm of War’s Absurdity The poem captures how soldiers clinging to small joys (like food) is both pathetic and heroic. Their obsession with haggis isn’t trivial—it’s a defiant act of humanity in an inhuman world.
The Bond Between Soldiers McPhun and McPhee’s mutual dependence ("You lend me your shanks and I’ll lend you ma sicht") reflects the brotherhood of war. Even in despair, they find a way to help each other, if only in imagination.
The Futility & Randomness of Death The mine explosion is sudden and arbitrary, reinforcing that in war, survival is often luck, not skill. Their final plan—to reach the haggis—is both hopeful and doomed, mirroring the false promises of war.
Scottish Identity in War The use of Scots dialect and haggis grounds the poem in cultural pride, suggesting that even in a global conflict, soldiers hold onto their roots as a form of resistance.
Final Thoughts: Why This Excerpt Resonates
Service’s poem is not just about war—it’s about human resilience. The soldiers’ dark humor, loyalty, and longing for home make them relatable despite the horrors around them. The haggis isn’t just a joke; it’s a symbol of what keeps them going.
The sudden, violent end (the mine explosion) serves as a reminder of war’s cruelty, but their final, defiant plan—to share each other’s strengths—leaves the reader with a bittersweet mix of sorrow and admiration.
In essence, this excerpt is a tribute to the unsung heroes of war: the ordinary men who find light in darkness, even if just for a moment.
Questions
Question 1
The poem’s depiction of the soldiers’ fixation on haggis serves primarily as a:
A. satirical critique of the trivial concerns that occupy soldiers’ minds amid the horrors of war.
B. nostalgic celebration of Scottish culinary tradition as a unifying cultural force.
C. metaphorical representation of the futility of human desire in the face of inevitable mortality.
D. psychological coping mechanism that allows the soldiers to assert agency and humanity in an environment defined by dehumanisation.
E. ironic juxtaposition intended to underscore the absurdity of clinging to comfort in a landscape of total destruction.
Question 2
The line "Then sudden a roar like the thunner o' doom, / A hell-leap o' flame . . . then the wheesht o' the tomb" employs sonic and visual imagery to evoke a sense of:
A. divine retribution for the soldiers’ momentary lapse into frivolity.
B. the cyclical nature of violence, where destruction is both sudden and eternal.
C. the sublime beauty of war’s chaos, framed through a Romantic lens of awe.
D. the soldiers’ collective hallucination, blurring the line between reality and trauma-induced delusion.
E. the abrupt, irreversible finality of death, contrasting explosive violence with the silence of annihilation.
Question 3
The dialogue between McPhun and McPhee after their injuries is structurally significant because it:
A. subverts traditional war poetry by replacing heroic stoicism with dark comedy.
B. illustrates the breakdown of language under extreme duress, as seen in their fragmented speech.
C. transforms their physical limitations into a collaborative metaphor for resilience, despite its tragic irony.
D. exposes the selfishness inherent in survival instincts, as each man prioritises his own needs.
E. functions as an allegory for the broader futility of war, where even mutual aid cannot overcome systemic destruction.
Question 4
The poem’s use of Scots dialect contributes most substantially to its thematic depth by:
A. alienating non-Scottish readers, thereby reinforcing the soldiers’ isolation.
B. providing rhythmic variety that mirrors the unpredictability of battlefield sounds.
C. emphasising the universality of war’s horrors by stripping language of its cultural specificity.
D. creating a tonal dissonance between the vernacular’s warmth and the subject’s grimness.
E. grounding the soldiers’ voices in authenticity, making their humanity and vulnerability more immediate.
Question 5
The final lines—"You lend me your shanks and I'll lend you ma sicht, / And we'll baith hae a kyte-fu' o' haggis the nicht"—are most accurately interpreted as:
A. a tragicomic resolution that underscores the soldiers’ delusional optimism in the face of certain death.
B. a literal plan of escape, revealing the poem’s underlying message of resourcefulness triumphing over adversity.
C. a critique of the Scottish obsession with food, framed as a distraction from the realities of war.
D. an allegorical call for societal cooperation, extended beyond the battlefield.
E. a moment of transcendence, where the soldiers’ shared imagination temporarily conquers their physical ruin.
Solutions and Explanations
1) Correct answer: D
Why D is most correct: The soldiers’ fixation on haggis is not merely nostalgic (B) or satirical (A), but a psychological anchor that allows them to reclaim agency in a dehumanising environment. Their obsession with a mundane comfort (food) is a coping mechanism, a way to assert their individuality and humanity amid the chaos of war. This aligns with psychological theories of trauma response, where individuals cling to familiar rituals or thoughts to maintain a sense of control. The poem does not reduce their fixation to absurdity (E) or futility (C); instead, it elevates it as an act of defiance.
Why the distractors are less supported:
- A: The poem does not mock the soldiers’ concerns; it validates them as a survival strategy.
- B: While nostalgia is present, the primary function of the haggis is psychological resilience, not cultural celebration.
- C: The haggis is not a metaphor for futility but a symbol of resistance against dehumanisation.
- E: The juxtaposition is not ironic in a detached sense; it is tragically humanising.
2) Correct answer: E
Why E is most correct: The imagery here is doubly effective: the "roar like the thunner o' doom" (apocalyptic sound) and "hell-leap o' flame" (violent visual) are suddenly cut off by "the wheesht o' the tomb" (the silence of death). This contrast—between explosive noise/light and absolute silence/darkness—evokes the irreversible finality of death. The structure mirrors the suddenness of mortality in war, where life is extinguished in an instant, leaving only void.
Why the distractors are less supported:
- A: There is no suggestion of divine retribution; the explosion is random, not moralistic.
- B: The poem does not emphasise cyclical violence but the abruptness of a single, terminal event.
- C: The imagery is not sublime in the Romantic sense; it is brutal and final, devoid of aestheticisation.
- D: The explosion is real, not a hallucination; the poem grounds trauma in concrete sensory detail.
3) Correct answer: C
Why C is most correct: The dialogue transforms their physical injuries (blindness, amputation) into a collaborative metaphor: "You lend me your shanks and I'll lend you ma sicht." This is tragically ironic because their plan is impossible—yet it symbolises resilience through mutual dependence. The poem does not break down language (B) or expose selfishness (D); instead, it elevates their bond into a defiant act of imagination, even as their bodies fail them.
Why the distractors are less supported:
- A: While dark comedy exists, the structural significance lies in the metaphor of shared strength, not subversion.
- B: Their speech is coherent and purposeful, not fragmented.
- D: The soldiers prioritise each other, not themselves; their plan is selfless.
- E: The focus is on their personal resilience, not a broader allegory of war’s futility.
4) Correct answer: E
Why E is most correct: The Scots dialect authenticates the soldiers’ voices, making their suffering and humanity more immediate and visceral. It avoids the distance of standard English, instead immersing the reader in their raw, unfiltered experience. This linguistic specificity does not alienate (A) but humanises; it does not strip cultural context (C) but deepens it.
Why the distractors are less supported:
- A: The dialect draws readers in, not pushes them away; the soldiers’ vulnerability is universal.
- B: While rhythm matters, the primary effect is authenticity, not sonic mimicry.
- C: The dialect heightens cultural specificity, not universality.
- D: The tone is consistent—the dialect’s warmth contrasts tragically with the horror, but this is not dissonance for its own sake.
5) Correct answer: A
Why A is most correct: The final lines are tragicomically optimistic: the soldiers’ plan is logistically impossible (a blind man cannot guide an amputee), yet they cling to it as a final act of hope. This delusional optimism is heartbreaking because it reveals their desperation to reclaim normalcy—even if only in imagination. The poem does not end in literal escape (B) or transcendence (E); it ends in tragic irony, where their shared fantasy underscores their physical ruin.
Why the distractors are less supported:
- B: The plan is symbolic, not practical; the poem does not suggest survival.
- C: The haggis is not criticised but sympathised with as a coping mechanism.
- D: The allegory is personal, not societal; it focuses on these two men, not a broader message.
- E: There is no true transcendence; their imagination is fragile and fleeting, bound to their doomed reality.