Wilfred Owen, "Disabled"

• Wilfred Owen (1893-1918) - british poet who volunteered for duty in 1915. Sustained shell shock at Battle of Somme and was sent to hospital in Britain. His powem Disabled portays the enduring misery of war
• First stanza depicts a wounded soldier, missing both legs and an arm, bound to a wheelchair as he listens to happy sounds of boys playing outside
• Second stanza describes how he would be out enjoying this particularly joyous time of year had he not "thrown away his knees."
• Third stanza explains how he only wanted to join because of the romantacism of war - he never imagined how bad it could be
• Fourth stanza ironically explains how although he appeared to be very heroic, women's eyes still pass "from him to the strong men that were whole."

The poem in general describes the irresponsible use of the romantacism of war and the ill effects they can have on people.