In my many roles as a teacher, a student, a reader and a writer, Carol Ann Duffy has always astounded and inspired me. Her poem ‘The Wound in Time’ speaks with respect to those fallen to mark 2018 Remembrance Day.
Within the poem Duffy also asks: ‘What happened next?’ In answering her question the repetition of ‘War’ reminds us that after the ‘war to end all wars’, ‘War’ is what happened ‘after that’. ‘And now?’ she asks. ‘War’ once again is the reply.
‘We learn nothing from our endless sacrifice’ is the sad and scathing truth that world leaders must be reminded of. It seems to be a call to the public to peacefully protest and vote our way out of conflicts and more ‘War’. Here is Duffy reading her brilliant and powerful poem: The Wound in Time
Duffy has been an excellent poet laureate. Her role will be hard to fill. I think Lemn Sissay is available…