No Men Are Foreign

1.0About The Poet

James Falconer Kirkup

James Falconer Kirkup (23 April 1918-10 May 2009) was an English poet, translator and travel writer. He wrote over 45 books, including novels and plays. Many of his poems recall his childhood days in the north-east, and are featured in such publications as The Sense of the Visit, To the Ancestral North, Throwback, and Shields Sketches.

2.0Central Idea

The central theme of the poem 'No Men Are Foreign' revolves around the brotherhood of mankind. The poet points out that all our boundaries and differences are human made. Throughout the poem, James Kirkup has tried to show the similarities between all humans. He urges people to drop their weapons and welcome one another as part of their own in order to bring peace and love in this world without any hate or discrimination.

3.0Equality Of Mankind

The poet introduces us to the theme of the poem. He states that no men are strange and no country is foreign. He says that the body is the same for every individual, only the clothing created by men is different. Further he adds that the earth is also one, the land we walk upon is similar to the land every other individual walks upon. The poet stresses the fact that there is no difference between all of us. Further, the poet says that mother nature doesn't discriminate and has provided each individual with the same harvest to keep us alive and well.

Poet adds that we also get our equal share of land, sunlight, and air. During the time of peace, we are fed by harvests which we receive as a result of farming done by the farmers, and during long winters and the time when there is war, each one of us suffers together. The poet aims at showing us that we suffer and prosper in a similar way.

The poet urges the reader to remember that we have similar features that perform similar functions - how can we be different then? He tells that apart from physical similarities, we also have similar emotional strength which can be won by love. He advises love as the remedy for war. He also asks the reader to remember that each land, whether we have visited it with our own eyes or not, has life. Life springs in every corner of the earth. These lively things want to live, strive and laugh. They do not wish for war or death. The poet urges us to understand and recognize this.

4.0The Impact Of War On People

The poet urges us, always, to remember that we are one and cannot be divided. He states that whenever we are told to condemn a certain person or country, it is us who makes a choice. It is us who choose to pick up the arms. We should remember that killing another human being is not the solution to our problems. When we are in a state of war, both countries lose many human beings- no side wins. Everybody in a war loses. The poet tells us to remember this whenever we decide to pick up the arms.

When two countries fight, only the individuals are at a loss. Death benefits no one. With war, we disrupt our natural balance, disrespect God, and make the earth impure. Whenever war happens dead bodies lay on barren ground, there's fire everywhere. The poet compares the fire to hellfire and considers that the dead bodies on the ground make the earth impure. The poet provides us with a horrific picture of war and warns us against it. He then finishes the poem by reversing the first line, thus solidifying the message.

5.0Poetic Devices Used In The Poem

• Alliteration- It is the repetition of a consonant sound in two or more closely placed words. Examples - A single body breathes War's long winter starv'd.
• Metaphor - It makes a comparison between two non-similar things. Examples - The poet has used the word 'uniforms' to talk about the 'militaries across the world'. 'War time' is compared to 'winter season'.
• Enjambment - The sentences are being continued to the next line without a break. Examples - Beneath all uniforms which we all shall lie. Their hands from our own.
• Transferred Epithet - It is an adjective used with a noun refers to another noun. Example - Here, the poet has used the adjective 'peaceful' not for the harvests but for the overall conditions of the country.
• Repetition - It is the repeated use of a word of line to lay emphasis. Example - The word 'remember' has been repeated 5 times in this poem.

6.0Recall

• The central idea of this poem is that we have the same father - God As we are children of God, we should believe in universal brotherhood.
• We all have a common right to the earth as it is our common property.
• We should not treat ourselves as the citizens of a particular country.
• We should not support narrow nationalism.
• Instead, we should think that we are the citizens of the world.
• Wars are not good for us. During wars, we suffer and in peace we make progress. So, we should try to live peacefully.