Compare the ways poets present feelings of confusion in ‘Come On, Come Back’ and in one other poem from Conflict.

Both poets present their personas as profoundly confused by the situations they find themselves in. In ‘Come On, Come Back’, Vaudavue is a soldier who finds herself a victim to a chemical attack, which creates a sense of utter confusion. In the poem ‘The Right Word’, there is also a great sense of confusion for the persona about the situation that they are in.

In ‘Come On, Come Back’ Stevie Smith uses imagery to depict Vaudavue’s confusion at the situation. Vaudavue finds herself near a lake with “a ribbon of white moonlight”, this suggests an almost dreamlike quality to the scene before Vaudavue. This dreamlike view could represent how the effect of the chemical weapons being used on Vaudavue has disorientated her and perhaps show to the reader how unbelievable her circumstances are. As the readers we are left little knowledge about the situation and this creates a sense of confusion for the reader and allows the reader to understand Vaudavue’s turmoil. The word “a ribbon” is significant here because it shows how vulnerable Vaudavue has now become as a victim of this conflict. Furthermore, the word “ribbon” could imply how Vaudavue feels that her life has become devalued and she is no longer a person as she has no memory. In contrast, the word “moonlight” could symbolise that there is yet hope for Vaudavue despite her tragic situation. However, the word “moonlight” could also represent that it is nighttime and that the day is over hence the war will carry on tomorrow and her death will be of no significance. “Moonlight” could also emphasize how Vaudavue is alone and that there is no one to help her, this evokes the readers sympathy. Smith may be trying to use Vaudavue as a symbol to reflect everyone’s confusion in this war. This perhaps shows that the parties in this conflict no longer understand the reasoning for conflict effectively rendering this battle pointless.

Similarly, in ‘The Right Word”, Dharker uses imagery to convey to the reader the persona’s confusion by the situation. A terrorist is described to be “lurking in the shadows” this shows there is a sense of unknown as the “shadows” are hiding the terrorist and this creates a sense of mystery and confusion for both the reader and the persona. The word “shadow” here is significant because it conveys that we cannot see the situation clearly. This is similar to ‘Come On, Come Back’ where the image of the “ribbon of white moonlight” creates a sense of distortion and dreamlike state. Another particularly significant word here is “lurking” as it creates a sense of foreboding and darkness. This is similar to the sense of darkness created by Smith. Unlike, ‘Come On, Come Back’, this is not a scene of active conflict, but more the reasons behind conflict. The Right Word appears to show that common preconceptions can lead to full scale war and to perhaps symbolise that there is hope and that conflict can be ended by beginning to understand others perceptions and put aside their differences as the poem ends positively. However, in ‘Come On, Come Back’ Vaudavue could be used as a symbol to represent that the conflicting sides are unable to put aside their differences as the poem ends in death.

In both poems the characters seem to undertake a sense of uncertainty and disorientation to the situations they are in at first. However, both characters go on to establish a sense of confidence in their decisions and certainty. At first Vaudavue is in utter confusion but then she goes on to find certainty and confidence in the decision of suicide. Similarly, in the Right Word the persona is at first in confusion, but then he goes on to experience a sense of certainty in the situation. Perhaps both poets poems act as warnings, although Come On, Come Back appears to be more vivid. In conclusion, both poets convey to the reader the confusion felt by the personas using imagery.