Bayonet Charge by Ted Hughes
Ever wondered what it really feels like to be in the middle of a battle? Hughes doesn't mess about - he drops you straight into the action with "Suddenly he awoke and was running". This technique is called in medias res, and it creates instant chaos and confusion.
The soldier isn't some heroic figure from a war film. He's sweating, stumbling, and completely terrified in his "raw-seamed hot khaki". Hughes uses powerful similes like comparing the rifle to "a smashed arm" to show how the weapon has become a burden rather than protection.
Notice how Hughes dehumanises the soldier by never giving him a name - he represents all the unnamed soldiers who suffered. The irregular rhythm of the poem mirrors the soldier's panicked heartbeat and stumbling steps across the battlefield.
Key insight: The caesura (pause) in "He was running-" shows the soldier's moment of doubt - suddenly questioning why he's there at all.