Simon Armitage's "Remains"

The Remains poem by Simon Armitage is a haunting narrative that explores the psychological aftermath of a violent encounter during wartime. The poem begins with a group of soldiers being sent to deal with looters raiding a bank. One of the looters attempts to escape, and the narrator, along with two other soldiers, opens fire on him.

Quote: "Well myself and somebody else and somebody else / are all of the same mind, / so all three of us open fire."

This line emphasizes the collective action and shared responsibility of the soldiers, highlighting the complex nature of decision-making in combat situations.

The poem then vividly describes the graphic aftermath of the shooting, with the narrator recounting the gruesome details of the looter's death. Armitage uses powerful imagery to convey the brutality of the event and its impact on the soldier's psyche.

Highlight: The line "his bloody life in my bloody hands" serves as a powerful metaphor for the guilt and responsibility the narrator feels for taking a life.

The poem shifts to explore the long-term psychological effects of this incident on the narrator. It becomes clear that the soldier is suffering from symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), as he is unable to escape the memory of the event.

Example: The recurring images of the looter in the narrator's dreams and thoughts illustrate the persistent nature of trauma: "Dream, and he's torn apart by a dozen rounds."

Armitage employs various poetic techniques to enhance the impact of the poem. The use of enjambment and caesura creates a sense of fragmentation and disruption, mirroring the narrator's fractured mental state. The conversational tone and colloquial language make the poem more immediate and relatable, drawing the reader into the soldier's experience.

Vocabulary: Caesura - A pause or break in a line of poetry, often for emphasis or to create a particular rhythm.

The poem concludes with a powerful couplet that encapsulates the narrator's ongoing struggle with trauma and guilt. The Remains poem analysis reveals how Armitage masterfully portrays the lasting impact of violence on those who perpetrate it, even when acting under orders or in self-defense.

Quote: "not left for dead in some distant, sun-stunned, sand-smothered land / or six-feet-under in desert sand, but here in my head when I close my eyes"

This final image emphasizes that the true battlefield for the narrator is now within his own mind, where he continues to grapple with the consequences of his actions long after the physical conflict has ended.