War Photographer: Detailed Analysis

The opening stanzas establish the intimate setting of the photographer's darkroom, where he processes both film and trauma. The careful organization of his workspace reflects his attempt to bring order to chaos.

Quote: "The only light is red and softly glows, as though this were a church and he a priest preparing to intone a Mass."

Highlight: The religious imagery throughout the poem elevates the photographer's work to a sacred duty, suggesting both the gravity and ritual of his profession.

Vocabulary: Enjambment - The continuation of a sentence beyond the end of a line, creating a flowing effect that mirrors the photographer's stream of consciousness.

Example: The listing of war zones "Belfast. Beirut. Phnom Penh." emphasizes the global scope of conflict while giving equal weight to each location through separate sentences.

Definition: Bathos - The sudden transition from the significant to the trivial, illustrated in the poem when readers quickly move from tears to "pre-lunch beers."

The poem concludes with a powerful commentary on society's fleeting engagement with war photography, where readers briefly empathize before returning to their comfortable lives. The photographer's isolation is complete as he observes this pattern "impassively," knowing the limited impact of his work despite its personal cost.