O What is That Sound, a Poem by W.H.Auden

II MOP, M SCHEME, ENGLISH-2

Poem 3

O What is that sound by W.H. Auden

Text :

O what is that sound which so thrills the ear
Down in the valley drumming, drumming?
Only the scarlet soldiers, dear,
The soldiers coming.

O what is that light I see flashing so clear
Over the distance brightly, brightly?
Only the sun on their weapons, dear,
As they step lightly.

O what are they doing with all that gear,
What are they doing this morning, this morning?
Only their usual manoeuvres, dear,
Or perhaps a warning.

O why have they left the road down there,
Why are they suddenly wheeling, wheeling?
Perhaps a change in their orders, dear.
Why are you kneeling?

O haven't they stopped for the doctor's care,
Haven't they reined their horses, their horses?
Why, they are none of them wounded, dear,
None of the forces.

O is it the parson they want, with white hair,
Is it the parson, is it, is it?
No, they are passing his gateway, dear,
Without a visit.
O it must be the farmer who lives so near.
It must be the farmer so cunning, so cunning?
They have passed the farmyard already, dear,
And now they are running.

O where are you going? Stay with me here!
Were the vows you swore deceiving, deceiving?
No, I promised to love you, dear,
But I must be leaving.

O it's broken the lock and splintered the door,
O it's the gate where they're turning, turning;
Their boots are heavy on the floor
And their eyes are burning.

Interpretations: (Write in 100 words -3 marks)

1.Only the scarlet soldiers, dear,
The soldiers coming.

These lines are from W.H.Auden's “O What is that sound”. The ladylove is asking her lover about a drumming sound heard at a distance.  The lover replies to her that there is nothing to worry. Only scarlet soldiers are coming. The background of the poem is apparently wartime and the lady’s doubt reveals sense of insecurity in the life of modern people. British soldiers used to wear red uniforms in the 18th c. purposely to hide their wounds and bleeding from enemies. People are not what they appear to be, just as Shakespeare's Iago said, “I am not what I am.”

2.O haven't they stopped for the doctor's care,
Haven't they reined their horses, their horses?

W.H. Auden expresses the uncertainty of modern life in this way in his poem “O What is that sound".  An army is coming near the couple. The ladylove raises a doubt whether the soldiers have stepped down from their horses for doctor’s treatment.  But the lover replies that they are not at all wounded soldiers. Three interpretations are possible: (a) if moderners are mentally sick, wounds will be unnoticeable; (b) Perhabs, their wounds are masked by their red uniforms; (c) Or, wounds and doctor’s care just foreshadow the impending dangers to the couple.

3.  No, they are passing his gateway, dear,
    Without a visit.

In W.H.Auden's poem “O What is that sound", the lady asks a question whether the soldiers are looking for an experienced parson to give service to them. The lover denies that they are just passing the gateway of the church without visiting the Father.  The poet here indirectly questions the religious faith of modern people and the inability of religion to civilize or cure them. A parson is ready here but the soldiers, who represent moderners, have no interest to enter the church.

4. O where are you going? Stay with me here!

       This line is an extract from W.H.Auden's “O What is that sound”.  As the army comes closer to the couple, the lover is about to run away from the place. The lady implores him to stay with her.  She is asking whether all promises made by him are false. Anyhow the lover deserts her. Betrayal is a key theme in Auden's works and it is apparent in the given line. So far in all stanzas, the lover used the term “dear".  What does it really mean?  We cannot judge the true nature of moderners. Perhaps the lady does not know – “ Don’t judge a book by its cover?”.