1. This is the Dark Time, My Love - Literature Notes
Please note that the information given on this poem is not meant to replace any material given in the
classroom setting. It is a very BASIC giude to enable a literal understanding of the poem. Metaphorical
interpretations should be sought in the classroom.
The physical structure of this poem has been This is the OPINION of one individual, which might
altered from the original layout in the text. not coincide with the views of others.
1.This is the dark time, my love, The persona speaks to some-one that he cares for. He
6.All round the land brown beetles crawl about. tells this person that this is the dark time, which is, in
2.The shining sun is hidden in the sky. essence, a time of sadness. It is implied, by certain key
3.Red flowers bend their heads in awful sorrow. terms; such as 'dark metal', that it is a time of war. The
persona warns his 'love' that it is a dark, sad time.
1.This is the dark time, my love.
It is the 7.season of oppression, dark metal, and tears.
It is the 4.festival of guns, the carnival of misery.
Everywhere the faces of men are strained and anxious.
5.Who comes walking in the dark night time?
5.Whose boot of steel tramps down the slender grass?
It is the 8.man of death, my love, the strange invader
9.Watching you sleep and 10.aiming at your dream.
LITERARY DEVICES
1. REPETITION
 Stanza 1, line 1 & stanza 2, line 7: The repetition of this
phrase highlights that there is something seriously
amiss. The persona is telling his 'love' that this is a sad
and terrible time.
2. ALLITERATION
This device literally draws the readers' visual attention
to the sentence. The sentence implies that everything
that is good and positive is hidden away, or gone. This
alliteration sets a sad tone at the very beginning of this
poem.
3. PERSONIFICATION
This device emphasizes the sad tone of the poem. This is the case because flowers are usually associated with
feelings of happiness and cheerfulness. Therefore, if the flowers - embassadors of joy - are sad, then it highlights
how really sad the times have become.
4. METAPHOR
The contrast in this device is startling. The terms 'festival' and 'carnival' not only describes fun and festivity, but also a
large amount of each. Both words are associated with huge crowds. This emphasizes how terrible the times have
become because guns and misery are plentiful.
5. RHETORICAL QUESTION
 Stanza 3, line 13: This device informs the reader/ audience that a threat exists and that it comes in the dark of night.
 Stanza 3, lines 14 - 15: It is implied that the threat is a soldier through the term 'boot of steel'. The 'slender grass' is
the innocent youth who is cut down and trampled by these 'boots of steel'. The fact that we are given this
information through the use of rhetorical question adds mystery and intrigue to the poem.
Copyright © 2012 Sickheadz

2. IMPORTANT WORDS/ PHRASES
6.'All round the land brown beetles crawl about.'
Some variety of brown beetles are scavengers that feed on decaying or dead carcasses. Therefore, when the
persona states that they crawl about, it implies that a lot of dead or decaying bodies exist in the land.
7.'season of oppression, dark metal, and tears.'
A season is an extended period of time. Therefore, the persona is telling his 'love' that it is a period of extreme
sadness. This sadness is brought about by the 'dark metal', which can be literally interpreted as vehicles of war.
8.'man of death'
The man of death, in this context, is the soldier.
9.'Watching you sleep'
Sleep is a state of extreme vulnerability. This is the case because when one falls asleep, they fall into
unconsciousness, which equates to a state of defenselessness. The fact that the man of death, ie soldier, watches
the persona's 'love' while he/she sleeps, implies that this person is not only vulnerable, but in extreme danger.
10.'aiming at your dream.'
The man of death's purpose is to destroy the persona's 'love's' dreams, or desires.
MOOD/ ATMOSPHERE
The mood of the poem is a sad one. The persona is giving his 'love' sad and depressing news.
TONE
The tone of the poem is also a sad one.
THEMATIC CATEGORIZATION
Racism, places.
Copyright © 2012 Sickheadz