Occasional Verses Summary

Defense of the Islands

This short poem is to honor the soldiers who fought for England in World War II. Eliot conveys that these soldiers followed orders bestowed on them to defend freedom.

A Note on War Poetry

This is another short poem, where Eliot shows that poetry written in war and based on intense personal experience by the writer, can become universal, speaking to the hearts of many. That is what "poetry" is, according to Eliot.

To the Indians who Died in Africa

Eliot shows in this short piece that all soldiers no matter what soil they die on, now belong to that soil and deserve remembrance from their people back home. He says that all men desire to live in peace with their families, in their villages, no matter what side of a conflict they represent.

To Walter de...