Stellenbosch through The Puzzler Summary

In the poem "Half-Ballade of Watervale," a man charged with loading prisoners onto a transport ship indicates that he understands how these men must feel because he too has been among soldiers captured during war. The man writes that he would, "give the gold o' twenty Rands" to set these men free. The poem "Wilful-missings" is written from the viewpoint of soldiers who have deserted from the war. Although others may believe they are dead and buried, these men have actually just started a different life and have no desire to return to their old life.

A soldier reminisces over the way that he has grown up and matured during his time in the armed services in the poem "The Return." The soldier writes specifically of experiences, such as seeing young people killed in the war, from...