The Simple Things

Karl Shapiro’s poem entitled Sunday: New Guinea depicted the story of a young Jewish soldier fighting on America’s side. The basis of this poem is this solider on the frontlines dreaming for a simple Sunday at home with his family. In the times we are living in, with so many American troops over in Iraq, the reader wonders what those boys are longing for.

I doubt that the simple desires of soldiers during WW I or II, such as being home with our family or sleeping in your own bed, have changed much. The only difference these days is new technologies we have today. Through my Digital Writing class this semester I was fortunate enough to read some blogs of soldiers fighting over in Iraq. They are able to stay in closer contact to loved ones than any soldiers in the past.

Another excellent depiction made by Shapiro was his description in the first stanza of the poem. The bugle’s “call to action” was reminessent to the bells many soldiers would here at home to signify a “call to prayer.” With the many different soldiers standing around, each with their own religious affiliation, it helped the author to see all the different people standing their willing to fight for America.