Poems & Parodies

"Poems & Parodies by Tom Kettle" is a collection of poetry and verse written in the early 20th century, specifically in the period leading up to and during World War I. The author, Tom Kettle, was a multifaceted individual known for his roles as a soldier, politician, and poet, and his works reflect the rich cultural and political landscape of Ireland during this tumultuous time. This collection encompasses various themes, including personal reflections, political commentary, and war poetry. The book features a versatile range of poems touching on Kettle’s love for his homeland, his experiences as a soldier, and his philosophical musings on life, grief, and duty. Through early poems such as "To Young Ireland" and poignant war pieces like "A Nation’s Freedom," Kettle expresses deep patriotism and a complex understanding of sacrifice and loss in the face of conflict. His parodies and translations also showcase his wit, making the collection not only a serious exploration of profound subjects but also a playful engagement with language and literary form. Overall, the poems in this volume capture the essence of Kettle’s thoughts and feelings as he navigated his own journey through love, loss, and the harsh realities of war. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Thomas Michael Kettle was an Irish economist, journalist, barrister, writer, war poet, soldier and Home Rule politician. As a member of the Irish Parliamentary Party, he was Member of Parliament (MP) for East Tyrone from 1906 to 1910 at Westminster. He joined the Irish Volunteers in 1913, then on the outbreak of World War I in 1914 enlisted for service in the British Army, with which he was killed in action on the Western Front in the Autumn of 1916. He was a much admired old comrade of James Joyce, who considered him to be his best friend in Ireland, as well as the likes of Francis Sheehy-Skeffington, Oliver St. John Gogarty and Robert Wilson Lynd.