Over the Brazier

"Over the Brazier" by Robert Graves is a set of poems written in the early 1900s, around World War I. The poems explore ideas about war, the natural world, and looking within oneself, showing Graves's strong and lively descriptions. The book presents the difficult parts of life when the war was happening and after it was over, as the poet deals with what was left behind after the fighting. The poems start with a hopeful look back at a future of peace, compared to the disappointment felt by Graves and others. Each poem has different feelings, from the purity of youth and memories in one poem, to the scary truths of war in others. The repeating idea of wanting peace in the middle of craziness stands out in the collection, pointing to the emotional confusion and doubt of a group of people greatly changed by war. In the end, Over the Brazier works as a strong witness to both the loveliness and sadness of being human during a confusing time.