Interrogating war through poetry and art
Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge,
Till on the haunting flares we turned our backs,
And towards our distant rest began to trudge.
Men marched asleep. Many had lost their boots,
But limped on, blood-shod. All went lame; all blind;
Drunk with fatigue; deaf even to the hoots
Of gas-shells dropping softly behind.
Gas! GAS! Quick, boys!—An ecstasy of fumbling
Fitting the clumsy helmets just in time,
But someone still was yelling out and stumbling
And flound’ring like a man in fire or lime.—
Dim through the misty panes and thick green light,
As under a green sea, I saw him drowning.
In all my dreams before my helpless sight,
He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning.
If in some smothering dreams, you too could pace
Behind the wagon that we flung him in,
And watch the white eyes writhing in his face,
His hanging face, like a devil’s sick of sin;
If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood
Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs,
Obscene as cancer, bitter as the cud
Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues,—
My friend, you would not tell with such high zest
To children ardent for some desperate glory,
The old Lie: Dulce et decorum est
Pro patria mori.
From Dulce et Decorum Est, Wilfred Owen, 1920.
The Old Lie Manifesto
The Old Lie is an international online magazine dedicated to poets worldwide. Our platform serves as an inclusive and safe environment for individuals who wish to share their work, whether anonymously or by name. We are committed to highlighting the harsh realities of war through the medium of poetry, and we believe that poets play a crucial role in challenging the often romanticized narratives of heroism and sacrifice.
Our title comes from the anti-war poem “Dulce et Decorum est” by Wilfred Owen. The poem's title, taken from a line by the Roman poet Horace, translates to "It is sweet and fitting to die for one's country." Owen, however, challenges this notion, exposing the brutal reality of war and denouncing the "old Lie" that glorifies it.
Our objective is to give a voice to the untold stories of soldiers, civilians, and others impacted by conflict. These stories have the power to foster empathy and understanding among readers, and we encourage the exploration of experimental forms and styles to amplify their impact.
Furthermore, we not only accept but celebrate diverse perspectives, particularly those of marginalised and underrepresented groups. Our aim is to provoke thoughtful discourse, challenge complacency, and inspire meaningful social change, and we believe that diverse perspectives are crucial in achieving this.
Submission
- Historical Reflection: Poems exploring the historical context of specific conflicts.
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Anti-War Protest: Works that denounce the destructive nature of war and advocate for peace.
- Global Perspectives: Poems from around the world highlight war's universal impact.
- Originality: All submissions must be original works.
- Theme: Poems should directly or indirectly address the themes of war, conflict, and human suffering.
- Length: We accept poems of varying lengths, from short lyrics to longer narrative pieces.
- Format: Submissions should be sent as digital files (e.g., .doc, .docx, .pdf).
- Rights: Authors grant the magazine non-exclusive rights to publish their work by submitting.
We invite poets, writers, and artists to join us in this critical endeavour. You can contribute to a global conversation on war and social justice by sharing your work with us. Together, we can use the power of poetry to illuminate the darkness of war and inspire a more peaceful future.