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I wanted to mention that “Race of Veterans” (Page 452) has so much “stuff” that could be discussed, I think I would have done better with this post if it was actually a 3-5 page paper…anyway…

So, where do I begin? How about the idea of race being thought of in two different ways: one being the distinguishing factor of origin of people based on skin color and/or geography or even of some kind of similarity (i.e. background, tradition, culture, etc) and the other as a journy to a destination of some sort, in competition with other people.

 “Race of veterans – race of victors” : In this phrase, I imagine that veterans are of their own race, or more specifically, of their own kind; that unless you personally have served in battle, killed another human being, watched a comrade die in front of your very eyes, or anything else that is experienced by a veteran, you have become a member of a group of people that average civilians know nothing about. By combining the two phrases together, it strikes me as a journey, where those who are battling against the opposing side have time either for or against them, resulting in a “victor.” As a side note, I took “victor” to mean not only the side that won the battle or the war, but as a veteran, are the individuals then victors themselves for defeating all the cold, hunger, and death that the others did not?

“Race of the soil, ready for conflict 0 race of the conquering march!” : I felt that this line was directly related to the poem entirely in that the race of veterans (the journey of veterans to defeat the opposing side) begins with the marching of their feet across the soil into the direction, and therefore direct conflict with those whom they are fighting. The “conquering” march is the one that the veterans believe will lead them to their victory.

“(No more credulity’s race, abiding temper’d race)” : To be honest, I’m not sure what to make of this line exactly. I’m thinking that it has something to do with the idea that this race against time to win the war may not be founded in much evidence, the veterans-to-be believe that they can still conquer the opposing side. Possibly “abiding temper’d race” is leaning towards the idea that they are going to tolerate the other side’s desire to fight?! I’m really not sure…

“Race henceforth owning no law but the law of itself”” : Here, I feel that if talking about the race as a conquest, it means that there are no set rules or regulations to follow, except to just win. However, on the other side of what race could mean, insinuates that certain races (inferior/superior) have different sets of laws of which to abide, according to the other end of the spectrum but that each race individually does not own any one specific law; moreso that there are general laws that all humans must follow.

“Race of passion and the storm” : Through all kinds of weather (literal and figurative), each side of the war, each race, each group of people, must somehow reach some end.

Maybe none of this really makes sense, and maybe I did not combine all of the ideas too well. However, I though it was a remarkable little poem that each of us could reflect on and find some connection with, even if the connection is as simple as finding the struggle to overcome something like a fear, obstacle, whatever, just as the veterans of a war must overcome the other side, and death.