Disclaimer: I do not own LoTR nor do I own the poem. I had to study an antyhology of War Poetry for GCSE english over 4 years ago anf I have loved it ever since for it's meanings and it's subtle teachings. Pendem and Pephennas are two gondorian soldiers I thought up to go with this poem.


Two: Suicide in the Trenches


Pendem had been rather indifferent lately, or at least, he had been acting as though he was beginning to cope overly too well with the war that was raging through Arda. Smiling when orders were yelled to him and his fellow soldiers, sleeping better and better as the nights went on, no matter how loud the other men were; he awoke with the dawning of the sun, as cheerful as he had seemed the night before, not a hint of agitation.

He had seemed to be coping, at least in his own little way.

So when they found Pendem lying cold, pale and obviously dead, they were shocked. They would have cried that he would never have killed himself as he had so obviously done, but his actions over the days before his passing had changed their view.

It was obvious now, he would.

A march was held through the town as its soldiers marched out to face the enemy, the people cheering for their brave and noble men who would defeat the evil. There was no hint of sympathy for them, though obviously families worried for their sons, brothers and husbands.

But no matter how worried for their families they seemed, these wives, daughters and sisters seemed to be cheering for their noble men who were to go to battle and either never return, or return changed beyond recognition.

Pephennas only hoped they would never know of the place where youth and laughter go in the aftermath of war.

I knew a simple soldier boy
Who grinned at life in empty joy,
Slept soundly through the lonesome dark,
And whistled early with the lark.

In winter trenches, cowed and glum,
With crumps and lice and lack of rum,
He put a bullet through his brain.
No one spoke of him again.

You smug-faced crowds with kindling eye
Who cheer when soldier lads march by,
Sneak home and pray you'll never know
The hell where youth and laughter go.

- Suicide in the trenches by Siegfried Sassoon