''The Deserter'' is a British

First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

poem, written in 1916 by Winifred M. Letts (1882–1972). It tells the story of a young British soldier who is shot for

desertion Desertion is the abandonment of a military duty or post without permission (a pass, liberty or leave) and is done with the intention of not returning. This contrasts with unauthorized absence (UA) or absence without leave (AWOL ), which ...

. The poem shows the complex and often overlooked issue of soldiers deserting the military during war times and challenges the often glorified notions of heroism and sacrifice and confronts the grim reality of war. Letts utilizes a simple yet poignant language to describe the actions of the soldier that evokes sympathy for the soldier. It has been included in several anthologies of First World War poems. It is written in iambic tetrameter.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Deserter World War I poems 1916 poems