With an Identity Disc is a

poem Poetry (from the Greek language, Greek word ''poiesis'', "making") is a form of literature, literary art that uses aesthetics, aesthetic and often rhythmic qualities of language to evoke meaning (linguistics), meanings in addition to, or in ...

written by English poet

Wilfred Owen Wilfred Edward Salter Owen Military Cross, MC (18 March 1893 – 4 November 1918) was an English poet and soldier. He was one of the leading poets of the First World War. His war poetry on the horrors of Trench warfare, trenches and Chemi ...

. The poem was drafted on 23 March 1917.

The Poem

Composition

The style of the poem is a

sonnet A sonnet is a fixed poetic form with a structure traditionally consisting of fourteen lines adhering to a set Rhyme scheme, rhyming scheme. The term derives from the Italian word ''sonetto'' (, from the Latin word ''sonus'', ). Originating in ...

. The name of the poem stems from identity discs that British soldiers wore around their necks during the

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 ...

. The discs were used as evidence for a soldiers death . This poem is influenced by

William Shakespeare's William Shakespeare ( 23 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's nation ...

Sonnet 104 first two lines; ''To me, fair friend, you never can be old, For as you were when first your eye I ey'd'' and John Keats' poem ' When I have Fears that I may Cease to Be'.

Writing the Poem

On the night of 14/15 of March 1917, Owen received a concussion after a fall at Le Quesnoy-en-Santerre. On the same night he was evacuated to a Military Hospital at Nesle. On the 17th of March, Owen was moved to 13th Casualty Clearing Station at Gailly. While recovering, Owen sent a letter to his younger brother Colin, Owen sent the poem to Colin but Owen revised it six months later at Craiglockhart. The Poem was finalised in August–September 1917.Stallworthy, Jon. ''Wilfred Owen: The War Poems''. (1994), p.g 11

References

{{Wilfred Owen Poetry by Wilfred Owen 1917 poems British poems World War I poems