Peace

The manner in which the speaker of “Peace” talks about this eponymous subject initially implies that war and peace are mutually exclusive. When the speaker opens the poem by addressing “Peace” (Line 1) directly and questioning when it will grace them with its presence, there is a sense that peace itself is the answer—they are seeking it as the solution to all their problems. The speaker then criticizes “Peace” (Line 1) for its merely partial or fragmented attendance. Using forceful alliteration, the speaker declares, “That piecemeal peace is poor peace” (Line 5). Here, the speaker believes that anything less than complete and total “Peace” (Line 1) is insignificant and inconsequential. For, as the speaker questions, “What pure peace allows / Alarms of wars, the daunting wars, the death of it?” (Lines 5-6). True “Peace” (Line 1) does not permit any conflict or discomfort. However, as the speaker moves into the second stanza and realizes that “pure peace” (Line 5) may not be as attainable as they originally thought, they acknowledge that when “Peace” (Line 9) comes to reside, it “comes with work to do” (Line 10) rather than “to coo” (Line 10). When it settles on an individual, “Peace” (Line 9) begins to change them in some way, rather than simply pacify and comfort them. Rather than consisting of pure tranquility and serenity, divine “Peace” (Line 9) instead “comes to brood and sit” (Line 11). In the poem, divine peace will lead to contemplation and critical reflection, rather than the rest one typically associates with peace, even if it is not about the most positive or enjoyable topic. As the speaker learns as they travel between the first and second stanzas, “Peace” (Line 1) is not as pure, restful, and passive as the speaker initially observes. It is tainted with sadness/depression and negativity itself at times. Peace and war affect one another rather than being true, mutually exclusive foils. They fade into and overlap one another.