War Photographer (Carole Satyamurti)

War Photographer by Carole Satyamurti provides a glimpse into the life and experiences of a war photographer as he documents the horrors of war. The poem explores the emotional and psychological toll of bearing witness to suffering and violence, as well as the ethical dilemmas faced by those who document human suffering. Through vivid imagery and evocative language, Satyamurti highlights the contrast between the photographer's experiences in the war zone and the indifference of the readers back home. The poem prompts readers to reflect on their own complicity in the perpetuation of violence and the importance of bearing witness to human suffering. You can read the poem below and find analysis further down the page.

War Photographer by Carole Satyamurti

The reassurance of the frame is ‑ flexible

 – you can think that just outside it

 people eat, sleep, love normally

 while I seek out the tragic, the absurd,

to make a subject.

 Or if the picture’s such as lifts the heart

 the ­ firmness of the edges can convince you

 this is how things are

 – as when at Ascot once

I took a pair of peach, sun-gilded girls

 rolling, silk-crumpled, on the grass

 in champagne giggles

 – as last week, when I followed a small girl

 staggering down some devastated street,

hip thrust out under a baby’s weight.

 She saw me seeing her; my ­ finger pressed.

 At the corner, the first bomb of the morning

 shattered the stones.

 Instinct prevailing, she dropped her burden

and, mouth too small for her dark scream,

 began to run…

 The picture showed the little mother

 the almost-smile. Their caption read

 ‘Even in hell the human spirit

triumphs over all.’

 But hell, like heaven, is untidy,

 its boundaries

 arbitrary as a blood stain on a wall.

Analysis:

Title and Subject Matter:

The title "War Photographer" immediately introduces the central figure of the poem: the photographer who documents the horrors of war. The poem explores themes of conflict, suffering, and the ethical responsibilities of bearing witness to human suffering.

Structure and Form:

"War Photographer" is written in free verse, with irregular line lengths and no discernible rhyme scheme. The lack of a regular structure mirrors the chaos and uncertainty of war, as well as the fragmented nature of the photographer's experiences and memories.

Language and Imagery:

Satyamurti uses vivid imagery and evocative language to convey the photographer's experiences in the war zone.

Tone and Perspective:

The tone of the poem is contemplative and introspective, with the speaker reflecting on the photographer's experiences and the ethical dilemmas he faces.

Satyamurti adopts a detached perspective, allowing readers to empathise with the photographer's experiences while also considering their own complicity in the perpetuation of violence.

Themes:

Witnessing and bearing witness: The poem explores the ethical responsibilities of bearing witness to human suffering and the emotional toll of documenting the horrors of war.

Indifference and complicity: Satyamurti highlights the indifference of readers back home to the suffering of those in war zones, prompting readers to reflect on their own complicity in the perpetuation of violence.

Memory and trauma: The poem delves into the psychological and emotional toll of witnessing violence and suffering, as the photographer grapples with the memories of what he has seen.

Conclusion:

War Photographer by Carole Satyamurti is a poignant exploration of the ethical responsibilities and emotional toll of bearing witness to human suffering. Through vivid imagery and evocative language, Satyamurti highlights the contrast between the violence of war and the indifference of readers back home. The poem's inclusion in the Edexcel GCSE English Literature Conflict Poetry Anthology provides students with an opportunity to reflect on themes of conflict, suffering, and the ethical responsibilities of bearing witness to human suffering.

You can find analysis of all the Edexcel Conflict Poetry Anthology Poems here.