Homework 4.22.08

The poem combines images of war with birth and death by mentioning war in the first line, then tying it to the ideas of losing life and new life. When war is mentioned, death often follows. This poem also mentions sperm banks, which introduces the idea of new life replacing life that is lost. I think the author focuses on the idea of sperm banks because some soldiers now are having their sperm frozen when they go off to war so that if they die, their spouses can produce children that are technically theirs. Since the soldier is talking to a poet, it isn't written as a news piece, as a journalist would write it. It gives more detailed information "stars and striped in sticky paws may sow the seeds for future wars". This specific line is also true since the future war mentioned is happening now.