Auden's poem "Roman Wall Blues"

[guy]

Here's a beautiful poem by British poet W. H. Auden (1907-1973) about the dreary life at the Wall, likely Hadrian's Wall.

 

Roman Wall Blues by W. H. Auden

Over the heather the wet wind blows,
I've lice in my tunic and a cold in my nose.

The rain comes pattering out of the sky,
I'm a Wall soldier, I don't know why.

The mist creeps over the hard grey stone,
My girl's in *Tungria; I sleep alone.

Aulus goes hanging around her place,
I don't like his manners, I don't like his face.

Piso's a Christian, he worships a fish;
There'd be no kissing if he had his wish.

She gave me a ring but I diced it away;
I want my girl and I want my pay.

 

 

Summary of the Poem

In "Roman Wall Blues," the narrator is a Roman soldier stationed near the wall, contemplating his life and emotional distress.

The poem begins with vivid images of severe weather, creating a somber mood. The soldier reveals his discomfort by mentioning lice in his tunic and a cold in his nose, highlighting his physical hardship and sense of isolation.

Themes and Analysis

Loneliness and Isolation: The soldier feels disconnected from his loved ones, especially his girl, who is far away in *Tungria. 

This distance intensifies his solitude, as he sleeps alone and is haunted by thoughts of her.

Desire and Longing: 

The soldier's longing for companionship is palpable. He expresses jealousy of Aulus, who is pursuing his girl, and frustration with Piso, a Christian whose values conflict with his own desires.

The Mundanity of Military Life: 

The poem captures the repetitive and often difficult experiences of military life. The soldier's longing for fair pay and a peaceful life, where he can simply gaze at the sky, shows how worn out and disconnected he feels from his current situation.

Imagery and Tone:

 Auden beautifully uses vivid imagery to bring the soldier's environment and feelings to life. Phrases like "the wet wind blows" and "the rain comes pattering" paint a clear picture of the soldier's bleak surroundings, adding to the poem's touching and melancholic mood.

 

*Interesting sidenote:  

Auden’s “Tungria” refers to the homeland of the Tungri, a real Roman-era people in the province of Gallia Belgica. Their territory roughly corresponds to modern eastern Belgium, centered on the city of Aduatuca Tungrorum — today’s Tongeren.

🛡 Why this matters in the poem

The Tungri supplied auxiliary troops to the Roman army.

Many Tungrian units were stationed along Hadrian’s Wall.

So Auden’s soldier is imagining his girlfriend back home in Belgium, while he’s freezing in northern Britain.

 

Roman Wall Blues - poem by Wystan Hugh Auden | PoetryVerse

 

Edited January 11 by guy

[guy]

Here is a short video to go along with the poem:

 

 

[guidoLaMoto]

Weather probably wasn't quite as nasty as the film shows-- Toady's winters in Scotland (farther north than The Wall) averages 36°F min & 45°F max in winter and rarely snows except in the highlands-- and back then the world was in the Roman Warm Period with average temps several degrees warmer than now. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_of_Scotland

But it still had to be lonely for the unmarried/unattached legionnaire...Higher pay? To spend where and on what?

It might be interesting to discuss who became a legionnaire and why?

[guy]

Interesting article about life at Hadrian’s Wall

 

https://open.substack.com/pub/worldpolitics/p/roman-soldier-empire-ancient-hadrians-wall-britain?r=k9yfw&utm_medium=ios