Rhetoric of Revolution/ Spanish Civil War Poems

Inspired by his deep belief in communist ideology, Edwin Rolfe saw war as having a particular purpose. Certainly, Rolfe does not glorify war. He describes it in particularly gruesome and realistic terms. Yet, in spite of the horrors of war, he comments on the necessity of the "purging" sacrifice of war.

The poem "Epitaph" clearly displays Rolfe's beliefs of war. Rolfe first begins the poem by talking about the horrible conditions of war. He describes hos his friend is "pinned by a sniper "and everything/in a simple moment's/ quick explosion of pain [is] over" (Rolfe 7-10). Rolfe's comrade is shot down without mercy. The sniper does not hesitate to quickly end the life of his enemy. As such, the slain soldier is seen as just another target, a subhuman. However, the death of this soldier has purpose. Rolfe creates a simile comparing the death of the soldier with growing, pastoral imagery ( 15-20). Here Rolfe juxtaposes the brutality of war, with the soldier's death, to tranquil nature. In this metaphor, Rolfe states that the blood of the fallen soldier nurtures the land. Therefore, the merciless death of the soldier serves a critical purpose. The soldier's death serves as "nutrients" for the survival of Spain. Because he fights fascism during his life, he ensures that Spain will continue to be free after his death. According to Rolfe, struggling for posterity through war is the ultimate sacrifice.