Key quotations

And the drink and the drugs won’t flush him out

And the drink and the drugs won’t flush him out

An indication of the speakers desperation to rid himself of the harrowing memories. The verb ‘flush’ is indicative of something that needs to be cleansed or disposed of, linking to the unpleasantness of his memories

Well myself and somebody else and somebody else

Colloquial language; shows that experiences, such as the one he described, were common. The soldiers are almost desensitised to the horrors of conflict when they are immersed in it

Sort of inside out…tosses his guts back into his body

Gruesome image; indicates the reality of war and the lack of glory or honour associated with such a job

Probably armed, possibly not

Uncertain language; reminds leaders of the doubt that soldiers must deal with. It links to the theme of guilt as there is an indication that the man who was killed was innocent

Torn apart by a dozen rounds

Violent image; contrasts to ideas of peace and tranquillity, e.g. ‘sleep’ and ‘dream

I swear I see every round as it rips through his life

Violent language, sensory language and present tense ; the verb ‘rip’ highlights the brutal nature of the attack. ‘I see’ conveys a sense of the trauma it has caused the soldier, as though it is branded on his memory. The use of present tense links in with the idea that this suffering is ongoing and he constantly replays the memories

His bloody life in my bloody hands

Repetition and blood imagery; repetition reinforces the sense of his frustration. The image of having blood on his hands symbolises the guilt he is unable to rid himself of. ‘Blood’ could also be interpreted as a swear word and mark his anger or regret

His blood-shadow stays on the street, and out on patrol

Metaphor; indicates something dark that can’t be dispelled, a constant reminded of what he did