Letter to Speaker

Jorge Cabanillas
45-45
125th fl.
Jackson Heights, NY 11372

February 14th,2008

Dear Speaker:

"Dulce et Decorum Est" a poem expressing pain agony, fear ,and torment. A poem showing that it is not sweet and fitting to die for one's country. A poem showing that there is no such thing as glory in war. It takes a great writer to show and express such details in a poem.

I was just wondering were all this inspiration is brought from? Is it all made up or influenced from your past? After all you did participate in World War I. So am guessing you have seen death, since you write about an encounter with a guy choking in "Dulce et Decorum Est.""As under a green sea, I saw him drowning. In all my dreams, before my helpless sight, he plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning."Thats what is written in your poem. Did you really witness that? If you did how old were you? Were you used to seeing death at that stage of your life?

Your poem has made me realize that nothing positive comes out of war, but only lost lives of soldiers in a battle which they have not promoted. Your poems, well displayed imagery has also made me see that witnessing death isn't as petite as watching it being performed on T.V. You are thanked and well appreciated. Hope you answer my questions.

Sincerely, Jorge Cabanillas