The poem describes a soldier who has just charged into battle with his bayonet, running through fields towards an unknown enemy. He is disoriented and confused, questioning why he is fighting and what he is fighting for. As he runs, he becomes more and more aware of his vulnerability and mortality, and he starts to fear for his life.
Despite this fear, the soldier continues to run towards the enemy, determined to do his duty and follow orders. He thinks about his family and loved ones, wondering if he will ever see them again. The chaos and violence of war are described in vivid detail, with images of bombs and bullets flying past the soldier as he runs.
Ultimately, the soldier reaches the enemy and engages in hand-to-hand combat, but the poem ends before we learn the outcome of the fight. Through the soldier's experience, Hughes explores the brutality and senselessness of war, and the human struggle to find meaning and purpose in the midst of chaos and violence.
