In Parenthesis is an epic poem based on the First World War, written by David Jones. The poem was published in England in 1937.
The poem is split into seven parts and follows the journey of Private John Ball as he embarks on his infantry service in a mixed English-Welsh regiment. The poem itself is split into seven sections, covering the course of Ball’s journey from England to the Battle of the Somme. It details the daily experience of being at the Front, from morning stand-to to evening stand-down and the tedious nature of their life. It also describes the violence witnessed at the Front and the impact this had on the men. The poem further covers the bloodshed of the Battle of the Somme and introduces the mythical Queen of the Wood who bestows garlands upon the soldiers.
The poem was extremely well received by author notable authors. T. S. Eliot called it "a work of genius" whilst W. H. Auden considered it "a masterpiece." Poet, Adam Thorpe, said that it "towers above any other prose or verse memorial of that war (indeed, of any war)".
