Communism
Very few of the poems that John Cornford wrote in his life survived to this day. Considering that he died tragically yet heroically on the night he turned 21, that means there is precious little content by which to judge his themes. He barely had time to explore much in the way of diversity of interest before his political views brought him the early death so many poets claim to desire. The very fact that he was a British citizen born in Cambridge to a Professor at Trinity College who died trying to stem the tide of fascist despotism in Spain before it could expand into an ideology threatening the entire globe provides a very strong insight into what is the predominant theme of that verse by which his talent can be judged. Cornford was committed to the Communist ideals of fairness and equality and judging people on their own merit rather than the class into which they were born this fervent ideological vision drives what is by fair his most famous and analyzed poem, “Full Moon at Tierz: Before the Storming of Huesca.” The poem poses the question of why join those on the battlefield and answers it with the stirring entreaty to "Raise the red flag triumphantly / For Communism and for liberty.”
A Soldier's Story
“A Letter From Aragon” joins with “Full Moon at Tierz” to make a companion duo that also examines the theme of what life on that battlefield is really like. More specifically, what is like for the lowly infantryman there on the front line actually putting his life on the line every minute. The glory of battle in these two works do not rise to become the theme that marks so much war poetry. Instead, the poems reveal that the life of those fighting for freedom from tyranny is one of incessant and mind-numbing routine and grunt work occasionally interrupted by moments of sheer terror.
The Battle Between Love and Duty
One poem in particular, “To Margot Heinemann” captures the eternal theme capable of tearing so many relationships apart and testing the mettle of the true believer. The titular character to whom the poem is directed is referred to as “Dear heart” and her presence in his mind while fighting the good fight is compared to a shadow looming over his view. It is an extraordinarily apt symbolic image of the thematic focus of not just this poem, but those of so many others who must train their mind to leave those they love just when they need them most. Not just physically, but mentally and even emotionally. The poem hints strongly that Cornford would have found many more themes and subjects to write powerfully about had he survived the consequences of his own political beliefs.
