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This is no case of petty right or wrong' is a complex poem about war and Thomas' decision making. We notice that Thomas is contemplating on going to fight at this time which evidently comes out in this poem. The poem was written in the December of 1915 when there was a sensitive climate within the country over the war; people with foreign names were even persecuted. Thomas thought his farther had jingoistic views which caused a conflict between him and his farther. His farther had a patriotic idea of a rampant theory. Thomas also saw himself as a patriot who is proud of his country and has a love of 'englishness'. This is what we bear in mind when Thomas is contemplating going to fight as we realises in loosing England to the war he will 'lose himself'.

'This is no case of petty right or wrong' has a theme of love, religion, and politics. We understand that Thomas has a predominant love for his country and cannot bare to loose it which is similar to the love of nature in Rupert Brooke's 'The Solider'. In Light of the comment 'in loosing her you will loose yourself' we realise that Thomas' love for his country and the nature of it, as shown in other poems such as 'The Glory' ; is a motif for Thomas to want to fight. Within this poem there are also elements of religion for example references to a 'phoenix' and 'God'.

Thomas typically includes nature in this poem: he suggests that although nature is beautiful; it causes ally of damage. 'The wood' is a prime example of natural imagery Thomas uses. In addition, Thomas portrays an anger and hatred for the 'politicians': 'beside my hate for the politicians, his hatred for Kaiser is true love'. Here Thomas shows the depth of his emotions to people of his own country, he feels like he needs to be saved from patriotism.

Thomas shows a critical view and bitterness for 'politicians and philosophers', the alliteration of 'p' emphasises the bitter context of war within the words. He also discuss' his ' hate for one fat patriot,' this shows Thomas feels strongly about the patriots that sit at home living a life of luxury while young 'lads' are at war. It is hinted that the men signed up to war only 'to please newspapers', therefore suggesting that the men were forced to be patriotic. Thomas states that events 'can rake out of the ashes', this shows he believes that when one conflict ends, another one rises. The reference to 'ashes' is also biblical, the 'phoenix' could represent England being reborn after the war. The idea of Thomas feeling 'dinned' by the war suggests he is deafened by it and is tired of hearing about it. One may suggest that this boredom is a motif for Thomas to join the war.

Whats more, Thomas uses the metaphor 'two witches cauldrons', which is a Shakespearian reference to Macbeth. Furthermore; he uses this metaphor to compare his feelings and define the differentiation between the two. Outside one cauldron, there is his patriotism which goes beyond his hatred, so he loves the English countryside with a weather that 'shall rise clear and gay'. On the other cauldron, there are other traditional patriots which news papers distinguish, who also hate Germans because of the war conflict. These two cauldrons may been seen as two 'petty' views which divide him and he makes clear what is important to him: the mother country survives.

The use of punctuation in the middle of lines help to convey the poets confusion, and that he doesn't know what is 'right or wrong'. Every line starts with a capital letter, which reinforces his anger at the home front. Also, the embjambment 'the wind' is used to create a pause which emphasises Thomas' anger for the patriots. This also shows his confusion of not knowing what to do in his situation. Thomas also uses caesura which represents a shift in Volta in the poem 'and gay;' this symbolises the rebirth of the phoenix.

'This is no case of petty right or wrong' is a continuous piece of text, we can see how Thomas is reasoning his way through the idea of joint the war. This poem also has an irregular rhyme scheme, followed by rhyming couplets on the last eight lines of the poem; this also could represent the rebirth of the phoenix.

Moreover, 'this is no case of petty right or wrong' conveys the belief that 'in loosing' England, you will 'loose yourself'. Thomas uses the words of Henry V ' I am one in crying, God save England'. This depicts that in weakness he shall turn to God to help him reason. This religious reference makes the reader feel threatened by the war as we realise it is only the omniscient creator that can 'save' us. England is referred to as 'she' which is a convention often used for ships, England is the 'mother country' therefore she must be protected. Additionally, coins of Queen Victoria would still be in circulation at this time; we may therefore refer to her country as 'she'. Thomas also portrays his love for England, 'loving her so' and gives the reader no alternate, forcing his argument that we must fight to save our country and convincing himself he 'must endure' it by fighting for his mother country. Furthermore we realise how the love for the mother country entitles him to 'hate her foe'. The last line of the poem is a weak ending with only eleven syllables, one may suggest this is significant as it represents Thomas giving himself to the war and making that final decision.

On the other hand, 'Words' is a simple poem with a hint of optimism, which contrasts the complex decision making of 'This is no case of petty right or wrong'. Both poems show an element of frustration as they were both written shortly before Thomas enlisted. The title 'Words' reflects the simplicity of the poem which also undermines poets as it suggests a lack of talent involved in writing poetry as they just 'make rhymes'.

In the poem 'Words', Thomas wants the words to use him to say the things they want to say as he asks them to 'choose me'. This could be seen as a portal for entrance, as Thomas asks for inspiration to write poetry. He claims to understand and know words. Thomas writes in expressive speech with no archaic language alike he does in many other poems such as March: 'twas'. Robert Frost said in letters to Thomas that poems should be 'expressive intimate speech' like 'the words of man speaking to man' as shown by Wordsworth. Frost though poetry should sounds like speech through a muffled door and in words we notice Thomas interpreting this technique. By calling on words to choose him Thomas also echoes John Keats rather than Coleridge.

Thomas depicts old traditional images being 'worn new' again like the words used again by poets. The phrase 'old worn new' is particularly oxymoronic as it appears contradictory alike the phrase 'fixed and free'. The pun paradox confirms the exuberance. Thomas extends this idea of things being renewed 'young as your streams'. Here, rain is renewed by the 'streams' alike the 'words' are renewed by poets. This reference to water reminds us of the classical image of the muses.

On the contrary, Thomas writes with ambiguity in 'Words'; the comment 'as poets do' is not inclusive of Thomas. Does Thomas not view himself as a poet? Thomas conjures up a list of places within Britain 'Wiltshire and Kent and Herefordshire' which are important to him and also all places he has lived in or visited. These places within this list of three are places Thomas wants to fight for and places he does not want to loose as he realises 'in loosing her you loose yourself'. Conclusively, this is a prime incentive for Thomas to enlist and protect his mother country.

Throughout 'words' Thomas uses a range of sensual imagery to enhance our experience. Rich imagery like 'gold', 'poppies' and 'corn' which come from the earth are used to evoke vivid bright colours. This sensual imagery presents precious things which belong to the earth and again invites motif to fight for the mother land he so loves. Words are symbolic of the wind which gives them a supernatural force. The superlatives 'dearest' and 'oldest' along with the adjectives 'sweet', 'strange' and 'dear' are vague however highly emotive. The structure of the poem suggests that the rhyme meanders like a stream or a dry stone wall of a poem. This visual meandering effect represents the pondering of ideas Thomas has in light of joint the war.

The rhyme within 'Words' out sings the logic of the poem and gives the poem very little meaning. There's an element of entrancement with language and rhythm, a generally elevated tone and a concern with national identity which carry echoes from welsh poetry. The rhythm and rhyme of 'Words' reminds us of aural effect as told by Ovid in classical legends. The musicality within 'words' and the reference to water 'streams' also reminds us of Mount Helicon; the home to the nine muses, known for their lovely singing voices.

In conclusion, besides the anxiety in 'Words', theres anxiety of loosing Thomas' native landscape of 'englishness' and the natural world. This anxiety demonstrates Thomas' love for 'englishness' and we realise Thomas feels he mud fight for his country because he knows by the end of the poem that 'in loosing her you will loose yourself'. There is a signifiant reference to Thomas' pride in identity of 'englishness' and as a poet as he reconciles joining Frost in America will tarnish this identity.

Overall these two poems both discuss Thomas' hatred for patriotism and love of 'englishness'. As readers we recognise that this combination is a forceful motif for Thomas to join the war as we learn how important England is to him and how frustrated he grows by the jingoistic views of his father.