To Kill A Man By Edwin Brock

In this very blunt poem, Edwin Brock describes five distinct eras in which death had taken place. It is also hinted how man has evolved in their methods to kill themselves. Each stanza represents a different time and place. This is ranged from the biblical era to the mid-twentieth century. Different phrases within the stanzas give away which era Brock is referring to. All of which have different meanings and a very unemotional tone to them.

“And one man to hammer the nails home.” The first stanza features the phrase above. It refers to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, when nailing a person to wood using nails to hold the victim was capital punishment. The people are assumed to be Roman, since this form of capital punishment was only practiced by this group in ancient times. The line in which “a crowd of people wearing sandals” reinforces the idea of the people being Roman. Brock suggests that in order to do something as gruesome as killing a person, all one would need was a person, some wood, as well as nails.
“A length of steel, shaped and chased in a traditional way” applies to swords or really any type of weapon that could be used “…to pierce the metal cage he wears…” or armor. Brock illustrates how wars were fought for honor. “At least two flags”, is referring to two different armies, or royalties that fight against each other so that one can gain glory and celebrate their victory by having a