Read the following poem by Edwin Muir from the Faber Book of Beasts (pp. 119-20). Next, write a short essay of no more than 600 words explaining what the poem is about and ask yourself whether you think the poem is more traditional or dissenting. The first part of this essay will analyze the meaning of the poem titled The Horses, written by Edwin. Muir. As a first step, it would be helpful to understand what is meant by traditional and dissident. Traditional: of, relating to or being a tradition (E. Dictionary, 2006). Dissent: to disagree or refuse assent, (E. Dictionary, 2006). Muir, came from an isolated place and lived around two world wars, (born May 15, 1887, Deerness, Orkney, Scot.—.d Jan. 3, 1959, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England), (Encyclopedia, Britannica, 2010). It is tempting to think that living on a remote island and living through two world wars had a strong influence on the poem. Edwin Muir's poem "The Horses" tells the story of a devastating war against humanity, possibly nuclear war, that left the world on the brink of extinction. “Barely twelve months after the seven-day war that put the world to sleep” (Assignment, Book, 2008). Muir's poem could be seen as parallel to Genesis (Old Testament), (Encyclopedia, Britannica, 2010). A good example of religious connotation of the words, the seven day war, the covenant, Eden and bondage, in the beginning and our father” (Assignment, Book, 2008). When Muir uses the word “piled” in the phrase “Corpses piled on the deck” (Assignment, Book, 2008), we get the feeling that the poet wants to show the reader the depth of contempt for the dead in the poem. It also clearly highlights the chaos and destruction that the war wrought on humanity and the fact that there was no time for the simplest burials. Muir, in his rhetoric, shows that the survivors need a simpler life, a purer life, away from the existence of a technology-driven society that caused the Seven Day War. The poem shows a strong sense of irony with: “Our life has changed; their arrival is our beginning. (Assignment Book, 2008). Muir, used alliteration and this can be seen in the repeated ending, "far beyond the land of our fathers", reinforces how much man has changed and returned to a past way of life and maybe to a rhyme. for the ancestors when they are reduced to “distant fathers” (Duty, Book, 2008).