Question

nation dividing and expanding: civil war, regionalism, and realism
war is kind
by stephen crane
do not weep, maiden, for war is kind.
because your lover threw wild hands toward the sky
and the affrighted steed ran on alone,
do not weep.
war is kind.
hoarse, booming drums of the regiment,
little souls who thirst for fight,
these men were born to drill and die.
the unexplained glory flies above them,
great is the battle—god, great, and his kingdom—
a field where a thousand corpses lie.
do not weep, babe, for war is kind
because your father tumbled in the yellow trenches,
raged at his breast, gulped and died,
do not weep
war is kind.
swift blazing flag of the regiment,
eagle with crest of red and gold,
these men were born to drill and die.
paint for them the virtue of slaughter,
make plain to them the excellence of killing
and a field where a thousand corpses lie.
mother whose heart hung humble as a button
on the bright splendid shroud of your son.
do not weep
war is kind.
the colored soldiers
by paul laurence dunbar
how are the themes of \the colored soldiers\ and \war is kind\ similar?
both poems imply that sacrifices bring rewards.
both poems convey the idea that evil will overcome attempts at goodness.
both poems acknowledge that war is painful and causes suffering.
both poems suggest that order can be created out of chaos.

Explanation:

In "War Is Kind," Crane describes the harsh realities of war, such as soldiers dying ("These men were born to drill and die") and the suffering it causes (e.g., loved - ones losing their men). In "The Colored Soldiers," while the poem is more about honoring the soldiers, it also implicitly touches on the hardships of war (as soldiers go through battles). Both poems deal with the pain and suffering associated with war.

Answer:

Both poems acknowledge that war is painful and causes suffering.