Here is a detailed explanation of the poem:
Stanza 1:
The soldier begins by describing the horrors of war. He uses graphic imagery to describe the dead bodies that he is seeing and the destruction that surrounds him. He also mentions the measures that are being taken to protect him from these horrors, such as gas masks and barbed wire.
Stanza 2:
The soldier continues to describe the measures that are being taken to protect him from the war. He mentions that he is being given drugs and alcohol in order to keep him calm and sedated. He is also being given propaganda in order to keep him motivated and obedient.
Stanza 3:
The soldier expresses his concern about the measures that are being taken to protect him. He realizes that these measures are actually having a negative effect on his humanity. He is becoming desensitized to the violence and he is losing his ability to feel compassion.
Stanza 4:
The soldier concludes by asking a rhetorical question about the point of all the measures that are being taken. He realizes that the war is a senseless waste of life and that the measures that are being taken are not actually protecting anyone.
The Measures Taken is a powerful and moving poem that captures the horrors of war and its devastating consequences. The poem is a reminder that war is not just a matter of statistics, but a real and tangible thing that has a profound impact on the lives of those who experience it.