The writers of “Joining the Colors” and “The Send Off” both use poetry to express their feelings about soldiers leaving for war. They each have similar attitudes on the topic, but use different approaches to try to get their message across. Both challenge popular concepts of war, including ideas such as heroism and glory. Katherine Hinkson, the poet who wrote 'Joining the Colors', shows the scene from two different perspectives, that of the audience watching the soldiers and also her point of view. Wilfred Owen simply shares his thoughts by describing soldiers departing from a station, although the effect is no less powerful. Since Hinkson is a woman, she focuses more on the mother or wife's point of view, while Owen gives more of the soldier's perspective. The structure of each poem helps add to the atmosphere. In 'Joining the Colors' the pace is lively and regular. The rhyme scheme is also very simple and coherent, following an ABAB scheme. The constant rhythm and regularity of the verses give the effect of marching soldiers. This is ironic, since although the scene is cheerful, the rhythm contrasts with the poet's feelings of sadness and despair. The rhyme scheme in "The Send Off" is also very regular, although the lines vary in length and the lines are divided into two and three lines. Owen also uses enjambement, which makes the poem disjointed and uneven. This shows that although the process of expelling the soldiers is very organised, the underlying feelings of the men are those of uncertainty and false courage. Both poems use short lines at the end of each stanza. This draws attention to these lines, which are often intended to stimulate thought. Phrases like "In the dark" and "Like... in the center of the paper... how quiet and secret the atmosphere is". Rhetorical questions such as "Will the great bells ring again in the loaded trains?", encourage the reader to think about the point the poet is trying to make. Owen responds with “A few, a few, too few for drums and shouts,” emphasizing how few soldiers will return home safely, too few to be worth celebrating. In conclusion, both poets share a similar view on men leaving for war. They question the glory associated with abandonment and fighting, and Hinkson successfully portrays the conflicting attitudes towards it. While Joining the Colors is emotionally driven, The Send Off is unusual in its lack of emotional language, yet still manages to create a dark atmosphere. In my opinion, I prefer The Send Off, as the serious tone conveys the message and feeling of the poem better.