The Poetry Archive’s World War Poetry Showcase is based on the collection put together for our national poetry recitation competition, Poetry by Heart, to mark the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War.

Of course, there are plenty of anthologies of First World War poetry. This one is different in that it contains an unusually wide range of voices – some widely celebrated, some much less well-known; some from Britain, some from Germany and elsewhere; some men and some women; some speaking from the trenches, some from behind the lines or at home; some describing the heat of battle, some reflecting on the conflict from later in the century.

Taken all together, they create an extraordinary kind of witness – harrowing as well as humbling and heartening; they present the war as a devastating moment in history and remind us that its resonances never end.

To view the full Poetry by Heart anthology, click here.