I have specifically chosen the poem “weapons training” by Bruce Dawe because I like how it has a different perspective on war. Its not about death or anything negative. To me, poem is about a sergeant who is trying to pump up his soldiers for the Vietnam war. A technique that Dawe uses in “Weapons Training” is imagery. When I read this poem I imagine the sergeant at the front of the line up soldiers trying to get them angry so they will be ready to fight with hatred. Another technique that Dawe uses is rhetorical questions. “why are you looking at me? Are you queer?” referring to the soldier who is staring at him and asking him if he is gay or not. Dawe also says a racist comment that is also a sign of symbolism saying “mob of the little yellows”
