Most of Edgar Guest's poetry is what I would call Americana--mom, flag and apple pie; reminiscing on the "good ol' days;" and so on. That's not to say they are bad; in fact, I like many of his poems a great deal. When I read Over Here, however, I was surprised by the content. The book is actually an anthology of poems written during and about WWI. Gone are the pleasantries of country life--the country is at war, and Guest speaks to the emotions, values and duties of that day. He puts himself in the shoes of a mother or father whose son has left home to fight in France (I don't know if Guest actually had any sons go to war). He becomes a soldier on the front lines, slogging through trenches filled with water and blood on Christmas Day. He discusses the honor and duty that comes with being an American, and the proper respect one ought to have for the flag. He even becomes a little boy of five, who is upset that he is too young to go to war.

This was a very sobering book. WWI is often neglected in our memories these days, but Guest depicts what it was like to live, love and lose during that time. One cannot help but think about the heavy-heartedness and pain that Americans in the late 1910s felt on a daily basis, and immediately thank God that we have not been asked to endure such hardship--and wonder how we would cope if we did. His portrayal of patriotism and American unity is also a cause for reflection; could America still be such a place?

It is for these reasons--experiencing the events of WWI on a personal level, and being forced to pause and reflect on oneself and the state of the country today--that I would recommend this book. It will challenge you and break your heart, but make you a better person when you come out on the other side. ( )