Using the image of a "school" being disrupted; Whitman is able to express the idea that during a time of war no education is able to take place. His underlying meaning, having no education in a child"s life only leads to an uneducated group of people in the future.

             Again Whitman is able to create an image of how war effects peoples" lives both directly and indirectly. "Leave not the bridegroom quiet- no happiness must he have with his bride," Whitman uses the image of a "bridegroom" leaving his wife to show how young men during this time are called off to duty to defend their country or side. The underlying meaning of this is that new families are unable to be started because of the separation of husbands and wives. "Nor the peaceful farmer any peace," Whitman uses the image of a farmer to express the idea that no food will be grown because of war taking place. People"s everyday work life is effected by this war only creating problems for the future. .

             Whitman uses wonderful images to show how the war affects peoples" jobs. "No bargainers by day- no brokers or speculators-would/ they continue?" The speaker expresses how even the rich persons of the community cannot carry on with their jobs. Whitman"s underlying meaning is that because of the war an economic depression might happen in the future. .

             Whitman takes every section and turns them into a part of the war. Each section is how a war would take over a particular community. In the first section Whitman talks of all quiet and peaceful places; "church", "school", and "field." These show how the drums are easy to disrupt these calming places. Then Whitman finishes the first section as the drums are getting louder or the war is getting bigger, "So fierce you whirr and pound your drums- so shrill you bugles blow." This line states that the speaker can start to feel the sounds of the drums and not only hear them.