How we cite our quotes: (Line)
Quote #1
It seemed that out of the battle I escaped
Down some dull tunnel, long since scooped
Through granites which Titanic wars had groined. (1-3)
Our poor speaker is temporarily duped. He thinks he's finally escaped from the horrors of warfare. But of course he's never going to be able to escape because they've followed him to hell. This passage to hell—or tunnel—seems to have been carved out of the mess past wars of left behind. Owen seems to be trying to tell us that these wars, even if they're over now, seem to have left their impact on the world in a serious way.
Quote #2
Yet no blood reached there from the upper ground,
And no guns thumped, or down the flues made moan.
"Strange friend," I said, "Here is no cause to mourn." (12-14)
This one's a real kicker. You can almost feel the speaker breathing a sigh of relief. For a brief moment, because he's not in the thick of battle, he thinks he's safe—even though he's in hell now.
Quote #3
[…] I meant the truth untold,
The pity of war, the pity war distilled. (24-25)
Looks like if there's one lesson to learn in hell, this is it: war's a complete and utter shame. It is, itself, a pity, and it causes pity. It's not good for anybody or anything, under any circumstances, capisce?
Quote #4
Or, discontent, boil bloody, and be spilled.
they will be swift with swiftness of the tigress,
None will break ranks, though nations trek from progress. (27-29)
Basically people are going to keep on fighting in wars, even though it does the exact opposite of what it intends to do. Rather than gain progress, countries seem to be moving backwards every time they go to war (at least that's what's up according to Owen).
Quote #5
I would have poured my spirit without stint
But not through wounds; not on the cess of war. (37-38)
Again, this soldier is saying that had he lived longer, he would have lived life to the absolute fullest. He would have given his all to just about anything (slubberdoffer? mime?—we didn't make these up, they did) except for fighting in war.
Quote #6
I am the enemy you killed, my friend. (40)
Speaker number two finally calls speaker number one out: uhh, you killed me, bro! But all's fair in love and war, right? Well, yes and no. Owen shows us just how messed up war is with the "enemy" and "friend" contradiction. War has a way of blinding men so they can no longer see soldiers as people, or friends for that matter. And if they can't see them as people, then they're easier to kill when the time comes. Did someone say bleak?