'Smoke Upon Your Altar Dies' Summary

The poem 'Smoke Upon Your Altar Dies' is a lament for the fallen soldiers of the British Empire in India. It begins with the image of a burning altar, symbolizing the sacrifices made in the name of empire. The speaker, presumably a British soldier, reflects on the lost lives and the fading memories of those who perished. He mourns the loss of comrades and the sense of duty that drove them to war. The poem uses evocative imagery to depict the brutality of warfare, emphasizing the physical and emotional scars left behind. The smoke rising from the altar symbolizes the fleeting nature of human life and the impermanence of power. The poem ultimately poses questions about the cost of empire and the lasting legacy of war, leaving the reader to contemplate the complex relationship between the colonizer and the colonized.