Watching and recording again the harrowing World at War series last night it was the siege of Leningrad for us. One woman who stayed to care for aged family mentioned how important poetry was during that  dreadful time. Libraries were well used and much poetry read - and written. L. Olivier read one that she said all Russians knew at that time. it was about the hope and agony of waiting - and knowing that someone was waiting somewhere even through hopelessness. I guess Homer - started it but there must have been earlier reflection of war put into poetry. War evokes quite a stew of emotions.