“No Men Are Foreign” is a powerful anti-war poem written by James Kirkup, included in the NCERT Beehive textbook for Class 9 English (Poem 6). The poem carries a universal message of peace, brotherhood, and shared humanity. Kirkup argues that all human beings — regardless of nationality, religion, or the uniform they wear — are fundamentally the same. They breathe the same air, walk on the same earth, and are nourished by the same sun and water. This article provides a complete summary, stanza-wise explanation, and answers to all textbook and additional questions as per the ASSEB Class 9 syllabus.
The Poem — No Men Are Foreign
by James Kirkup
Remember, no men are strange, no countries foreign
Beneath all uniforms, a single body breathes
Like ours: the land our brothers walk upon
Is earth like this, in which we all shall lie.
And often, for their sun our toil,
The very earth that we have tilled
Our hard-worn ploughs; and often, for their sun
Their starv’d and hungry eyes
Look out upon the same skies as ours.
And when their bodies lie under the stars,
They look up at the same skies as we do;
And when their eyes are closed,
In sleep, they lie as we do.
Their hands are ours, and in their lines we read
A labour not different from our own.
Remember they have eyes like ours that wake
Or sleep, and strength that can be won
By love. In every land is common life
That all can recognise and understand.
Let us remember, whenever we are told
To hate our brothers, it is ourselves
That we shall dispossess, betray, condemn.
Remember, we who take arms against each other
It is the human earth that we defile.
Our hells of fire and dust outrage the innocence
Of air that is everywhere our own,
Remember, no men are strange, no countries foreign.
Summary / Central Idea
“No Men Are Foreign” by James Kirkup is a poem about universal brotherhood and the futility of hatred and war. The poet reminds us that no human being is truly a stranger and no country is truly foreign, because all people share the same earth, the same sky, the same air, and the same fundamental human experiences. Beneath different uniforms and different national identities, every person has the same body, breathes the same breath, labours with the same hands, and eventually lies in the same earth after death. The poet warns that when we are manipulated into hating people of other nations, we are actually betraying and harming ourselves, because we are all part of one human family. War defiles the earth and pollutes the air that belongs to all. The poem begins and ends with the same line — “Remember, no men are strange, no countries foreign” — reinforcing its central message of peace, unity, and shared humanity.
Stanza-wise Explanation
Stanza 1
“Remember, no men are strange, no countries foreign / Beneath all uniforms, a single body breathes / Like ours: the land our brothers walk upon / Is earth like this, in which we all shall lie.”
The poet opens with a direct appeal to the reader — “Remember.” He urges us to recognise that no human being is truly strange or foreign. The word “uniforms” refers both to military uniforms worn by soldiers of different nations and to the traditional dress of various peoples. Whatever uniform a person wears on the outside, beneath it is the same human body, breathing the same breath as us. The land that people of other countries walk upon is made of the same earth — the earth in which all human beings shall one day be buried. The word “brothers” emphasises that all people, regardless of nationality, belong to the same human family.
Stanza 2
“And often, for their sun our toil, / The very earth that we have tilled / Our hard-worn ploughs; and often, for their sun / Their starv’d and hungry eyes / Look out upon the same skies as ours.”
In this stanza, the poet highlights how people of all nations share the same natural resources — the sun, the air, the earth, and the sky. Farmers everywhere till the earth using the same labour and effort. During times of war and hardship (described as “war’s long winter”), people in all countries suffer from hunger and starvation. Their starving eyes look up at the same skies as us. This shared experience of hardship and dependence on nature further underscores our common humanity. The phrase “hard-worn ploughs” suggests that the toil and labour of all farmers across the world are identical.
Stanza 3
“And when their bodies lie under the stars, / They look up at the same skies as we do; / And when their eyes are closed, / In sleep, they lie as we do. / Their hands are ours, and in their lines we read / A labour not different from our own.”
The poet continues to draw parallels between people of different nations. When people of another country lie down at night, they gaze at the same stars and the same sky. When they sleep, their eyes close just as ours do. The lines of their hands — shaped by their labour — tell a story no different from the story of our own hands. The phrase “Their hands are ours” is a powerful statement of identity: the work, the suffering, and the effort of people in other countries are the same as ours.
Stanza 4
“Remember they have eyes like ours that wake / Or sleep, and strength that can be won / By love. In every land is common life / That all can recognise and understand.”
Again the poet uses the word “Remember” to stress his point. People in other lands have eyes like ours — eyes that open in wakefulness and close in sleep. They possess strength, not born of violence, but strength that “can be won by love.” In every country, there exists a life that is recognisable and understandable to all human beings, because it is the same life. Love is more powerful than hatred and can create true strength and unity among peoples.
Stanza 5
“Let us remember, whenever we are told / To hate our brothers, it is ourselves / That we shall dispossess, betray, condemn. / Remember, we who take arms against each other”
This stanza carries a moral warning. The poet acknowledges that sometimes people are told — by leaders, governments, or propaganda — to hate those of other nations. But the poet warns that when we follow such instructions and hate our fellow human beings, we are in fact harming ourselves. The words “dispossess, betray, condemn” show that hatred robs us of our own humanity, betrays our own values, and condemns us to a lesser existence. When we take arms against each other, we destroy what is most precious in ourselves.
Stanza 6
“It is the human earth that we defile. / Our hells of fire and dust outrage the innocence / Of air that is everywhere our own, / Remember, no men are strange, no countries foreign.”
The final stanza describes the destructive consequences of war. When we wage war — creating “hells of fire and dust” — we defile the earth itself, the very earth that belongs to all humanity. The smoke and pollution of war “outrage the innocence of air” — the same air breathed by all people everywhere. The poem ends exactly as it began: “Remember, no men are strange, no countries foreign.” This circular structure reinforces the central message: war is self-destruction, and hatred of others is hatred of ourselves. We must remember our common humanity and reject division.
Thinking about the Poem (Textbook Questions)
Q1(i). “Beneath all uniforms…” What uniforms do you think the poet is speaking about?
Answer: The poet is speaking about two kinds of uniforms. First, he refers to the military uniforms worn by soldiers of different nations during war — uniforms that make people appear to be enemies of one another. Second, “uniforms” can also refer to the traditional dress or clothing worn by people of different countries and cultures. These external garments create an illusion of difference and separateness. However, the poet reminds us that beneath all these uniforms — whatever form they take — lies the same human body, breathing the same breath. The uniforms are superficial coverings; the human body and soul beneath them are identical.
Q1(ii). How does the poet suggest that all people on earth are the same?
Answer: The poet suggests that all people on earth are the same in many ways. He points out that beneath different uniforms and national identities, all human beings share the same physical body. All people walk on the same earth and will one day be buried in it. All people depend on the same sun, air, and water for survival. During war and winter, all people experience hunger and starvation. All people labour with similar hands. Their eyes open in wakefulness and close in sleep, just as ours do. In every land, there is a “common life that all can recognise and understand.” By emphasising these shared physical, emotional, and existential experiences, the poet argues that there is no true difference between one human being and another.
Q2. In stanza 1, find five ways in which we all are alike. Pick out the words.
Answer: In stanza 1, the poet identifies the following five ways in which all human beings are alike:
- “no men are strange” — all human beings are essentially the same; none is truly a stranger.
- “no countries foreign” — no land or country is truly alien to us; all lands are part of the same earth.
- “a single body breathes” — beneath all uniforms, the same human body breathes; our physical form is identical.
- “the land our brothers walk upon / Is earth like this” — the ground people of other nations walk on is the same earth we walk on.
- “in which we all shall lie” — all human beings, regardless of nation or status, will eventually be buried in the same earth; we share a common mortality.
Q3. How many common features can you find in stanza 2? Pick out the words.
Answer: In stanza 2, the poet identifies the following common features shared by all human beings:
- Sun — all people toil under the same sun; the sun nourishes all equally.
- Earth / the very earth — all people till and depend on the same earth for food and livelihood.
- Ploughs / toil — the labour of farming is the same everywhere; all farmers work with the same effort and dedication.
- Hunger / “starv’d and hungry eyes” — people everywhere suffer from hunger, especially during wars and times of hardship.
- Skies — people of all nations look up at the same sky.
There are five common features: the sun, the earth, the toil (ploughs/labour), hunger, and the sky.
Q4. “…whenever we are told to hate our brothers…” When do you think this happens? Why? Who ‘tells’ us? Should we do as we are told at such times? What does the poet say?
Answer: This happens during times of war, political conflict, and social unrest. Selfish leaders, politicians, and those in power often spread propaganda and nationalist hatred to manipulate ordinary people into seeing those of other nations as enemies. They do this for their own political gain, to expand their power, to justify war, or to deflect attention from their own failures. The people who “tell” us to hate our brothers are political leaders, military commanders, propagandists, and sometimes religious or community leaders who exploit divisions for personal benefit.
The poet says we should not do as we are told at such times. He warns that when we hate our brothers and take arms against each other, we are actually dispossessing, betraying, and condemning ourselves. We defile the earth and pollute the air — harming the very world we share with those we are told to hate. The poet advocates rejecting such harmful messages and instead remembering our common humanity and universal brotherhood.
Additional Questions and Answers
Short Answer Questions
Q1. Who is the poet of “No Men Are Foreign”? What is the central theme of the poem?
Answer: The poet is James Kirkup, a British poet. The central theme of the poem is universal brotherhood and the common humanity of all people. The poet argues that all human beings, regardless of their nationality, religion, or appearance, are fundamentally the same. He urges us to reject hatred, war, and division, and to recognise that we all share the same earth, the same sky, and the same human experiences.
Q2. What does the poet mean by “the land our brothers walk upon / Is earth like this, in which we all shall lie”?
Answer: The poet means that the land in other countries is made of the same earth as the land beneath our own feet. More importantly, all human beings — regardless of nationality — will one day die and be buried in the earth. Death is the great equaliser: it comes to everyone, everywhere. The word “brothers” emphasises that people of other nations are not enemies but family. By reminding us of our shared mortality, the poet urges us to value life and brotherhood rather than engage in senseless hatred and war.
Q3. What does the phrase “Their hands are ours” mean in the poem?
Answer: The phrase “Their hands are ours” means that the hands of people in other countries are just like our hands — they do the same kind of work, carry the same hardships, and tell the same story of human labour. The lines on their palms, shaped by toil and effort, are no different from the lines on our own hands. This phrase is a powerful expression of solidarity and equality: the sweat, the struggle, and the daily work of people everywhere is essentially the same, regardless of where they were born.
Q4. Why does the poet use the word “Remember” repeatedly in the poem?
Answer: The poet uses the word “Remember” repeatedly as a deliberate rhetorical device to emphasise the importance of his message. The repetition serves as a constant reminder and appeal to the reader — urging us not to forget the truth of our common humanity. Because people are easily misled by propaganda and prejudice into forgetting that others are their brothers, the poet insists on repeating this appeal. The repetition also gives the poem a tone of urgency and moral seriousness, as if the poet is pleading with humanity not to make the mistake of hatred and war.
Q5. What does the poet mean by “strength that can be won / By love”?
Answer: The poet means that true strength is not born of military power, weapons, or aggression, but of love, compassion, and understanding. When we recognise the shared humanity of all people and approach others with love rather than hatred, we gain a deeper and more enduring strength — the strength of unity, trust, and brotherhood. This is a contrast to the false strength of war, which only brings destruction. The poet believes that love is the most powerful force available to human beings.
Q6. What does the poet say about the effect of war on the earth and air?
Answer: The poet says that war defiles the human earth. The “hells of fire and dust” created by warfare outrage the innocence of the air — the same air that is breathed by all people everywhere. By waging war, we do not merely destroy our enemies; we pollute and corrupt the very elements that sustain all life on earth. The earth that belongs to all of humanity is desecrated, and the shared air is poisoned. This shows that war is ultimately self-destructive: the damage falls on everyone, not just on those we consider our enemies.
Q7. How does the structure of the poem (beginning and ending with the same line) add to its meaning?
Answer: The poem uses a circular structure — it begins and ends with the same line: “Remember, no men are strange, no countries foreign.” This circular structure powerfully reinforces the central message. It suggests that the idea of universal brotherhood is not just an opening statement but a conclusion arrived at after examining all the evidence of our shared humanity. The return to the opening line also gives the poem a sense of completeness and finality, as if the poet is saying: after all that has been said, the truth remains the same. The repetition of the final line also makes it more memorable and deeply impactful for the reader.
Long Answer Questions
Q8. “No Men Are Foreign” is an anti-war poem. Discuss with reference to the poem.
Answer: “No Men Are Foreign” by James Kirkup is fundamentally an anti-war poem that uses the idea of shared humanity to argue against conflict between nations. Throughout the poem, the poet systematically dismantles the reasons people use to justify war — the idea that those in other countries are fundamentally different, strange, or inferior to us.
The poet points out that beneath different uniforms, the same human body breathes. All people walk on the same earth and will be buried in it. All depend on the sun, air, and water. During war and winter, all suffer from hunger equally. The phrase “by war’s long winter starv’d” explicitly links war to suffering and deprivation. When war creates “hells of fire and dust,” it defiles the earth and outrages the innocence of the air that all people breathe.
The poet also warns against the political manipulation that leads to war: “whenever we are told to hate our brothers, it is ourselves that we shall dispossess, betray, condemn.” War is thus not only destructive to the enemy but to ourselves — it robs us of our humanity, our values, and our shared world. The poem ends with a reminder that no one is truly foreign, implicitly arguing that there is therefore no justification for war. The poem is a call for peace, understanding, and the recognition of our universal brotherhood.
Q9. What values does James Kirkup promote in “No Men Are Foreign”? How are these values relevant today?
Answer: In “No Men Are Foreign,” James Kirkup promotes several important values:
Universal Brotherhood: The poet insists that all human beings are brothers, regardless of their nationality, religion, or appearance. He uses the word “brothers” deliberately to remind us of our familial bond with all people.
Peace and Non-violence: The poem is a strong anti-war statement. Kirkup argues that war defiles the earth and pollutes the shared air, harming everyone. He promotes peaceful coexistence over military conflict.
Rejection of Prejudice: The poem challenges us to reject prejudice based on nationality, race, or cultural difference. By pointing out our common humanity, the poet urges us to overcome narrow-minded biases.
Love over Hatred: The poet believes that “strength can be won by love” — that love is more powerful and enduring than hatred or violence.
These values are highly relevant today. In a world still plagued by war, nationalism, racism, and religious extremism, Kirkup’s message of universal brotherhood and shared humanity is as urgent as ever. In an era of global challenges like climate change, pandemics, and nuclear threats — all of which affect all people equally — the poem’s insistence on our common destiny is particularly meaningful. The poem reminds us that our differences are superficial, while our shared humanity is profound and real.
Q10. Describe the literary devices used in “No Men Are Foreign.”
Answer: James Kirkup uses several literary devices effectively in “No Men Are Foreign”:
Repetition: The word “Remember” is repeated several times throughout the poem. This reinforces the urgency of the poet’s appeal and keeps the central message prominent in the reader’s mind. The opening and closing lines are identical, creating a circular structure that emphasises the permanence of the poem’s truth.
Metaphor: “Uniforms” is used as a metaphor for national identity and the superficial differences between peoples. “War’s long winter” is a metaphor comparing the suffering caused by war to the barrenness and coldness of winter. “Hells of fire and dust” metaphorically describes the devastation of war.
Alliteration: “body breathes” uses the repetition of the ‘b’ sound. “war’s… winter” repeats the ‘w’ sound, creating a musical quality.
Simile: “a single body breathes / Like ours” and “eyes like ours” use direct comparisons to stress the physical similarity of all human beings.
Personification: The air is described as having “innocence,” giving it a human quality that makes its defilement by war seem even more tragic.
Free Verse: The poem does not follow a strict rhyme scheme or metrical pattern, giving it the quality of sincere, urgent speech rather than a formal, structured composition. This suits the moral seriousness of its subject matter.
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
Q1. Who wrote the poem “No Men Are Foreign”?
(a) William Wordsworth (b) James Kirkup (c) Robert Frost (d) Rabindranath Tagore
Answer: (b) James Kirkup
Q2. In which NCERT textbook is the poem “No Men Are Foreign” found?
(a) Moments (b) Honeydew (c) Beehive (d) First Flight
Answer: (c) Beehive
Q3. What does the word “uniforms” symbolise in the poem?
(a) School dress codes (b) National identity and superficial differences between people (c) Sports teams (d) Working-class clothing
Answer: (b) National identity and superficial differences between people
Q4. What does the phrase “Their hands are ours” mean?
(a) People of other countries steal from us (b) The labour and toil of all people everywhere is essentially the same (c) We should lend a helping hand (d) All people clap together
Answer: (b) The labour and toil of all people everywhere is essentially the same
Q5. According to the poet, how can true strength be achieved?
(a) Through military power (b) Through wealth (c) Through love (d) Through education
Answer: (c) Through love
Q6. When the poet says “it is ourselves / That we shall dispossess, betray, condemn,” what does he mean?
(a) We should punish ourselves (b) Hating others ultimately harms and degrades ourselves (c) We should give away our possessions (d) We should confess our crimes
Answer: (b) Hating others ultimately harms and degrades ourselves
Q7. What does the phrase “hells of fire and dust” refer to in the poem?
(a) A natural disaster (b) The destruction and pollution caused by war (c) Industrial pollution (d) A volcanic eruption
Answer: (b) The destruction and pollution caused by war
Q8. What is the significance of the poem beginning and ending with the same line?
(a) It shows the poet ran out of ideas (b) It creates a circular structure that reinforces the central message of universal brotherhood (c) It is a mistake in the original text (d) It is a traditional poetic form
Answer: (b) It creates a circular structure that reinforces the central message of universal brotherhood
Word Meanings
| Word / Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Foreign | Belonging to or characteristic of another country; alien |
| Uniforms | Distinctive clothing worn to identify membership of a group; here, national dress or military clothing |
| Toil | Hard and continuous labour or work |
| Tilled | Prepared land for growing crops; cultivated |
| Ploughs | Tools used to break up soil before sowing seeds |
| Starv’d | Suffered severely from hunger; starved |
| Dispossess | To deprive someone of property, land, or other possessions; to strip of rights |
| Betray | To be disloyal to; to reveal in a harmful way |
| Condemn | To express complete disapproval of; to sentence |
| Defile | To damage the purity or appearance of; to pollute or corrupt |
| Outrage | To arouse fierce indignation; to offend greatly; to violate |
| Innocence | The state of being free from moral wrong; purity |
| Recognise | To identify or acknowledge; to see as familiar |
| Labour | Work, especially hard physical work |
This article covers all important aspects of Class 9 English Poem 6 “No Men Are Foreign” by James Kirkup as per the ASSEB (Assam State Board of Secondary Education) syllabus. For more Class 9 English question answers, visit hslcguru.com.