Understanding how Armitage presents the effects of war in 'The Manhunt'

'The Manhunt' is from a collection of poems, *The Not Dead*, which explores the effect of recent conflict on soldiers. The speaker in the poem is a wife looking to reconnect with her husband who has returned from war. The wife tenderly explores her husband’s physical injuries, discovering his considerable mental scarring in the process. The poem is based on the relationship between a soldier and his wife that Armitage interviewed as part of a documentary. The poem explores the harrowing physical and psychological effects of war on both soldiers and their loved ones.