电影就不多加评述了，看过片子的人应该还记得那位喜欢写诗的年轻士兵。这是上战场前，他给大伙儿念的一首诗：
An Irish Airman Foresees His Death
By:W.B Yeats
I know that I shall meet my fate
Somewhere among the clouds above;
Those that I fight I do not hate,
Those that I guard I do not love;
My county is Kiltartan Cross,
My countrymen Kiltartan's poor,
No likely end could bring them loss
Or leave them happier than before.
Nor law, nor duty bade me fight,
Nor public men, nor cheering crowds,
A lonely impulse of delight
Drove to this tumult in the clouds;
I balanced all, brought all to mind,
The years to come seemed waste of breath,
A waste of breath the years behind
In balance with this life, this death.
我知道我将要遭逢厄运
在头顶上的云间的某处；
我对所抗击者并不仇恨，
我对所保卫者也不爱慕；
我的故乡是在基尔塔坦，
那里的穷人是我的同胞，
结局既不会使他们损减，
也不会使他们过得更好。
不是名人或欢呼的群众，
或法律或义务使我参战，
是一股寂寞的愉快冲动
长驱直入这云中的骚乱；
我回想一切，权衡一切，
未来的岁月似毫无意义，
毫无意义的是以往岁月，
二者平衡在这生死之际。
（翻译：傅浩）
电影里省略了四句，为：
I know that I shall meet my fate
somewhere among the clouds above.
我将在云之上，与命运之神相会。
Those that I fight I do not hate,
与我战斗之人，我不怨恨。
Those that I guard I do not love,
我所保护之人，我不贪爱。
Nor law, nor duty bade me fight,
我之战斗，不为法律、不为责任、
Nor public men, nor cheering crowds.
不为民众、不为欢呼的掌声。
A lonely impulse of some delight,
drove to this tumult in the clouds.
一脉微微的喜悦，催著我直上云霄。
I balance all brought all to mind,
云海浮沉，往日历历在目，
The years to come seemed waste of breath,
未来的似已惘然，
A waste of breath the years behind.
过去的已如尘烟。
In balance with this life, this death.
生死乃一线之隔。
