"observation by observation"
The poem appears to be a sonnet (14 lines, distinct rhythm, volta)
But clearly an experimental sonnet, because modernist movement relied on experimentation
Titled "III" (like Shakespeare's sonnets)
Opens with punctuation marks - inverted commas - which also close out the first stanza. These aren't in all representations but the final line indicates that the first stanza is spoken and, in the final line, the objective onlooker notes his actions.
The lack of punctuation creates a rushed atmosphere as there are no pauses between clauses.
"and so forth" is blasé tonally and suggests a lack of conviction despite the patriotic stance of the words.
God, America and I all appear in lowercase diminishing the significance of religion, patriotism, and the speaker themselves.
I recognise "oh say can you see" and "my country 'tis" but this second song is apparently also referenced in "land of the pilgrims". The fact these patriotic verses are incomplete reveals the speaker's non-committal attitude towards patriotic discourse.
The poem essentially reads "my country 'tis... no more", which is, more or less, the theme.
"what of it" sounds abrupt and confrontational, but could also be read as a Que Sera, Sera (YOLO) type phrase (???).
Is it meant to be read "we should worry in every language" or "in every language... thy sons acclaim your glorious name"? These have different connotations. Should everyone be concerned regardless of ethnicity or disability? Or is America celebrated universally? Ambiguous meaning.
deafanddumb branched together feels reductive.
"by gorry by jingo by gee by gosh by gum" are simplified expletives.
Gorry is interesting because it isn't a real word. Is it meant to resemble "gory" or simply "golly" with an accent or impediment?
Jingo $\implies$ jingoism $\implies$ extreme patriotism
"beauty" and "beaut-/iful" hint at a volta of sorts. There is a change of topic here and a potential change of tone.
"heroic happy dead" could be related to "Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori" from Wilfred Owen's poem, translating to "It is sweet and proper to die for one's country". The quote originally came from Horace.
The simile "Rushed like lions to the roaring slaughter" is a very clever line. The rewording of an idiom (lambs to the slaughter), the association of the roar with the slaughter of lions instead of the lions themselves. Lions are also typically associated with bravery and strength.
The speaker seems to praise the solders who "did not stop to think" and glorifies their death but the notion appears absurd, especially with how the patriotic voice has been undercut throughout the sonnet.
The final line of the stanza links to America's infatuation with freedom of speech (then shall the voice of liberty be mute?).
If much (if not all) of the stanza enjambs to create a hurried, insecure voice, the final line allows the reader to pause. The line break and the elongated space between "spoke" and "And" allow for introspection and reflection.
"He spoke" is punctuated! The tone is matter-of-fact and suggests a reliability or sensibility when compared to the panicked speaker of the first stanza who is then described to have "drank rapidly" as further indication of their anxiety.
The lack of final punctuation suggests the speaker or the speaker's attitudes live on beyond the poem.
