Be slowly lifted up, thou long black arm,
Great gun towering towards Heaven, about to curse;
Sway steep against them, and for years rehearse
Huge imprecations like a blasting charm!
Reach at that Arrogance which needs thy harm,
Owen exaggerates the height of the artillery with the hyperbolic description ‘towering towards Heaven’. This captures the reader’s attention and gives a powerful impression of its devastating effect on those under its shadow. 
 The gloomy and haunting symbolism of the personified gun dominates the poem. The key malevolent phrase ‘about to curse’ is echoed in the last line. 
 Owen uses alliteration frequently in the poem. ‘Great gun’ with its heavy ‘g’s has a solid and threatening tone.