"but near to the knuckle, here and now,.."

• Colloquial Idiom: The phrase "near to the knuckle" is an idiom, often meaning something close to the limits of what is acceptable. Here, it conveys the raw emotional proximity of the trauma and guilt to the soldier's psyche, suggesting that it is too painful and real to ignore.
• Anaphora: The repetition of "bloody" emphasizes the physical and moral staining of the soldier’s actions. It conveys anger, frustration, and guilt while also reflecting the visceral imagery of violence.
• Alliteration: The repeated "b" sounds in "bloody life" and "bloody hands" create a blunt, staccato rhythm, echoing the relentless hammering of guilt on the speaker's conscience.
• Ambiguity: "Bloody" is deliberately ambiguous. It can be interpreted literally as the man's actual blood or figuratively, symbolizing the speaker's moral culpability. Its use as slang adds to the conversational tone, grounding the language in reality.
• Metaphor: "His bloody life in my bloody hands" is a powerful metaphor for guilt and responsibility. Drawing on the cultural resonance of Macbeth ("Out, damned spot!"), it suggests a deep psychological stain that cannot be cleansed.
• Present Tense: The shift to "here and now" emphasizes immediacy. It shows that the trauma is not in the past; it persists and is inescapable in the present moment.
• Monosyllabic Words: The use of predominantly monosyllabic words ("here and now, his bloody life") gives the line a sharp, jolting rhythm that mirrors the speaker’s turmoil and fractured thoughts.