Why are “Life at War” and “Overheard Over S.E. Asia” considered to be protest poems?

Answer:

Option D. They illustrate the grim realities of warfare, contrasting drastically with traditional heroic portrayals.

Explanation:

Both poems originate from the same author, Denise Levertov, a poet from Britain. She appears to be deeply troubled by the consequences of war, including the devastation and suffering that follows.  

The subject matter of both pieces addresses the tragic aspects of the Vietnam War. Her reaction to what she observed in Vietnam is evidently one of significant concern.  The second poem references white phosphorus targeting human remains, while the first discusses the scorched flesh of Vietnamese individuals.

This shows that both poems highlight the atrocities of war.