Ezra+Pound

Ezra Pound

//37. A Girl// *The poem consists of two stanzas, the first stanza describes what is happening to 'me' while the second stanza speaks to 'you.' This shift may suggests a change in perspective. *The first stanza describes the union between 'me' and a 'tree,' where the 'tree' 'enters my hands,' 'and the branches grow out of me, like arms.' This depicts a human and a tree becoming one, suggesting a harmony between mankind and nature. *This stanza also deals with growth and maturing where the tree and branches are both extending. This causes the physical appearance of 'me' to change, suggesting a transformation to be taking place. *The second stanza addresses a different person, 'you.' *The speaker compares 'you' to nature, saying 'tree you are, moss you are, you are violets of wind above them.' This suggest 'you' has already become apart of nature, and is already living with nature in harmony. Unlike 'me' who is still has tree branches extending from the body. *The poem ends with the line, 'and all this is folly to the world.' The speaker may be suggesting the beauty he finds in the 'child' cannot be understand and appreciated by the rest of the world.

//38. In a Station Of the Metro// *This poem consists of only two lines, it describes a scene the speaker saw in the station of the metro. *The poem only addresses the human faces he sees, and nothing else. *The first line of the poem 'the apparition of these faces in the crowd,' separates 'theses faces' from the 'crowd,' suggesting these are two groups of people. *The speaker then uses a metaphor to describe this scene, 'petals on a wet, black dough.' *There is a strong contrast in color between petals and black dough. Petals are often associated with pureness and flowers whereas black dough is related to dirt and soot. By placing the petals on the black dough, the speaker is perhaps commentating on how the 'faces' are tainted by the environment or the 'crowd.' Where they are stuck on the 'wet' 'dough' unable to escape.

//39. The Garden// *This poem may be a social commentary on the interaction and discrimination between higher and lower social classes at the time. <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">*An elegant lady is the first to be introduced, she is compared to a 'skien of loose silk being blown against a wall.' This characterizes her as a fragile and delicate woman. Who is perhaps from a rich family, since only the wealthy can afford silk. <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">*She is walking by the 'Kensington Gardens.' Which is a exclusive resident area, this further supports her higher status. <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">*The third stanza introduces a group of 'infants of the very poor.' This strongly contrast the lady, as they are 'filthy, dirty and unkillable.' Yet, it is them who 'shall inherit the earth.' While the lady is a 'dying piece-meal.' This suggest the higher class is a slowly dying breed, and the peasants are the one who will survive. <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">*In the last stanza, the speaker himself is introduced to the presence of the lady. <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">*Although she is bored, and 'would like someone to speak to her,' she is 'afraid that [he] will commit that discretion.' <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">*This line sums up the attitude of the rich, although they are bored to death and would like some company, they are unwilling to associate with the lower class, because it would be considered indiscreet. <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">*Over all, this poem comments on the excessive pride of the higher class, and how they are a slowly dying breed.