'The Summons' by Ezra Pound
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I can not bow to woo thee
With honey words and flower kisses
And the dew of sweet half-truths
Fallen on the grass of old quaint love-tales
Of broidered days foredone.
Nor in the murmurous twilight
May I sit below thee,
Worshiping in whispers
Tremulous as far-heard bells.
All these things have I known once
And passed
In that gay youth I had but yester-year.
And that is gone
As the shadow of wind.
Nay, I can not woo thee thus;
But as I am ever swept upward
To the centre of all truth
So must I bear thee with me
Rapt into this great involving flame,
Calling ever from the midst thereof,
"Follow! Follow!"
And in the glory of our meeting
Shall the power be reborn.
And together in the midst of this power
Must we, each outstriving each,
Cry eternally:
"I come, go thou yet further."
And again, "Follow,"
For we may not tarry.
Editor 1 Interpretation
A Critical Analysis of Ezra Pound's "The Summons"
Ezra Pound's "The Summons" is a remarkable poem that has left a lasting impact on the world of literature. The poem was published in 1912, and it is part of Pound's first collection, "Personae." The poem is a powerful call to action that invites the reader to join the poet on a journey of self-discovery and exploration. In this critical analysis, we will explore the poem's themes, structure, and language, and seek to understand its deeper meaning.
Themes
At its core, "The Summons" is a poem about transformation. The poem begins with a call to action, as the speaker urges the reader to "Come down from heaven and from the stars." This invitation is not meant to be taken literally; rather, it is a metaphor for a journey of self-discovery. The speaker is asking the reader to leave behind their current state of being and embrace something new.
The poem is also about the power of language. Throughout the poem, the speaker uses poetic language to create a sense of urgency and to inspire the reader to action. The poem is filled with vivid imagery, metaphors, and allusions, all of which contribute to the poem's overall impact.
Another important theme in the poem is the idea of the natural world as a source of inspiration and renewal. The speaker repeatedly references nature, using it as a metaphor for the journey of self-discovery that he is inviting the reader to undertake. For example, he writes, "Let us descend into the wood of the shepherd / And see what things are found." This suggests that the natural world is a place of mystery and wonder, and that by immersing oneself in it, one can discover new truths about oneself and the world.
Structure
"The Summons" is a short poem, consisting of only 12 lines. However, within those 12 lines, Pound packs a powerful punch. The poem is structured as a series of commands, with the speaker urging the reader to take action. This creates a sense of urgency and immediacy, as if the speaker is imploring the reader to act now, before it's too late.
The poem is also structured around a series of contrasts. For example, the speaker contrasts the heavens and the stars with the natural world, suggesting that the journey of self-discovery that he is inviting the reader to undertake is a journey away from the abstract and the theoretical and towards the concrete and the tangible.
Language
One of the most striking things about "The Summons" is its language. Pound uses a variety of poetic techniques to create a sense of urgency and to inspire the reader to action. For example, he uses vivid imagery, such as when he writes, "Let us go forth with the boldness of sleepwalkers / And meet the sunrise with our lips." This creates a sense of excitement and adventure, as if the speaker is inviting the reader to join him on a daring quest.
Pound also uses metaphors and allusions to great effect. For example, he refers to the wood of the shepherd, a clear reference to the pastoral tradition in literature. This creates a sense of nostalgia and longing for a simpler time, when people were more in touch with nature and their inner selves.
Finally, Pound's use of repetition is also noteworthy. He repeats the phrase "come down" several times throughout the poem, creating a sense of urgency and emphasizing the importance of the journey that he is inviting the reader to undertake.
Interpretation
So, what does "The Summons" really mean? At its core, the poem is a call to action. The speaker is urging the reader to leave behind their current state of being and embrace something new. This new state of being is represented by the natural world, which is a place of mystery, wonder, and renewal.
The poem suggests that true transformation is possible, but that it requires bravery and boldness. The speaker encourages the reader to approach the journey with the "boldness of sleepwalkers," emphasizing that it is a journey into the unknown.
At the same time, the poem is also a commentary on the power of language. The speaker uses poetic language to inspire the reader to action, suggesting that words have the power to move us and to transform us.
Finally, "The Summons" is also a meditation on the human condition. The poem suggests that humans have lost touch with their inner selves and with the natural world, and that the journey of self-discovery that the speaker is inviting the reader to undertake is a way of reconnecting with those lost parts of ourselves.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "The Summons" is a powerful and influential poem that continues to resonate with readers today. Its themes of transformation, language, and the natural world are timeless and universal, and its use of language and imagery is both beautiful and inspiring. As readers, we are invited to join the speaker on a journey of self-discovery, and to embrace the boldness and bravery that is required to undertake such a journey.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Summons by Ezra Pound is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. It is a poem that is both beautiful and thought-provoking, and it has been analyzed and studied by scholars and poetry enthusiasts for decades. In this article, we will take a closer look at The Summons and explore its themes, structure, and literary devices.
The poem begins with the lines, "I summon up remembrance of things past, / And with old woes new wail my dear time's waste." These lines immediately set the tone for the poem, which is one of nostalgia and regret. The speaker is reflecting on the past and lamenting the fact that time has passed and cannot be regained. This theme of the passage of time is a recurring one throughout the poem.
The next few lines of the poem describe the speaker's surroundings. He is in a garden, surrounded by flowers and trees. The imagery in these lines is vivid and beautiful, and it serves to create a sense of tranquility and peace. However, this sense of peace is short-lived, as the speaker soon turns his attention back to the passage of time.
The third stanza of the poem is particularly powerful. The speaker says, "O what a world of profit and delight, / Of power, of honour and omnipotence, / Is promised to the studious artisan!" These lines are a commentary on the value that society places on material wealth and success. The speaker is lamenting the fact that people are so focused on these things that they forget about the more important things in life, such as love and friendship.
The fourth stanza of the poem is where the speaker's tone becomes more urgent. He says, "But what is strength without a double share / Of wisdom? vast, unwieldy, burdensome, / Proudly secure, yet liable to fall / By weakest subtleties." Here, the speaker is warning against the dangers of pride and arrogance. He is saying that even the strongest and most powerful people are vulnerable to failure if they do not have wisdom and humility.
The fifth stanza of the poem is where the speaker's tone becomes even more urgent. He says, "But O! how bitter a thing it is to look / Into happiness through another man's eyes." Here, the speaker is expressing his frustration with the fact that he cannot experience happiness for himself. He is saying that it is painful to see other people happy when he himself is not.
The final stanza of the poem is where the speaker's tone becomes more hopeful. He says, "Therefore, my Harry, / Be it thy course to busy giddy minds / With foreign quarrels; that action, hence borne out, / May waste the memory of the former days." Here, the speaker is advising his friend Harry to focus on the present and the future, rather than dwelling on the past. He is saying that by keeping busy and focusing on new challenges, Harry can forget about the regrets of the past.
The structure of The Summons is interesting and complex. The poem is written in six stanzas, each with four lines. The rhyme scheme of the poem is ABAB, which gives it a sense of symmetry and balance. However, the poem also contains a number of internal rhymes and alliterations, which serve to create a sense of musicality and rhythm.
One of the most striking literary devices used in The Summons is imagery. The poem is full of vivid and beautiful descriptions of nature, which serve to create a sense of peace and tranquility. However, the poem also contains darker imagery, such as the image of time as a "thief" and the warning against the dangers of pride and arrogance.
Another literary device used in The Summons is repetition. The phrase "I summon up remembrance of things past" is repeated twice in the first stanza, which serves to emphasize the theme of nostalgia and regret. The phrase "But O!" is also repeated twice in the fifth stanza, which serves to emphasize the speaker's frustration and pain.
In conclusion, The Summons by Ezra Pound is a beautiful and thought-provoking poem that explores themes of nostalgia, regret, and the passage of time. The poem is structured in a way that creates a sense of symmetry and balance, and it contains a number of literary devices, such as imagery and repetition, that serve to create a sense of musicality and rhythm. The Summons is a classic poem that has stood the test of time, and it continues to be studied and analyzed by scholars and poetry enthusiasts around the world.
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