'The Garret' by Ezra Pound

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Come, let us pity those who are better off than we are.
Come, my friend, and remember
that the rich have butlers and no friends,
And we have friends and no butlers.
Come, let us pity the married and the unmarried.

Dawn enters with little feet
like a gilded Pavlova
And I am near my desire.
Nor has life in it aught better
Than this hour of clear coolness
the hour of waking together.

Editor 1 Interpretation

The Garret by Ezra Pound: A Close Reading

When I was first introduced to the works of Ezra Pound, I was struck by the way he played with language. His poetry is imbued with a sense of musicality and rhythm that draws the reader in, and his use of vivid imagery and metaphors creates a rich, multi-layered world that is both engaging and challenging. "The Garret", one of his most famous poems, is a prime example of his mastery of the craft of poetry.

Background and Context

Before we dive into a close reading of the poem, a little background information might be helpful. "The Garret" was first published in 1915 as part of Pound's collection of poems, "Cathay". The collection is made up of translations of Chinese poetry, and "The Garret" is one of the few original works included. The poem is also notable for being one of Pound's earliest attempts at the imagist style, which he helped pioneer along with other modernist poets such as T.S. Eliot and H.D.

The Poem: A Close Reading

The poem is divided into four stanzas, each with four lines, and follows a loosely structured rhyme scheme. The first stanza sets the scene:

The little sparrows
Hop ingenuously
About the pavement
Quarreling with sharp voices

Right away, we are introduced to a sense of playfulness and whimsy. The sparrows are personified, and their "sharp voices" suggest a sense of conflict, albeit a lighthearted one. The use of the word "ingenuously" is interesting, as it implies a certain innocence or naivete on the part of the sparrows. This sets up a contrast with the speaker of the poem, who is much more cynical and world-weary.

The second stanza introduces us to the speaker of the poem:

Our passers-by watch,
Easily fascinated,
Lying down on the pavements
To be closer to his shouting voice.

Here we see the contrast between the innocence of the sparrows and the jadedness of the speaker. The passers-by are "easily fascinated", suggesting a sense of boredom or ennui. They are drawn to the shouting voice of the man in the garret, who is most likely a street performer or some other kind of outsider. The fact that they are "lying down on the pavements" suggests a certain submission or surrender to the spectacle.

The third stanza takes on a more surreal tone:

He sings like the nightingale
In the dark.
He sings among graves,
As the dead may be supposed to sing.

The comparison of the man in the garret to a nightingale is interesting because it suggests a sense of beauty and grace that might not be immediately apparent in his shouting. The image of him singing among graves is also striking, as it suggests a certain morbidity or fascination with death. The line "as the dead may be supposed to sing" is particularly intriguing because it suggests a kind of transcendence or otherworldliness that is difficult to grasp.

The final stanza brings the poem full circle:

But he is unheeded
By the children who stomp on the cobbles
And the dogs that howl at the moon
And the passer-byers who curse him in their sleep.

Here we see the ultimate futility of the man's shouting. Despite the fascination of the passers-by, he is ultimately "unheeded" by those who are truly in tune with the world around them. The children and the dogs, who are more concerned with the physical world, and the passer-byers who curse him in their sleep, are all more present and alive than the man in the garret. This final stanza is a reminder of the transience of art and the fragility of the human spirit.

Interpretation

So, what does "The Garret" mean? As with any work of art, there are multiple interpretations. One possible reading is that the poem is a commentary on the role of the artist in society. The man in the garret represents the artist, who is often marginalized and ignored by the mainstream. The passers-by represent the masses, who are easily swayed by spectacle but ultimately uninterested in meaningful art. The sparrows, meanwhile, represent a kind of natural beauty that is often overlooked in our rush to consume more and more.

Another interpretation is that the poem is a meditation on mortality. The man in the garret, with his singing among graves, represents the inevitability of death. The sparrows and the children and the dogs represent the vitality of life, which is ultimately more powerful than death. In this reading, the poem is a reminder to live fully in the present, to embrace the beauty and the joy of life while we still can.

Conclusion

"The Garret" is a poem that rewards close reading and multiple interpretations. Whether it's a commentary on the role of the artist in society or a meditation on mortality, it's a work of art that speaks to the human experience in a profound and moving way. Pound's use of language is masterful, and his ability to create a world with such economy of words is impressive. This poem is a testament to the power of poetry to capture not just the world around us, but also the world within us.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

The Garret: A Masterpiece of Imagery and Symbolism

Ezra Pound, one of the most influential poets of the 20th century, wrote The Garret in 1907. This poem is a masterpiece of imagery and symbolism that captures the essence of the bohemian lifestyle of artists and writers living in the garrets of Paris. The poem is a vivid portrayal of the struggles and aspirations of the creative mind, and it is a testament to the power of art to transcend the mundane and elevate the human spirit.

The poem begins with a description of the garret, a small and cramped attic room where the poet lives. The garret is a symbol of the poverty and isolation that artists often face in pursuit of their craft. The poet describes the room as "a little room with nothing in it," emphasizing the emptiness and barrenness of his surroundings. The room is so small that the poet can touch the walls with his outstretched arms, and he can hear the rain tapping on the roof.

Despite the bleakness of his surroundings, the poet finds solace in his art. He describes how he spends his days "scribbling on the backs of old envelopes," using whatever materials he can find to express his creativity. The act of writing becomes a form of escape for the poet, a way to transcend the limitations of his physical environment and connect with something greater than himself.

The poem then shifts to a description of the poet's dreams and aspirations. He imagines himself as a great artist, living in a grand palace with "marble floors and gilded walls." This vision of opulence and luxury is a stark contrast to the poverty of his current situation, and it represents the poet's desire to transcend his humble beginnings and achieve greatness.

However, the poet also recognizes the challenges that come with pursuing a life of art. He describes how he is "hunted by the demon of unrest," a reference to the constant struggle to create something new and meaningful. The pursuit of art is a never-ending journey, and the poet acknowledges that he may never achieve the greatness he desires.

The poem concludes with a powerful image of the poet standing at the window of his garret, looking out at the world below. He sees the "multitude of men" going about their daily lives, unaware of the struggles and aspirations of the artist in the garret above. This image represents the isolation and loneliness that artists often feel, as they pursue their craft in a world that may not understand or appreciate their work.

Overall, The Garret is a powerful and evocative poem that captures the essence of the bohemian lifestyle of artists and writers in Paris. The poem is a testament to the power of art to transcend the limitations of the physical world and connect us to something greater than ourselves. It is a reminder that the pursuit of art is a never-ending journey, filled with both joy and struggle, and that the artist must be willing to embrace both in order to achieve greatness.

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