Erratic Tone

The erratic tone within the poem A Song of the Degrees matches the author's crazy mind perfectly. The poem is broken into three separate roman numeral sections. Once a different passage starts, the tone grows abstract instead of a crescendo into something spectacular. The first section simply states the fearful problem: "Rest we with Chinese colours, for I think the glass is evil." But then the second section arises into the speaker acting as if they've already known all about this evil, stating that they have seen it for themselves on multiple occasions. During the third section, the speaker suddenly explodes into a fury and persistently asking the glass why it's so evil. The tone changes from neutral to a smart aleck way of dealing with conflicts into an emotional, questioning frenzy. Also, in case one hasn't noticed, the "fearful problem" is simply a glass looking evil. Please tell me why it scares the speaker so much? Given the inconsistent tone and the abnormal subject, I can infer the conclusion that the speaker is certifiably insane. The tone usually reflects the author's mood so the author is obviously in a state of turmoil and anxiety. Of course, this cuckoo author would nevertheless be the extremely famous Ezra Pound. Personally, he must have written this poem in the midst of his mental breakdown when he gave up on preaching to America how perfect they could be post-WWII. Or I'm all wrong and tone is only a minor detail compared to what Pound really wants to master: the Imagist movement. More than likely, this is the correct answer. The tone in the second passage is created by the words "melting", "stone-bright", "silver crashing", etc. These words are more informative, giving the intellectual voice to the poem. The tone in the third passage is made by the parallel questions starting with why, having extremely short phrases, and ending with exclamation points. Obviously, the tone is a sign of distress. The passage also consists of the description words such as "light", "glitter", "powdery gold", and "amber". If writing a poem with an irregular tone was part of the Imagist movement that Pound strives for, I personally think he succeeded. (Even though, I personally find him simply crazy.)

Allusions at The Lake Isle

After reading The Lake Isle by Ezra Pound, it is obvious that the poetic device of allusion plays an important role in the poem. From the very first line, the speaker is pleading with these Gods for a little tobacco shop: "O God, O Venus, O Mercury, patron of thieves". The tone is full of such hope and for longing, the reader instantly feels sympathetic toward the speaker. Personally, I felt pity for this man because of the act of him begging to these gods. If it was not for this act of desperation, I do not think it would as emotional and using the ethos way of persuasion. The gods themselves are deemed more powerful in society, making the speaker's pleading also seem more worthy of his calling the "great" gods. For example, Mercury was a major Roman god and the patron of financial gain, communication, and luck. These are the main three events that the speaker severely seeks. Financial gain will let the speaker's dream tobacco store become a reality and also obtain prosperity from the profits; communication is needed in order to even persuade the other gods to listen to his prayers; and of course, pure luck is always a necessity when aspiring for a hard goal such as securing a tobacco shop. Also, in the beginning of the second stanza in this short poem, the speaker repeats his original plea of : "O God, O Venus, O Mercury, patron of thieves" to address the main reason for even wanting a tobacco store so much. The reason is that the speaker passionately hates his job of writing that requires too much effort. Once again, the speaker frantically prays to these majestic gods for their dominant patrons and hope for answered wishes. Simply, the allusion of these three gods and the speaker craving for their help, dramatically add to the whole aspect of the poem. If not, it would simply be a poem with an image about a tobacco store and the random hate for a profession. The allusions puts the entire content and subject into a better explained perspective.

Pound's Views on America

Within the poem Salutation by Ezra Pound, I first thought the content was just the narrator's observation on society. But after learning more about Ezra Pound's absolutely crazy life, the poem definitely represents Pound's hostility toward America. When he did not know any better, Pound thought America had the potential to achieve perfection, especially when it comes to lyrical poems that consist of art. Yet, during post-WWII, Pound was declared insane. His reaction to America being cruel to Germany and Japan is reflected within Salutation. For example, the very first line consists of "O generation of the thoroughly smug and thoroughly uncomfortable," one can instantly see Pound is speaking to an audience that includes America and her undesirable qualities. Hence, the negative connotation of the words "smug" and "uncomfortable". Although, the people that habitat in America are ignorant of the corrupt engagements going on in their country: "I have seen their smiles full of teeth". Pound thinks society could care less which is why they still go on in life acting pleasant. But Pound knows the truth about America which is why he has the illusion that he is better than everybody else in this country, given the line "And I am happier than you are". Basically, Pound addresses the Americans who are full of fake laughter and Pound gains a persona of righteousness. This short poem concludes only a small part of the unhinging that is happening within Pound's disabled mind. Soon after, Pound is declared legally insane after broadcasting anti-American propaganda in some European countries. Obviously, Pound has an attachment to America's society as reflected in the Salutation poem. Given the title itself, Pound is making a farewell to America's morals and standards. Luckily for Pound's readers, this is only one of many, many, many poems that represent this author's wonderful and depressing feelings toward America.

Why Ezra Pound, Why?

Because of Ezra Pound's declared insanity in 1945, he has forced me to declare insanity too. His poems often consist of inconstant ramblings about how America could be oh so perfect if poetry was taken more seriously. Pound had many economist theories. Funny, considering he was a very controversial POET, not an ECONOMIST. Yeah, makes total sense. Pound participated in both Imagism and Vorticism. Which, morally are completely different from one another. One is about how language should create a clear-cut example of art while the other is employed in abstract art. Just like his brain, Pound has no clue what to do. He wants to be everything, yet be absolutely nothing. This is killing me. How am I suppose to find common themes in his poetry when he is not consistent? It doesn't even say WHY he became crazy. So dead end there. Can I change my poet? I can't write a five page paper about Ezra Pound before I leave for Germany in 18 days. I would like to graduate, get a job, and be in my mid-50s when I become crazy, just like Ezra Pound, not when I'm 17 years old. *Note: this is just a rant, not an actual blog so please don't grade this because I can't afford anything under a B. Otherwise I'll loose my scholarship to college. I blame Ezra Pound for my current problems so just like Ezra Pound blamed America for his problems (maybe?). Who really knows for sure why he became crazy- crazy people don't have a sane basis for what they believe in. He was hardly a poet, definitely more of a critical analysis of other poets. HE COPIED SO MANY POEMS, THERE'S NO ORIGINALITY TO WRITE ABOUT. I should just write about Robert Browning instead since Pound paralleled so many of his literary techniques and imagery in Cantos. So yes, it's only been two hours of researching Ezra Pound and I hate him. The end.