Ezra Pound was one of the greatest writers of the
past century, a major figure of the modernist movement. There was Yeats, Joyce, Eliot – and Pound.
(Also for ABC Wednesday: "O" is for "orneriness")
I am a poet.
I am one of the greatest of the
modernist movement.
One aspect of my work was to use ancient Chinese poetry as my
source. And in my translations I created
a unique literary style. As an example,
take this poem to a little girl:
“Tree you are, moss you are.
You are violets with wind above them.
A child - so high - you are,
And
all this is folly to the world.”
I explained my method with
Chinese poetry in this way: “The blossoms of
the apricot blow from the east to the west, and I have tried to keep them from
falling,”
But just when you believed you understood
me, the peaceable poet, I wrote this: ''Modern civilization has bred a race with brains like those of
rabbits and we artists who have been so long the despised are about to take
over control.''
And
for sheer orneriness, this: ''The modern artist must live by craft and violence. His gods
are violent gods.”
So now…
Think on these things. Think on the lightness, the delicacy of my
poetry.
“A child – so high – you are.”
Think how I tried to keep the
Confucian apricot blossoms from falling as they blew from east to west.
And think too…
That you kept me, certainly one
of the greatest poets of the age, locked like a caged animal, in an actual
animal’s cage.
And then answer this.
Who am I?
35 comments:
Ezra Pound ......
Ezra Pound?
Ezra Pound?
Ezra Pound it is, Berowne!
Hank
Helen, Jennifer and kaykuala are three early birds with the right answer.
I like this post, much to think about.
And is it Ezra Pound?
E E Cummings
A wild guess - Ezra Pound?
The Blog of Bee - right again = and Cait O'Connor have provided us with the right answer.
You are...
You are...
You are....
(I can't read what Helen, Jennifer and Kaykuala said so I decided to wax philosophical!)
Always grand to read you.
I don't know who you are, but that was a very interesting string of sentences to read...
Ezra Pound?
Ezra Pound
Ezra Pound
Three more with the right answer: Doc FTSE, Kathe W and humbird.
This is the American emigre poet Ezra Pound.
Another correct answer, this time from oldegg.
It's either Yoda or Ezra Pound. Frank Oz, who voiced Yoda, is English. Hmm. guess I'll go with lb.
Roger Owen Green just checked in with the correct answer.
Sorry I have not been around, Berowne. Riley had a friend's death to deal with, and Holy Week, well..
Ezra Pound. Champion of many artists, a riddle of political contradictions, and yes, once was imprisoned in a 6 by 6 cage. A great writer and an enigma. Thank you for this. Amy
"As drops that dream and gleam and falling catch the sun"
lovely post to read this morning..
answer: Ezra Pound
Yi Ching the Wise King...learned sage
Sharp Little Pencil and Truedessa are the latest with the right answer.
I believe it to be, Ezra Pound!
Another right answer, this time from Karen S.
I was never much into poetry when I was younger, but now it speaks to me in a way that I'm sure maturity has helped me to understand it. In this case, it's Ezra Pound.
Leslie
abcw team
Ezra Pound, but I cheated by asking my sister, the English teacher. As usual, she knew it…or at least, I'm assuming she is right...
=)
Ezra Pound?
Let's say Ezra Pound - no lightweight!
Add Leslie, Sue and Hildred to the list of those with the correct answer.
Altonian has just joined us, and again with the right answer.
Ezra Pound
I'm pleased to welcome Tess Kincaid, who also has the correct answer.
Ezra Pound, whose work I have not read since High School.
Thank you for inciting a return to read some of these works once more.
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