Subscribe: by Email | in Reader

Envoi (1919) -- Ezra Pound

In response to yesterday's Waller piece, a guest poem from
Sunil Iyengar ...
(Poem #583) Envoi (1919)
 Go, dumb-born book,
 Tell her that sang me once that song of Lawes:
 Hadst thou but song
 As thou hast subjects known,
 Then were there cause in thee that should condone
 Even my faults that heavy upon me lie,
 And build her glories their longevity.

 Tell her that sheds
 Such treasure in the air,
 Recking naught else but that her graces give
 Life to the moment,
 I would bid them live
 As roses might, in magic amber laid,
 Red overwrought with orange and all made
 One substance and one color
 Braving time.

 Tell her that goes
 With song upon her lips
 But sings not out the song, nor knows
 The maker of it, some other mouth,
 May be as fair as hers,
 Might, in new ages, gain her worshipers,
 When our two dusts with Waller's shall be laid,
 Siftings on siftings in oblivion,
 Till change hath broken down
 All things save beauty alone.
-- Ezra Pound
There is much to be admired here. Several factors of the poem compel
memorization: the hit-and-miss rhyme scheme, the hypnotically quaint
diction, and (for me) the spondee-driven last line, which resembles,
prosodically, a favorite poem of Pound's: Donne's "The Ecstasy." (The ending
there is "Small change when we're to bodies gone.") The quantification of
"dust" in the third to last line is mesmerizing. And how about "Siftings on
siftings in oblivion," which anyone would thirst to say aloud?

In the context of "Hugh Selwyn Mauberly," the lyric anticipates the
"Mauberly" sequence, which will have more to say on poetic ambition. The
"oblivions" line I have just quoted will resound with this stanza:

  Thick foliage
  Placid beneath warm suns,
  Tawn fore-shored
  Washed in the cobalt of oblivions.

As for the lines "I would bid them live/As roses might, in magic amber
laid," here we have the beginnings of Pound's misgivings about imagism's
preservative function, whether or not it is really "but an art/In profile."
Earlier, he confessed of modern London:

  Beside this thoroughfare
  The sale of half-hose has
  Long since superseded the cultivation
  Of Pierian roses.

Finally, the reference to "Lawes" in "Envoi" speaks to Harry Lawes, the
composer who set Edmund Waller's "Go, lovely rose" to music. Milton wrote of
Lawes:

  Harry, whose tuneful and well-measured song
  First taught our English music how to span
  Words with just note and accent, not to scan
  With Midas' ears, committing short and long....

(To Mr. H. Lawes, On His Airs)

-- Sunil Iyengar

Links:

The Waller poem is at poem #582

A Pound biography and assorted details poem #70

26 comments: ( or Leave a comment )

Anonymous said...

hey there and thank you for your info – I have certainly picked up something new
from right here. I did however expertise some technical issues using this website, as I experienced to reload the web site many times previous to I could get it to load properly.

I had been wondering if your hosting is OK? Not that
I'm complaining, but sluggish loading instances times will very frequently affect your placement in google and could damage your high quality score if ads and marketing with Adwords. Anyway I am adding this RSS to my email and could look out for much more of your respective intriguing content. Ensure that you update this again very soon.

Also visit my homepage; Cheap Jerseys

Anonymous said...

Currently it looks like Drupal is the preferred blogging platform out there right
now. (from what I've read) Is that what you are using on your blog?

Here is my website - Abercrombie & Fitch

Anonymous said...

Magnificent site. Lots of useful info here. I'm sending it to some friends ans additionally sharing in delicious. And of course, thanks for your sweat!

Take a look at my weblog Gucci Ufficiale

Anonymous said...

My spouse and I stumbled over here by a different
website and thought I might check things out.
I like what I see so i am just following you.

Look forward to finding out about your web page repeatedly.


Feel free to visit my blog; continue

Anonymous said...

Great article, totally what I needed.

Feel free to visit my web page: related site

Anonymous said...

Have you ever considered writing an ebook or guest authoring on other blogs?
I have a blog centered on the same subjects you discuss and would really like to have you share some stories/information.
I know my visitors would enjoy your work. If you're even remotely interested, feel free to send me an email.

My web site Abercrombie and Fitch

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing your thoughts about salamander. Regards

Here is my web blog - Sidney Crosby Authentic Jersey

Anonymous said...

What i do not realize is in truth how you're not actually much more smartly-favored than you may be right now. You are very intelligent. You understand thus considerably in terms of this matter, made me in my opinion consider it from numerous numerous angles. Its like women and men don't seem to be involved until it's something to accomplish with Lady gaga! Your personal stuffs nice. Always handle it up!

Also visit my blog post :: NFL Jerseys Cheap

Anonymous said...

Good way of telling, and pleasant piece of writing to obtain data on the topic
of my presentation subject matter, which i am going to present in academy.


My web page Full Article

Anonymous said...

If some one wants to be updated with most up-to-date technologies afterward he must be
pay a quick visit this site and be up to date all the time.


Feel free to visit my blog post: Abercrombie & Fitch

Anonymous said...

After checking out a few of the articles on your web page, I honestly like your technique
of blogging. I saved it to my bookmark website list and
will be checking back soon. Take a look at my website as well and let
me know your opinion.

Have a look at my web blog :: Louis Vuitton Bags

Anonymous said...

you're in point of fact a excellent webmaster. The web site loading speed is incredible. It kind of feels that you're doing any
distinctive trick. Furthermore, The contents are masterwork.
you have done a magnificent activity on this
matter!

my web-site :: Air Max

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing your info. I truly appreciate your
efforts and I am waiting for your further write ups
thanks once again.

my weblog Bonuses

Anonymous said...

I seriously love your site.. Pleasant colors & theme. Did you develop this web site yourself?
Please reply back as I'm wanting to create my very own blog and want to know where you got this from or what the theme is named. Appreciate it!

Stop by my blog - look at this

Anonymous said...

Hi there mates, how is the whole thing, and what you desire to say on the topic of this piece of writing, in
my view its in fact remarkable designed for me.

Feel free to surf to my web page; Home Page

Anonymous said...

Everything published was actually very reasonable. However, think on this,
what if you added a little information? I am not saying your information isn't solid., however suppose you added a headline that makes people desire more? I mean "Envoi (1919) -- Ezra Pound" is kinda boring. You ought to look at Yahoo's
home page and watch how they write post headlines to grab viewers to click.
You might add a video or a pic or two to get readers interested
about everything've written. Just my opinion, it might bring your website a little livelier.

my site ... Visit Website

Anonymous said...

This is the perfect blog for anybody who wishes to understand this topic.
You understand a whole lot its almost tough to argue with you (not that I personally would
want to…HaHa). You certainly put a brand new spin on a
subject that's been discussed for many years. Excellent stuff, just great!

my web blog :: Nike Air Max

Anonymous said...

Normally I do not learn article on blogs, however I would like
to say that this write-up very compelled me to check out and
do so! Your writing taste has been surprised
me. Thank you, very great post.

Also visit my blog - Nike Free 7.0

zarena cantik said...

perfect perfect fried rice, good post for the beginners as well..Super Prema, loved the presentation very much
Selaput Dara Buatan
Vimax asli Canada
Obat Perangsang
viagra usa
Bio Slim Herbal
Boneka Full Body
vimax canada

Furniture Rumah Terbaru said...

This article was written by a real thinking writer. I agree many of the with the solid points made by the writer. I’ll be

back
meja tv mewah
meja tv mewah
meja tv mewah
meja tv mewah
meja tv mewah
meja tv mewah
meja tv mewah
meja tv mewah
meja rias lampu
meja tv mewah

Post a Comment