Modern poems

 

Modern literature

“A poem is good if it contains a new analogy and startles the reader out of the habit of treating words as counters.”

T. E. Hulme

1. "The Embankment‘- T. E. Hulme

Once, in finesse of fiddles found I ecstasy,

In a flash of gold heels on the hard pavement.

Now see I

That warmth’s the very stuff of poesy.

Oh, God, make small

The old star-eaten blanket of the sky,

That I may fold it round me and in comfort lie.

➡Explanation :

The analysis of this short poem available on the internet says “The Embankment is about the fantasia of a fallen gentleman on a cold butter night".

The phrases like 'hard pavement’, ' star-eaten blanket' reflects the harshness of life seen by poet. Star is a symbol of brightness and success but here it denotes a negative meaning.

what is Modernism?

"Modernism” refers to the collective literary trend in the early twentieth century. The early-twentieth century writers broke up the traditional way of writing.

Though it was an age of many inventions, there is darker side of the picture too. This dark side was captured in literature as well.

➡Why this poem is considered as modern poem?

The modernism includes the overall glory of the world with this poem also it contains symbols and imagery which depicts the truth of the human consciousness.

➡Symbols :Gold, cold, old

➡Imagery : Fiddles, Gold heels, star-eaten ,Moth-eaten.

2.) "Darkness" - Joseph Campbell

       Darkness

        I stop to watch a star shine

        in the boghole -

        A star no longer, but a silver

         ribbon of light.

        I look at it and pass on.

➡Explanation :

The title itself reflects the dark shade. Darkness gives us an image of downfall.  'Star' is a symbol of prosperity and brightness means that there was some goodness in civilization but now it's all dark.

If anyone looks at the stars, he or she will sit and admire the beauty of the night, but here post just looks at it and passes on. This reflects the disinterestedness prevalent in modern times.  How modernists were not interested in the so-called brightness of the Victorian age can be seen here. The decayed condition of the civilization is presented.

 

➡Let us see the symbols and imagery

➡Symbols : star

➡Imagery : silver ribbon of light

 3. " Image " 

By Adward storer

Forsaken lovers,

       Burning to a chaste white moon

       Upon strange Pyres of loneliness and

       drought.

 

➡Explanation 

The 'Forsaken lovers' here as the people of civilization are burning. Here 'Burning' gives various meanings. Burning with lust, isolation, so-called ideal thoughts of the Victorians etc. This poem reflects the disillusionment and the brokenness of civilization especially after the World war.

This poem can also be connected to one of the Universal Human Laws depicted to the world.

➡Present poems' Symbols and imagery

➡Symbols : Forsaken lovers

➡Imagery : burning (in various context)

4. "In a station of the Metro" - Ezra Pound

         The apparition of these faces in the

          Crowd;

          Petals on a wet, black bough

➡Explanation :

The title of the poem itself gives an image of the mechanism of life. The lifeless people going for the daily routine. The crowd of people are like living dead. Going for work without any enthusiasm. 'Petals' is used as metaphor for people and 'black bough' for a culture of living dead.

➡Literary concepts

➡Symbols & Metaphor : Petals

➡Imagery : black bough

5." The Pool " - Hilda Doolittle

       Are you alive?

       I touch you

       You quiver trembling like a sea-fish

       I cover you with my net

       What are you- banded one?

➡Explanation :

The title ' The pool' gives us an image of stored water. Water symbolizes purity and rebirth. Here water is in pool it's not flowing which symbolises the rottenness of the civilization.

This poem reflects the lifelessness in the people who are lost in the monotonous life of men dweling to the path of life.

➡Symbols and Imagery found here are

➡Symbols :The pool

➡Imagery : banded one

6.) "Insouciance" – Richard Aldington

       In and out of the dreary trenches

       Trudging cheerily under the stars

       I make for myself little poems

       Delicate as a flock of doves

       They fly away like white-winged

        Doves.

➡Explanation :

This poem has many contrasting images. 'Dreary trenches' is used as a metaphor for the ups and downs of life. The words like 'Trudging' and 'cheerily' gives contrasting meaning. These words give the image of life where we are doing many things unwillingly. Last two lines gives another dual image, 'flock of doves' symbolises brightness while 'white-winged dove' symbolises aggressiveness. The writer looks at the ups and downs of life and specially downfall of the humanity during the war. He is not willing to live in the atmosphere around him but he has to do so. Thus he makes a small poem which shows the so-called brightness and his aggressiveness to be free from this hypocrite society.

➡Symbols and Imagery in the poem

➡Symbols : flock of doves ,white-winged dove

➡Imagery : Trudging , cheerily

      

7.) Morning at the Window - T. S. Eliot

They are rattling breakfast plates in basement kitchens,

And along the trampled edges of the street

I am aware of the damp souls of housemaid

Sprouting despondently at area gates.

The brown waves of fog toss up to me

Twisted faces from the bottom of the street,

And tear from a passer-by with muddy skirts

An aimless smile that hovers in the air

 And vanishes along the level of the roofs.

➡Explanation :

Compared to Romanticists, its language & selection of word is totally different.

The word 'Rattling' means vibrating, shaking plates and 'Damp' means in low spirits from loss of hope or courage.

Their soul has become like Damp; lifeless.

'Fog' is also negative word; it doesn't allow you to see the things clearly.

'Twisted faces' also connotes negative sides

'tear' , 'Muddy skirt', 'Aimless smile'

Most of the words are negative. This poem gives images and symbols of the dead spirit in people, doing everything aimlessly. Death of spirit can be seen.

➡Symbols and Imagery

➡Symbols : Twisted faces, Muddy skirt

➡Imagery : Damp souls

8.) The Red Wheelbarrow -William Carlos Williams

so much depends

 upon

a red wheel

barrow

 glazed with rain

water

beside the white

chicken.

➡Explanation :

It's a quite confusing poem. Generally ‘wheelbarrow’ means a small cart with a single wheel at the front and two supporting legs and two handles at the rear, used typically for carrying loads in building work or grad. Here poets put the word separately which gives a different meaning. Barrow alone means an ancient burial mound. Again the words 'rain' and 'water' also symbolises positive and negative. The colours 'red' and 'white' are used in dual way. It makes the poem difficult in understanding.

By reference reading it can be said that the poem is for some child who is dying.  

➡Symbols and Imagery in context of the poem

➡Symbols : Rain and water

➡Imagery : Red and white

9.) Anecdote of the Jar- Wallace Stevens

I placed a jar in Tennessee,  

And round it was, upon a hill.  

It made the slovenly wilderness  

Surround that hill.

The wilderness rose up to it,

And sprawled around, no longer wild.  

The jar was round upon the ground  

And tall and of a port in air.

It took dominion everywhere.  

The jar was gray and bare.

It did not give of bird or bush,  

Like nothing else in Tennessee.

➡Explanation :

This title lets us know that this poem will be about a jar. It may be an allusion also. When we refer to the word 'Tennessee' it is connected with a state. It may be an open related to this place.The 'Jar' symbolises the state which was a simple jar handled by any hand and later become independent. Poem can be seen as a small story of the ‘Jar’; the state of Tennessee.

➡Symbols and Imagery of the present poem

 ➡Symbols :  jar

➡Imagery : Gray

10.‘l (a‘- E. E. Cummings

(l(a... (a leaf falls on loneliness)

l(a

le

af

fa

ll

s)

one

l

iness

➡Explanation :

It is hardly noticable the worth of this poem at first glance but It is a very cleverly arranged poem. It means a leaf fall on loneliness. 'Loneliness' shows the sense of depression prevalent in Europe during 90s. The word 'fall' suggests fall of civilization and fall of spirituality. How a tree becomes barren when the last leaf falls, same is reflected here. Loss of hope can be also seen. In few words the poet has said so much.

It also symbolises inevitable death.

Symbols : fall

Imagery : loneliness