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An Immorality
Ezra Pound

An Immorality by Ezra Pound, Summary, Interpretations, and Analysis

An Immorality by Ezra Pound, Summary, Interpretations, and Analysis
"An Immorality" is a modernist poem by Ezra Pound that celebrates love outside societal conventions, using vivid imagery and unconventional language. Table of Contents An Immorality Poem Text Sing we for love and idleness, Naught else is worth the having. Though I have been in many a land, There is naught else in living. And I would rather have my sweet, Though rose-leaves die of grieving, Than do high deeds in Hungary To pass all men's believing. Summary of the Poem: An Immorality The poem "An Immorality" by Ezra Pound is a short and simple poem that expresses the speaker's preference for love and idleness over great deeds and achievements. The speaker asserts that despite having traveled to many lands, there is nothing worth having except for love and idleness. The speaker claims that they would rather have their sweet love, even if it means that rose-leaves die of grieving,…

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  2. Mason Carter
    Ezra Pound was a renowned American poet and one of the key figures in the development of modernist poetry. While he is associated with various movements and styles, one of the significant contributions he made to the poetic landscape was his involvement in the Imagist movement.

    Imagism emerged in the early 20th century and was characterized by its focus on precise and vivid imagery, as well as the use of concise language. Pound, along with other poets like H.D. (Hilda Doolittle) and Richard Aldington, played a crucial role in defining and promoting Imagism.

    Pound laid out the principles of Imagism in his 1913 essay titled "A Retrospect," where he outlined the movement's objectives and aesthetics. According to Pound, Imagist poetry aimed to present a direct and concentrated experience by using clear and concrete language. He advocated for the use of "hard, clear images" that would evoke an emotional and intellectual response in the reader.

    The key tenets of Imagism, as described by Pound, included:

    Direct treatment of the subject: Poets should focus on presenting their subjects without any excessive sentimentality or abstraction. They should strive for clarity and precision in their language.

    Use of precise imagery: Poets should utilize specific and evocative images that have a palpable impact on the reader. The images should be selected and arranged carefully to create a vivid and memorable impression.

    Economy of language: Imagist poets aimed to eliminate any unnecessary words, seeking a concise and minimalist style. They aimed to convey meaning through precise and well-chosen words, emphasizing the importance of each word's weight and significance.

    Free verse: While not all Imagist poems were written in free verse, the movement embraced the use of nontraditional forms and rejected the rigid constraints of traditional poetic structures.

    Imagism had a significant influence on the development of modernist poetry, emphasizing the importance of sensory experience and the power of precise language. Pound, in particular, applied these principles in his own poetry, such as his collection "In a Station of the Metro," which consists of just two lines:

    "The apparition of these faces in the crowd;
    Petals on a wet, black bough."

    These lines exemplify the use of vivid imagery and economy of language that characterize Imagism.

    While Imagism as a distinct movement had a relatively short lifespan, its impact on modern poetry was long-lasting. It paved the way for other experimental poetic forms and influenced subsequent generations of poets. Ezra Pound's contributions to Imagism and his own poetic works continue to be studied and appreciated for their innovation and artistic vision.