The River Merchant’s WifeBy: Ezra Pound

Ezra Pound Born: October 30th, 1885 Died: Nov 1st, 1972 Known for role in Imagism. Worked in London in the early 20’s as a foreign editor 1924- Moved to Italy, became Fascist 1935- allowed to address support of Fascist. Arrested, turned over to American forces. Still wrote in custody. Released and went back to Italy until death.

Meaning of poem A letter written in monologue. First talks about the river merchant and his wife as children. Second talks about them getting married. Third talks about the growth of their love. Fourth images developing separation. Fifth talks about the absence of the merchant. Sixth shows how sad the wife is and alone and hurt. Seventh reaches out to the wife for the pain she has.

Poetic devices & Theme

Theme: Passion and Love Devices

Caesura Figurative Language Imagery

Image and PoemWhile my hair was still cut straight across my foreheadI played about the front gate, pulling flowers.You came by on bamboo stilts, playing horse,You walked about my seat, playing with blue plums.And we went on living in the village of Chokan:Two small people, without dislike or suspicion.

At fourteen I married My Lord you.I never laughed, being bashful.Lowering my head, I looked at the wall.Called to, a thousand times, I never looked back.

At fifteen I stopped scowling,I desired my dust to be mingled with yoursForever and forever and forever.Why should I climb the look out?

At sixteen you departed,You went into far Ku-to-yen, by the river of swirling eddies,And you have been gone five months.The monkeys make sorrowful noise overhead.

You dragged your feet when you went out.By the gate now, the moss is grown, the different mosses,Too deep to clear them away!The leaves fall early this autumn, in wind.The paired butterflies are already yellow with AugustOver the grass in the West garden;They hurt me.  I grow older.If you are coming down through the narrows of the river Kiang,Please let me know beforehand,And I will come out to meet youAs far as Cho-fu-Sa.

In a Station of the Metro.By: Ezra Pound

-Hannah Nauth and Colleen DeVore

Meaning of poem Poem shows talent as Imagist. Entire poem deals with images. Hints a ghostly figure the with the word “Apparition”. Second, gives images of bright, beautiful flowers on a dark,

eerie, black branch. Also, the image of petals could reflect back to the faces.

Poetic devices & Theme

Theme: Imagism Devices

Imagery Caesura

Image and PoemThe apparition of these faces in the crowd;

Petals on a wet, black bough.

The Red Wheelbarrow by: William Carlos Williams So much depends

Upon

A red wheel

Barrow

Glazed with rain

Water

Beside the white

chickens

William Carlos Williams

Born in Rutherford, New Jersey Born in 1883 Died in 1963 Received his MD from University of Pennsylvania

Summary of poem

That chickens depend on wheelbarrow for food The farmers also depend on it

Theme/ devices

Raining Imagery

pictures

This Is Just To Say By: William Carlos Williams I have eaten The plums That were in The icebox And which You were probably Saving For breakfast Forgive me They were delicious So sweet And so cold

Summary of poem

The plums were eaten Someone was saving them fro breakfast

Themes/ devices

Imagery The theme is that he is hungry

Pictures