The poetry of the Pound

I was hoping to make the pun in my title complete by studying a poem about greed by Ezra Pound, but the ones I can find that are about this theme are rather long! For example, Canto II deals well in greed, as does 'The Seafarer'. I think I shall set myself a challenge and cover the latter nevertheless!

As it is so long, I shall refrain from copying it here, but you can find the text at this very helpful, poetical site:

http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/174183

In the poem, Pound narrates first-person as a sailor, one who has lost many companions and now suffers the harsh sea life. By the end of his speech, the idea that companionship is worth more than any monetary fortune is revealed.

After doing some research, I have found that this is a free translation (i.e. a loose one) of an Anglo-Saxon poem. For this reason, it might be nice to listen to the poem; it might help you understand the feel of the poem more. Here is another link for you:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7AjmDBdqfk

It also has video to aid your processing! It is only an excerpt but you can hear the original language spoken after Pound's translation, and I find it beautiful.

Because of its origins, Pound tried to keep the strong vowel stresses in the lines, to convey the harsh sense of the waves battering against his ship, and the wind battering against his body. He sought to bring the past to the present, showing that themes like greed traverse the ages and even languages.

In some ways, the poem is a mini-epic. The narration recalls the epic tradition of oral narration (as there was no writing to relate stories) about the adverntures and journey of heros, like Odysseus in particular, as he saled for almost ten years in order to get home. Another overlap here is the mention of the 'wife', as Penelope awaited her husband's return for twenty years, yet both the narrator here and Odysseus kept finding places to be and things to do and people to visit, prolonging their reunification. Even other women got in the way!

By using only one narrator and one voice, the loneliness and isolation of a life out at sea is conveyed. By the conclusion of the poem, 'gold' appears cold and just as isolating in the grave, especially when contrasted to the bodies of brothers, who might metaphorically keep you warm in the after-life.

For now, I shall leave you with these contrasting, attractive images, which might help you contemplate the beauty of the sea but also the disconnection felt by a sailor, helping you mull over the poem's words. Enjoy!