October 7 assignment

The poem, "In a Station of the Metro'' is the shortest poem I have ever read in my life, but it is still a poem. A poem by definition is "a composition in verse, esp. one that is characterized by a highly developed artistic form and by the use of heightened language and rhythm to express an intensely imaginative interpretation of the subject". The poem uses a lot of descriptive language and sets the reader up for many different images. The author uses the word "apparition" when describing the faces in the crowd. Apparition conveys the idea of ghost like or something relating to the supernatural. I get a feeling that the author is trying to say that the people have become almost dead. The poem was written in 1913 during the time of WWI and this was a time a great sadness and suffering. Ezra Pound could have been commenting on the kind of emotion the world was going through, and the struggle of day to day life. Work life was taking a toll on people and many became zombie- like just going through the 9 to 5. By say "Petals on a wet, black bough" Ezra is saying that the faces have become almost identical. Flower petals are very much the same and there isn't a distinct difference between either one. They are all part this one whole idea, the bough just like the people are all part of the day to day life they live. Looking at the crowd, you wouldn't be able to pick out just one certain face. They make one whole thing, just like the petals on a bough. A bough is like a tree branch which contrasts with the whole idea of the apparition of faces in the crowd. The symbol of a tree with flower petals represents life while apparition symbolizes shadows and darkness. This is a poem because the author uses these forms of symbolism and imagery. It has a lot of meaning behind the words and depth behind just the literal definition of the words.