Modernist literature is quite difficult to understand and when it comes to the poetry, it even becomes more difficult. Though meaning of the words can be understood, meaning of the poem is difficult to understand. These ten poems demands thinking and their shortness makes us to think more.
In first poem 'The
Embankment', there maybe characteristic of universal mutability. Poet says that
once he had found ecstasy in finesse of fiddles, but now hard pavement is stuff
off poesy. It also suggests change of subject.
Poet also asks God to make blanket of the sky so he can wrap it and
sleep. Because the world is home and our home is not permanent home. Once
speaker was rich but now he is on pavement.
In the second poem
'Darkness' we can find characteristics like pessimism and escapism. Poet stops
to find shining star in the bog hole. But he finds silver ribbon of light
instead. He looks at it and moves on. He maybe pessimistic that he did not
satisfy by silver ribbon of light. It is also possible that shining star means
old tradition which poet likes and search for it, but it is going to dim. Poet
don't like it and escapes from it.
In third poem 'Image'
there is loneliness and isolation. It is ambiguous. Victorians were believing
their age pure, but new generation found out mean, superficial and stupid. They
were burning. They forsaken and so they were lonely.
Fourth poem shows city
life. City life is lifeless. Station of metro suggests city and industry.
Then poet says that, in crowd faces are lifeless like dead. Poet gives metaphor
of petals on wet black bought.
Again fifth poem 'The
Pool' suggests lifelessness. Poet asks are you alive? You quiver like a
sea fish. Modern people are like that fish who lives restless life. In end also
poet asks what are you?
Sixth poem 'Insouciance'
looks like a war poem. A poem of soldier. Insouciance means who does not
worry about anything. Soldiers do not worry for death. They walks in and out of
trenches with heavy steps but cheerfully. They make their own poems, delicate
like flock of doves, like their family. But then it fly away like white winged dove.
Here it maybe symbol of death. War happens and the soldiers go far away from
family.
Morning at the window
gives picture of poor people in city. It can be time of great depression. When
speaker looks at window he finds terrible picture. He sees gloomy housemaids
near area gate. Passerby with tear in eyes, dirty skirts. It gives picture of
poor people. Those faces gives smile but vanishes along the level of the roofs.
All are depressed. Fog makes the scene more gloomy. So picture of great
depression comes out from the poem.
'The Red Wheelbarrow'
sings songs of craftsmanship. Poet says, 'So much depends upon a red
Wheelbarrow. It glazes in rain like white chickens. Though industry and
factories have took place, craftsmanship is also important.
New subjects and metaphors
also are characteristics of modern literature. In poem 'Anecdote of jar' jar is
used as metaphor for supporting man-made objects. Poet places jar on the hill
and it catches wilderness of the hill. It raises question if the harmony of
nature and man-made objects possible?
Last poem 'l' talks about
loneliness. A leaf falls on loneliness. Here leaf is only one, and which is
isolate, falls into loneliness.
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