Ezra Pound

Poems by Ezra Pound

Ezra Weston Loomis Pound (30 October 1885 – 1 November 1972) was an American poet and critic, a major figure in the early modernist poetry movement, and a collaborator in Fascist Italy and the Salò Republic during World War II. His works include Ripostes (1912), Hugh Selwyn Mauberley (1920), and his 800-page epic poem The Cantos (c. 1917–1962).

Pound's contribution to poetry began in the early 20th century with his role in developing Imagism, a movement stressing precision and economy of language. Working in London as foreign editor of several American literary magazines, he helped discover and shape the work of contemporaries such as H. D., Robert Frost, T. S. Eliot, Ernest Hemingway, and James Joyce. He was responsible for the 1914 serialization of Joyce's A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, the 1915 publication of Eliot's 'The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock', and the serialization from 1918 of Joyce's Ulysses. Hemingway wrote in 1932 that, for poets born in the late 19th or early 20th century, not to be influenced by Pound would be 'like passing through a great blizzard and not feeling its cold'.

Angered by the carnage of World War I, Pound blamed the war on finance capitalism, which he called 'usury'. He moved to Italy in 1924 and through the 1930s and 1940s promoted an economic theory known as social credit, wrote for publications owned by the British fascist Sir Oswald Mosley, embraced Benito Mussolini's fascism, and expressed support for Adolf Hitler. During World War II, Pound recorded hundreds of paid radio propaganda broadcasts for the fascist Italian government and its later incarnation as a German puppet state, in which he attacked the United States federal government, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Great Britain, international finance, munitions makers, arms dealers, Jews, and others, as abettors and prolongers of the war. He also praised both eugenics and the Holocaust in Italy, while urging American GIs to throw down their rifles and surrender. In 1945, Pound was captured by the Italian Resistance and handed over to the U.S. Army's Counterintelligence Corps, who held him pending extradition and prosecution based on an indictment for treason. He spent months in a U.S. military detention camp near Pisa, including three weeks in an outdoor steel cage. Ruled mentally unfit to stand trial, Pound was incarcerated for over 12 years at St. Elizabeths psychiatric hospital in Washington, D.C., whose doctors viewed Pound as a narcissist and a psychopath, but otherwise completely sane.

While in custody in Italy, Pound began work on sections of The Cantos, which were published as The Pisan Cantos (1948), for which he was awarded the Bollingen Prize for Poetry in 1949 by the Library of Congress, causing enormous controversy. After a campaign by his fellow writers, he was released from St. Elizabeth's in 1958 and returned to Italy, where he posed for the press giving the Fascist salute and called America 'an insane asylum'. Pound remained in Italy until his death in 1972. His economic and political views have ensured that his life and literary legacy remain highly controversial.

Poems

  • 'Dompna Pois De Me No'us Cal' Read Poem
  • 'Sennin Poem By Kakuhaku' by Guo Pu 276-324 A. D. Read Poem
  • 'Siena Mi Fe'; Disfecemi Maremma' Read Poem
  • 'These Fought In Any Case' from Hugh Selwyn Mauberley Read Poem
  • A Ballad Of The Mulberry Road Read Poem
  • A Girl Read Poem
  • A Pact Read Poem
  • A Song Of The Degrees Read Poem
  • A Villonaud. Ballad Of The Gibbet Read Poem
  • A Virginal Read Poem
  • Abu Salammamm Read Poem
  • After Ch'u Yuan Read Poem
  • Alba Read Poem
  • Albatre Read Poem
  • Alf’s Eighth Bit Read Poem
  • Alf’s Eleventh Bit Read Poem
  • Alf’s Fifth Bit Read Poem
  • Alf’s Fourth Bit Read Poem
  • Alf’s Ninth Bit Read Poem
  • Alf’s Second Bit Read Poem
  • Alf’s Seventh Bit Read Poem
  • Alf’s Sixth Bit Read Poem
  • Alf’s Tenth Bit Read Poem
  • Alf’s Third Bit Read Poem
  • Alf’s Twelfth Bit Read Poem
  • Amities Read Poem
  • An Immorality Read Poem
  • An Object Read Poem
  • Ancient Music Read Poem
  • Ancient Wisdom, Rather Cosmic Read Poem
  • Ancora Read Poem
  • And The Days Are Not Full Enough Read Poem
  • And Thus In Nineveh Read Poem
  • Another Bit And An Offer Read Poem
  • Apparuit [she appeared] Read Poem
  • April Read Poem
  • Arides Read Poem
  • Au Jardin Read Poem
  • Au Salon Read Poem
  • Ballad For Gloom Read Poem
  • Ballad Of The Goodly Fere Read Poem
  • Ballatetta Read Poem
  • Before Sleep Read Poem
  • Black Slippers: Bellotti Read Poem
  • Blandula, Tenella, Vagula Read Poem
  • Brennbaum Read Poem
  • Cantico del Sole Read Poem
  • Canto 13 Read Poem
  • Canto I: And Then Went Down to the Ship Read Poem
  • Canto II Read Poem
  • Canto III Read Poem
  • Canto XIII: Kung Walked Read Poem
  • Canto XLIX: For the Seven Lakes Read Poem
  • Canto Xlv Read Poem
  • Canto XVI Read Poem
  • Canto XXXVI Read Poem
  • Cantus Planus Read Poem
  • Causa Read Poem
  • Cino Read Poem
  • Coda Read Poem
  • Coitus Read Poem
  • Come To My Cantilations Read Poem
  • Commission Read Poem
  • Dance Figure Read Poem
  • Dans Un Omnibus De Londres Read Poem
  • De Ægypto Read Poem
  • Dieu! Qu'il La Fait Read Poem
  • Donna Mi Prega Read Poem
  • Doria Read Poem
  • Dum Capitolium Scandet Read Poem
  • E.P. Ode Pour L'election De Son Sepulchre Read Poem
  • Envoi (1920) Read Poem
  • Epilogue Read Poem
  • Epitaphs Read Poem
  • Erat Hora Read Poem
  • Exile’s Letter by Li Po Read Poem
  • Ezra on the Strike Read Poem
  • Famam Librosque Cano Read Poem
  • Fan-Piece, For Her Imperial Lord Read Poem
  • Fish And Shadow Read Poem
  • For E. Mcc. (1908) Read Poem
  • Francesca Read Poem
  • Fratres Minores Read Poem
  • From 'Hugh Selwyn Mauberley' Read Poem
  • From Homage To Sextus Propertius - IX Read Poem
  • Further Instructions Read Poem
  • Gentildonna Read Poem
  • Grace Before Song Read Poem
  • Guido Invites You Thus Read Poem
  • H. S. Mauberley (Life And Contacts) [Part I] Read Poem
  • Heather Read Poem
  • Her Monument, The Image Cut Thereon Read Poem
  • Histrion Read Poem
  • Homage To Quintus Septimus Florentis Christianus Read Poem
  • Homage To Sextus Propertius - I Read Poem
  • Homage To Sextus Propertius - II Read Poem
  • Homage To Sextus Propertius - III Read Poem
  • Homage To Sextus Propertius - IV Read Poem
  • Homage To Sextus Propertius - V Read Poem
  • Homage To Sextus Propertius - VI Read Poem
  • Homage To Sextus Propertius - VII Read Poem
  • Homage To Sextus Propertius - VIII Read Poem
  • Homage To Sextus Propertius - X Read Poem
  • Homage To Sextus Propertius - XI Read Poem
  • Homage To Sextus Propertius - XII Read Poem
  • Horae Beatae Inscripto Read Poem
  • Image From D'Orleans Read Poem
  • Impressions Of Francois-Marie Arouet (De Voltaire) Read Poem
  • In A Station Of The Metro Read Poem
  • In Durance Read Poem
  • In Exitum Cuiusdam Read Poem
  • In Tempore Senectutis: (An Anti-stave for Dowson) Read Poem
  • In the Old Age of the Soul Read Poem
  • Invern Read Poem
  • Ione, Dead the Long Year Read Poem
  • Ité Read Poem
  • L'Art Read Poem
  • L'aura Amara Read Poem
  • L'Homme Moyen Sensuel Read Poem
  • La Fraisne Read Poem
  • La Regina Avrillouse Read Poem
  • Ladies Read Poem
  • Lament of the Frontier Guard Read Poem
  • Langue d'Oc Read Poem
  • Leave-Taking Near Shoku by Li Po Read Poem
  • Les Millwin Read Poem
  • Liu Ch'e Read Poem
  • M. Pom-Pom Read Poem
  • Marvoil Read Poem
  • Masks Read Poem
  • Mauberley (1920) Read Poem
  • Medallion Read Poem
  • Meditatio Read Poem
  • Mesmerism Read Poem
  • Middle-Aged Read Poem
  • Moeurs Contemporaines Read Poem
  • Monumentum Aere, Etc. Read Poem
  • Mr. Housman's Message Read Poem
  • Mr. Nixon Read Poem
  • N. Y. Read Poem
  • Na Audiart Read Poem
  • National Song (E.C.) Read Poem
  • Near Perigord Read Poem
  • Nicotine Read Poem
  • Night Litany Read Poem
  • Notes For Canto Cxx Read Poem
  • O Atthis Read Poem
  • Of Jacopo Del Sellaio Read Poem
  • Old Idea Of Choan By Rosoriu (Liu Zhaolin) Read Poem
  • Ole Kate Read Poem
  • On His Own Face In A Glass Read Poem
  • Ortus Read Poem
  • Our Contemporaries Read Poem
  • Pagani’s, November 8 Read Poem
  • Pan Is Dead Read Poem
  • Papyrus Read Poem
  • Paracelsus In Excelsis Read Poem
  • Phanopoeia Read Poem
  • Phyllidula Read Poem
  • Piccadilly Read Poem
  • Pierrots Read Poem
  • Planh For The Young English King Read Poem
  • Poem Read Poem
  • Poem By The Bridge At Ten-Shin by Li Po Read Poem
  • Poetic Eggs Read Poem
  • Portrait d'une Femme Read Poem
  • Post Mortem Conspectu Read Poem
  • Praise Of Ysolt Read Poem
  • Prayer For His Lady’s Life Read Poem
  • Provincia Deserta Read Poem
  • Quies Read Poem
  • Rome Read Poem
  • Safe And Sound Read Poem
  • Salutation Read Poem
  • Salutation The Second Read Poem
  • Salutation The Third Read Poem
  • Salvationists Read Poem
  • Satiemus Read Poem
  • Sending Off Yuan the Second to Anxi by Wang Wei Read Poem
  • Separation On The River Kiang ( aka Seeing Off Meng Haoran at Yellow Crane Tower ) by Li Po Read Poem
  • Sestina: Altaforte Read Poem
  • Shop Girl Read Poem
  • Silet Read Poem
  • Simulacra Read Poem
  • Society Read Poem
  • Song Read Poem
  • Song in the Manner of Housman Read Poem
  • Song of the Bowmen of Shu Read Poem
  • Song Of The Six Hundred M.P.'S Read Poem
  • Sonnet: Chi E Questa? [Who is She?] Read Poem
  • South-Folk In Cold Country by Li Po Read Poem
  • Speech For Psyche In The Golden Book Of Apuleius Read Poem
  • Statement of Being Read Poem
  • Sub Mare Read Poem
  • Surgit Fama Read Poem
  • Taking Leave of a Friend by Li Po Read Poem
  • Tame Cat Read Poem
  • Tempora Read Poem
  • Tenzone Read Poem
  • The Alchemist Read Poem
  • The Altar Read Poem
  • The Baby Read Poem
  • The Bath-Tub Read Poem
  • The Beautiful Toilet Read Poem
  • The Bellaires Read Poem
  • The Charge Of The Bread Brigade Read Poem
  • The City Of Choan by Li Po Read Poem
  • The Cloak Read Poem
  • The Coming Of War: Actaeon Read Poem
  • The Condolence Read Poem
  • The Encounter Read Poem
  • The Eyes Read Poem
  • The Fault of It Read Poem
  • The Faun Read Poem
  • The Flame Read Poem
  • The Game Of Chess Read Poem
  • The Garden Read Poem
  • The Garret Read Poem
  • The Gypsy Read Poem
  • The House Of Splendour Read Poem
  • The Jewel Stairs' Grievance by Li Po Read Poem
  • The Lake Isle Read Poem
  • The Logical Conclusion Read Poem
  • The Needle Read Poem
  • The New Cake Of Soap Read Poem
  • The Patterns Read Poem
  • The Picture Read Poem
  • The Plunge Read Poem
  • The Rest Read Poem
  • The Return Read Poem
  • The River Song by Li Po Read Poem
  • The River-Merchant's Wife: A Letter by Li Po Read Poem
  • The Seafarer Read Poem
  • The Seeing Eye Read Poem
  • The Social Order Read Poem
  • The Spring Read Poem
  • The Study In Aesthetics Read Poem
  • The Summons Read Poem
  • The Tea Shop Read Poem
  • The Temperaments Read Poem
  • The Three Poets Read Poem
  • The Tomb At Akr Çaar Read Poem
  • The Tree Read Poem
  • The White Stag Read Poem
  • Threnos Read Poem
  • To A Friend Writing On Cabaret Dancers Read Poem
  • To Dives Read Poem
  • To Êáëüí (Greek title) Read Poem
  • To Formianus’ Young Lady Friend Read Poem
  • To Whistler, American Read Poem
  • To-Em-Mei's ‘The Unmoving Cloud' by Tao-Chien (365-427 AD) Read Poem
  • Translations and Adaptations from Heine Read Poem
  • Ts'ai Chi'h Read Poem
  • Villanelle: The Psychological Hour Read Poem
  • Villonaud for This Yule Read Poem
  • Women Before A Shop Read Poem
  • Yeux Glauques Read Poem
  • ‘Phasellus Ille’ Read Poem
  • Canto I Read Poem
  • Canto IV Read Poem
  • Canto LXXXI Read Poem
  • Canto XLV Read Poem
  • Envoi Read Poem
  • fromCanto CXV Read Poem
  • Hugh Selwyn Mauberley [Part I] Read Poem
  • Hugh Selwyn Mauberley [Part II] Read Poem
  • In a Station of the Metro Read Poem
  • Middle-Aged: A Study in an Emotion Read Poem
  • Pagani's, November 8 Read Poem
  • The River-Merchant’s Wife: A Letter Read Poem
  • Three Cantos Read Poem
  • The Jewel Stairs’ Grievance Read Poem
  • from Canto CXV Read Poem