'The Seafarer' by Ezra Pound
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May I for my own self song's truth reckon,
Journey's jargon, how I in harsh days
Hardship endured oft.
Bitter breast-cares have I abided,
Known on my keel many a care's hold,
And dire sea-surge, and there I oft spent
Narrow nightwatch nigh the ship's head
While she tossed close to cliffs. Coldly afflicted,
My feet were by frost benumbed.
Chill its chains are; chafing sighs
Hew my heart round and hunger begot
Mere-weary mood. Lest man know not
That he on dry land loveliest liveth,
List how I, care-wretched, on ice-cold sea,
Weathered the winter, wretched outcast
Deprived of my kinsmen;
Hung with hard ice-flakes, where hail-scur flew,
There I heard naught save the harsh sea
And ice-cold wave, at whiles the swan cries,
Did for my games the gannet's clamour,
Sea-fowls, loudness was for me laughter,
The mews' singing all my mead-drink.
Storms, on the stone-cliffs beaten, fell on the stern
In icy feathers; full oft the eagle screamed
With spray on his pinion.
Not any protector
May make merry man faring needy.
This he little believes, who aye in winsome life
Abides 'mid burghers some heavy business,
Wealthy and wine-flushed, how I weary oft
Must bide above brine.
Neareth nightshade, snoweth from north,
Frost froze the land, hail fell on earth then
Corn of the coldest. Nathless there knocketh now
The heart's thought that I on high streams
The salt-wavy tumult traverse alone.
Moaneth alway my mind's lust
That I fare forth, that I afar hence
Seek out a foreign fastness.
For this there's no mood-lofty man over earth's midst,
Not though he be given his good, but will have in his youth greed;
Nor his deed to the daring, nor his king to the faithful
But shall have his sorrow for sea-fare
Whatever his lord will.
He hath not heart for harping, nor in ring-having
Nor winsomeness to wife, nor world's delight
Nor any whit else save the wave's slash,
Yet longing comes upon him to fare forth on the water.
Bosque taketh blossom, cometh beauty of berries,
Fields to fairness, land fares brisker,
All this admonisheth man eager of mood,
The heart turns to travel so that he then thinks
On flood-ways to be far departing.
Cuckoo calleth with gloomy crying,
He singeth summerward, bodeth sorrow,
The bitter heart's blood. Burgher knows not --
He the prosperous man -- what some perform
Where wandering them widest draweth.
So that but now my heart burst from my breast-lock,
My mood 'mid the mere-flood,
Over the whale's acre, would wander wide.
On earth's shelter cometh oft to me,
Eager and ready, the crying lone-flyer,
Whets for the whale-path the heart irresistibly,
O'er tracks of ocean; seeing that anyhow
My lord deems to me this dead life
On loan and on land, I believe not
That any earth-weal eternal standeth
Save there be somewhat calamitous
That, ere a man's tide go, turn it to twain.
Disease or oldness or sword-hate
Beats out the breath from doom-gripped body.
And for this, every earl whatever, for those speaking after --
Laud of the living, boasteth some last word,
That he will work ere he pass onward,
Frame on the fair earth 'gainst foes his malice,
Daring ado, ...
So that all men shall honour him after
And his laud beyond them remain 'mid the English,
Aye, for ever, a lasting life's-blast,
Delight mid the doughty.
Days little durable,
And all arrogance of earthen riches,
There come now no kings nor Cæsars
Nor gold-giving lords like those gone.
Howe'er in mirth most magnified,
Whoe'er lived in life most lordliest,
Drear all this excellence, delights undurable!
Waneth the watch, but the world holdeth.
Tomb hideth trouble. The blade is layed low.
Earthly glory ageth and seareth.
No man at all going the earth's gait,
But age fares against him, his face paleth,
Grey-haired he groaneth, knows gone companions,
Lordly men are to earth o'ergiven,
Nor may he then the flesh-cover, whose life ceaseth,
Nor eat the sweet nor feel the sorry,
Nor stir hand nor think in mid heart,
And though he strew the grave with gold,
His born brothers, their buried bodies
Be an unlikely treasure hoard.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Interpreting the Beauty of "The Seafarer" by Ezra Pound
Introduction
Ezra Pound is a renowned American poet who was highly influential in the modernist movement of the early 20th century. Among his many notable works is the poem "The Seafarer," which is a translation of an Old English poem of the same name. This poem is a meditation on life, death, and man's relationship with the natural world. In this literary criticism, we will examine the themes and literary devices used in "The Seafarer" and how they contribute to the beauty of the poem.
Historical and Literary Context
Before delving into the poem, it's essential to understand the historical and literary context in which it was written. "The Seafarer" is an Old English poem that dates back to the late 10th century. It's a part of a collection of poems known as the Exeter Book, which is the largest surviving collection of Old English literature. The poem's author is unknown, but it's believed to have been written by a Christian monk.
Ezra Pound's translation of "The Seafarer" was first published in 1911 in a small magazine called Poetry. At the time, Pound was living in London and was heavily involved in the modernist movement. He was interested in reviving Old English literature and was a proponent of using Anglo-Saxon verse forms in modern poetry.
Themes
"The Seafarer" is a poem that explores several themes, including mortality, melancholy, and the transience of life. The speaker in the poem is a seafarer who is reflecting on his life and the challenges he has faced while sailing the open sea. He speaks of the loneliness he feels while at sea and the longing he has for his homeland.
One of the most prominent themes in the poem is the idea of mortality. The seafarer reflects on the inevitability of death and how it comes for everyone, regardless of their station in life. He speaks of how even the powerful and wealthy cannot escape death and how everything in life is fleeting. This theme is reinforced by the use of imagery throughout the poem, which emphasizes the transience of life and the impermanence of all things.
Another theme in the poem is the idea of melancholy. The seafarer speaks of the loneliness he feels while at sea and the longing he has for his homeland. He describes the harsh conditions he faces while sailing and the constant fear he has of the elements. This theme is reinforced by the use of repetition and alliteration, which create a sense of longing and sadness.
Literary Devices
"The Seafarer" is a poem that makes extensive use of literary devices to create meaning and beauty. One of the most notable devices used in the poem is alliteration. Alliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words. In "The Seafarer," alliteration is used throughout the poem to create a musical and rhythmic quality. For example, in the first line of the poem, the phrase "I sing a true song" uses alliteration to create a sense of harmony and balance.
Another literary device used in the poem is repetition. Repetition is the use of the same words or phrases multiple times within a poem. In "The Seafarer," repetition is used to emphasize certain themes and ideas. For example, the phrase "the way of the waves" is repeated throughout the poem to emphasize the seafarer's connection to the sea and the dangers he faces while at sea.
Imagery is also used extensively in "The Seafarer" to create meaning and beauty. Imagery refers to descriptions or representations of sensory experiences, such as sights, sounds, and smells. In "The Seafarer," imagery is used to create a vivid picture of the seafarer's surroundings and the challenges he faces while sailing. For example, the description of the "sea-birds' noisy wings" creates a sense of chaos and danger, while the description of the "ice-cold sea" creates a sense of isolation and loneliness.
Conclusion
"The Seafarer" is a poem that explores themes of mortality, melancholy, and the transience of life. It makes extensive use of literary devices such as alliteration, repetition, and imagery to create meaning and beauty. Through its use of vivid imagery and musical language, "The Seafarer" is a testament to the enduring power of poetry and the human experience.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Seafarer: A Masterpiece of Anglo-Saxon Poetry
The Seafarer is a classic poem that has been passed down through the ages, and it is still relevant today. Written by an unknown Anglo-Saxon poet, it is a powerful and moving work that speaks to the human condition. Ezra Pound, the famous American poet, translated the poem into modern English in the early 20th century. His translation is widely regarded as one of the best, and it captures the essence of the original text.
The Seafarer is a poem about a man who is at sea. He is alone and isolated, and he is struggling to find meaning in his life. The poem is divided into two parts. The first part is about the seafarer's experiences at sea, and the second part is about his reflections on life and death.
The seafarer describes the harsh conditions at sea. He talks about the cold, the wind, and the waves. He says that he has seen many terrible things, including the death of his comrades. He is constantly battling the elements, and he is always at risk of losing his life. Despite all of this, he says that he is drawn to the sea. He cannot imagine living on land, and he feels a deep connection to the ocean.
The seafarer's experiences at sea are a metaphor for the human condition. We are all alone in the world, and we are all struggling to find meaning in our lives. We are all battling against the elements, and we are all at risk of losing our lives. The seafarer's experiences at sea are a reminder that life is fragile, and that we must make the most of the time that we have.
In the second part of the poem, the seafarer reflects on life and death. He says that life is fleeting, and that we must make the most of it. He says that we must seek wisdom and knowledge, and that we must strive to do good in the world. He also says that death is inevitable, and that we must be prepared for it. He says that we must live our lives in such a way that we will be remembered after we are gone.
The seafarer's reflections on life and death are a reminder that we must live our lives with purpose. We must seek knowledge and wisdom, and we must strive to make the world a better place. We must also be prepared for death, and we must live our lives in such a way that we will be remembered after we are gone.
Ezra Pound's translation of The Seafarer is a masterpiece of modern English poetry. He captures the essence of the original text, and he brings the poem to life for modern readers. His translation is both faithful to the original and accessible to modern readers.
Pound's translation is notable for its use of alliteration and rhythm. The poem is written in a style that is reminiscent of Anglo-Saxon poetry, and Pound's use of alliteration and rhythm helps to capture the musicality of the original text. The poem is also notable for its use of imagery. Pound's translation is full of vivid and powerful images that help to bring the poem to life.
In conclusion, The Seafarer is a classic poem that speaks to the human condition. It is a powerful and moving work that reminds us of the fragility of life and the importance of living with purpose. Ezra Pound's translation of the poem is a masterpiece of modern English poetry, and it captures the essence of the original text. The Seafarer is a timeless work that will continue to inspire and move readers for generations to come.
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