Prompt 2: In a Station of the Metro" is an imagist poem

Blog Post 1
Jessica Egizii
Prompt 2
        According to Amy Lowell Imagism was a new wave of poetry, a renaissance, and was inspired by poetry giants such as Robert Frost and Edwin Arlington Robinson. Imagism, according to Lowell can be encapsulated in six rules that are summed up as follows:
     1. To use common speech, but also exact phrasing
     2. To create new rhythm
     3. Absolute freedom in the choice of subject matter
     4. To present an image
     5. To present poetry that is clear, not blurred
     6. Lastly, the belief that concentration is at the heart of poetry
        Ezra Pound’s poem, “In a Station of the Metro,” has many aspects of an Imagist poem, and it adhere to all of Lowell's rules. Everything from the diction to the unusual choice of subject matter qualify this poem as Imagist.
       The poem begins by describing the people in the metro as “apparition[s]”. Apparition is a very interesting word choice because it has two meanings. The first meaning, and its most common use, is describing a ghost-like, supernatural figure. The second definition is the sudden appearance of something remarkable or unexpected. The double meaning implies that the people present were ghost-like which could mean that they seemed fake or far removed from the author. This implies that the author feels out of place or that he does not belong in a place with these strange beings he is observing. The second definition allows the audience to see that the narrator has respect for these people he holds at arms length. It is true that he views them as something different from himself and explainable, but he also is fascinated by them because he describes them as something remarkable and unexpected. The unexpected interpretation of the word “apparition” could lead to a third meaning that he was surprised to discover that these unfamiliar and almost mystical beings were actually interesting instead of the ghostly figures he was expecting to find. The diction ultimately suggests that Pound is adhering to the first tenet of Imagism. This is due to the fact that he is using a common word “apparition” and he has also chosen this word because of its exactness and how it perfectly conveys the message and image he is trying to send. This word fits so perfectly that it also is an example of the sixth rule and that is concentration. To find this exact word, the concentration needed would have been admirable.
         The rhythm of the poem is very unique. It has a long and flowing sentence structure in the first line with the use if flowering language as seen when pound describes “The apparition of these faces in the crowd.” The second line, however, has a different tone and has more of a short and choppy rhythm as Pound drastically changes the image to “Petals on a wet, black bough.” The first line feels more flowing due to the assonance in the start of apparition and the word of. The assonance gives the line a fluid feeling, like waves rising and crashing as the same sound is repeated so quickly. The second line feels choppy because of the assonance as well. The harsher p and b sounds make each word come out more clipped and abrupt. Also, the comma after “wet” stops the line cold in its tracks and makes the line feel even more choppy and short. The first line is projecting an image of faces rushing past in a swift, fluid motion that is similar to the rhyme scheme. The second line is completely different, taking in a specific nature oriented image that demands more focused attention, like the rhyme scheme in the second line. This attention to detail to convey an image is an example of how the poem observes the fourth and fifth rule. It conveys two images and in a clear and concise way that also creates new rhythms and requires a lot of concentration to formulate. In this way, it also complies with second and sixth rule as well.
          The poem is reflective not only of its material, but of what is cut out or what remains unsaid. The poem does not explicitly say the setting and that is only revealed in the title. This forces the reader to completely focus on the two images presented and leaves no distractions for the audience to analyze anything other than the images of the people and the petals. This allows Pound to address the fifth rule that is to present an image that is clear and not blurred. By only presenting us with two distinct images and nothing else, it helped the audience hone in on a clear picture and give it one's full attention. In this way, Pound has adhered to every rule Lowell has set before him to create the masterful poem “In a Station of the Metro.”