Blog Post 2: Topic 2

             At first glance, “In a Station of the Metro” by Ezra Pound is modestly short and seemingly simple. However, the brevity of the poem is deceptive. Pound’s choice of diction, meter, and form function together to provide a detailed image of a contrasting scene. In order to understand the theme of the poem, it is important to first understand its literal meaning. “In a Station of the Metro” employs a form of diction that lacks verbs. This is interesting because the poem seems to be about motion and cycles, but does not contain any action diction. Pound’s word choice is important as it helps to evoke a vivid and sensory image. The word “apparition” is ghostly and temporary. It creates a feeling of awe over the fleeting and fragile nature of the faces and of humanity. Its contrast with the imagery of petals also highlights the fragility and beauty in nature.

The meter in Pound’s poem is rhythmic and quick. It contains a long iambic line followed by a short, accented line. Iambic pentameter is a line of verse with five metrical feet consisting of one short, unstressed syllable followed by one long, stressed syllable. The form of the poem is two short lines of poetry that mirror the form of a haiku. The content of the poem is also similar to this form of Japanese poetry. Haikus typically feature a contrast between two images or events. “In a Station of the Metro” by Ezra Pound is a vivid juxtaposition of two contrasting images of the modern world and the natural world.

Pound’s poem does not lack sensory detail, despite its short length. It compares the faces of the subway travelers and the flower petals in an implied metaphor. The reader is to implicitly understand that the faces are like petals on a wet bough without the use of the word “like”. As a writer, Pound represented the imagist movement of poetry, using precise visual imagery to give clarity and expression in his work. The poem seems to describe an observation without an observer. The disparity between the two images, of a subway and of a flower, creates tension for the reader as they contemplate the relativity of the concepts. The use of the word “like” would have made the metaphor less thoughtful. The comparison is powerful and vivid because it is abstract. It suggests the idea of life, renewal, and human connection, all in a few short words.

Despite its short length, "In a Station of the Metro" contains great detail. The length and quick pace of the poem match the constant motion of a subway train as it speeds by. The implementation of sparse diction, rhythmic meter, and poetic form help to create vivid imagery in Pound’s work. The purpose of the modest but vivid imagery is to link a dark metropolitan scene with the simple beauty of nature. The use of metaphor in this poem adds to its fleeting tone. Life and nature are in a constant cycle of change and renewal. The quick image of the faces in the subway help illustrate that just like how no two flowers will ever be the same, humans are also in a transient state.