As "Twentieth Century/Modern Age" is marked with WWI and WWII, it comprises many elements in it. Such as; elements of war, socio-politico scenario, science, rationality, liberal movements(feminism and gay movements), mass production and industrial disaster.
It was in this century, where many 'third world writers' emerged such as Salman Rushdie, Hanif Kureshi etc along with post-modernist writers like Frantz Fanon, Fredrick Jameson, Edward Said etc.
All contributed either by actions or mightier pen to heal the country from the clutches of colonization.
At the beginning two types of poetry writing emerged; Edwardian and Georgian which also comprises the particular century elements. But subsequently with advent of other emerging artistic movements, poetry took its acute and exact formation. Though in weird like state.
As a result dadaism, impressionism, surrealism, expressionism such as many movements emerged out. Regarding its representation, it was somewhat distortive, odd, fragmented, exploring irrationality and in dis arranging state.
Modern Poetry: To examine modernism and post-modernism elements.
In this poem, someone whose name isn't mentioned but is emphasized as "I". Who makes "poems". Characterizes his poem as 'delicate' giving it the imagery of 'flock of doves'. That is "trudging cheerily in and out of the dreary trenches and under the stars.
"I"
"Poem"
"In and Out"
"Dreary Trenches"
"Under the stars"
"Delicate"
"Flock of doves".
It Seems to be mere imagery(imagism of Richard Aldington). Although by being abstract, a poem can't comprise such characteristics. The fragmented collage is clearly making space of distortive imagism.
Hence as the poem itself is represented in an abstract form, that constitutes feelings and emotions, seems to be possessing personification, one of the figures of speech and 'simile: Delicate as a flock of doves'. In this manner the imagery of imagination is enhanced.
A leaf(one of the parts of tree) is falling(an action) on loneliness(an emotion of earthly species). As it isn't mentioned or not described in this tiny poetry, about the current status of tree, It can be assumed that a tree full of leaves, is pouring down one leaf, so that 'the loneliness may have company'.
It seems as nature and emotions, both are equated here. Perhaps as it is said that nature also has life, it can serve the deaden thing a life.
"Leaf"
"Loneliness"
The later imagery can't be seen, it is only to be felt. Thus there is only one image and that is "a leaf".
Anecdote of the jar, anecdote simply means an amusing and interesting story.
The first stanza says, there was a jar, in the place called Tennesse, which was round in shape, situated upon a hill. But what it do?
It made the slovenly wilderness, surrounding that hill.
A glimpse of imperialism and colonialism can be seen.
How the wilderness proceeded further?
As the wilderness was at its extreme, it rose up to the hill's height and sprawled but the wilderness was given extinction.
The Jar itself symbolizes expansion of land(imperialism). Which was round stood on ground and tall and of a port in air.
The Jar as a dominative personality took dominion everywhere, while the jar is gray(morally not good and complex, possessing the qualities of conformity) and bare.
As it was related to war, and as we know 'war is for no good' in the same way, in this poem it didn't give any 'bush or bird' but barren Tennesse.
Tennesse is the state, nearby America. Where due to technological, science and innovations, Tannesse was remained aloof as it was confined with traditional ways of dealing with life and so they were having clashes on battle ground by such powerful forces.
In this way the imagery is connected with the poem.
"A RED WHEEL BARROW"
"GLAZED WITH RAIN WATER"
"BESIDE THE WHITE CHICKENS"
The imagery gives the glimpse of 'agrarian society' where a farmer rides 'a red wheel barrow' and described as glazed with rain water, beside the white chickens.
But it is only giving the glimpse of, not a clear cut imagery which can present a whole idea, an idea is captured in fragmented manner. So it is making the imagery incomplete.
Thus it is having elements of modern poetry.
The Pool by H. D. Where someone is asking someone, if someone is alive and talking with him/her(none can say it as it has been made already clear in the poem) as someone touched and it quiver like 'sea-fish' and as fish are covered after capturing into net, in the same manner the person is trapped and asking him/her if he/she is a banded one.
This poem also seems to be as inassociative with other images. At first it depicts the image of someone who asks another one 'if one is alive' converse with him/her a bit(not giving a clear image of the other persona). But says you 'quiver like a sea-fish' what you're a 'banded one' and it is ending here, without the person's response in return.
"APPARITION OF THESE FACES"
"WHERE: IN THE CROWD"
"PETALS"
"ON A WET BLACK BOUGH"
I seems as the observer is already seeing some faces infront of him and at the next moment, he sees the same faces as 'apparition's faces' which are immortalized as so the poet is seeing those in crowd(crowd of the people).
Then it is given an imagery of petals, which are on a wet black bough.
"I"
"Gold heels"
"Hard Pavement"
"The Very Stuff of Poesy"
"God"
"Old Star"
"Blanket of the sky"
"Comfort"
It seems as someone as "I" is in ecstasy because "I" found ecstasy in finesse of fiddles. 'Hard pavement' and 'warmth the very stuff of poetry' as contradictory imagery as the warmth of the stuff of the poetry is going to enliven that very hard pavement so that the hardness will dissolve into softness(liquidity) and It will have its own beneficial properties.
Nice imagery!
A star can't be old(seems as used personification, one of the figure of speeches) and it has eaten 'the whole blanket of sky. Requesting God to make it small, so "I" will also fold round and in comfort lie.
Giving an impactful effect of the imagery but one or two meanings are coming out and the imagery is remaining incomplete. So it can't contribute in fulfilling the whole idea of the poem.
"I"
"STAR"
"BOGHOLE"
"A SILVER RIBBON OF LIGHT"
A passerby stopped to watch a star, that was shining in the boghole. But at his surprise what he saw, 'it was no longer a star but a silver ribbon of light' the person cast aside and pass on.
Seems to be nothing, but merely what we're used to do in our day to day life.
Thus the poem, the pool, embankment, anecdote to a Jar, In a station of the metro, the red wheel-barrow, leaf falls on loneliness and insouciance. All gives an incomplete imagery and and images in fragmentation so these have relation with modern era of Twentieth century.
Works Cited
