Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"And Thus in Nineveh" by Ezra Pound presents an intricate examination of the identity and legacy of a poet set against the historical backdrop of the ancient city of Nineveh. The poem uses the ancient city as a metaphorical space to explore the poet's status, the transient nature of art, and the evergreen reverence for the role of a poet in society.

The speaker begins with a declaration: "Aye! I am a poet and upon my tomb / Shall maidens scatter rose leaves / And men myrtles, ere the night / Slays day with her dark sword." Right from the outset, the poet is concerned with legacy, not just as an artist but also as an individual. He acknowledges that his place will be among the poets who have come and gone before him, immortalized in the traditional offerings of rose leaves and myrtles, flowers commonly associated with love and poetic achievement. He personifies "night" as a slayer of "day" with a "dark sword," metaphorically suggesting that death eventually conquers life, but not necessarily the legacy of art.

The speaker notes that his poetic identity is not something he or anyone else can hinder: "Lo! this thing is not mine / Nor thine to hinder, / For the custom is full old." This addresses the enduring custom of respecting poets and their craft, a practice that, according to the speaker, is ancient and therefore, indisputable. He also humbles himself by acknowledging other poets who might have been more "crafty" or "subtle-souled" than he is. This suggests a kinship among artists, where one recognizes and respects the varying degrees of artistry in the realm of poetry.

What sets the speaker apart is not the loftiness or sweetness of his song, but rather his unique ability to "drink of life / As lesser men drink wine." This beautifully encapsulates the essence of what it means to be a poet according to the speaker. He consumes life in all its complexity and transforms it into art, just as "lesser men" might sip wine for temporary enjoyment or relief. The poet exists to distill life into the concentrated form of poetry, which then stands the test of time, surviving even as cities like Nineveh fall into the annals of history.

The poem is imbued with a sense of timelessness, made particularly evocative by the historical context of Nineveh, an ancient Assyrian city. Nineveh is a symbol of past glory and bygone civilization, reminding us that art and artists are eternal, transcending the decay of cities and the passage of time.

Ezra Pound's "And Thus in Nineveh" functions both as a self-examination and a universal declaration about the role of poets in the world. Through the lens of a historical and mythical space, the poem articulates the perpetual cycle of life, art, and death, capturing the enduring human desire for meaning and remembrance. It illustrates that while poets may not always be the best among their contemporaries, their gift for capturing life in words endows them with a form of immortality.

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