Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

In "Translator To Translated," Ezra Pound addresses Heinrich Heine, the 19th-century German-Jewish poet known for his lyrical and satirical verses. Pound's short poem is a tribute to Heine's ability to critique both popular culture ("Philistia's pomp") and the art world ("Art's pomposities"). Despite the brevity of the poem, it manages to capture complex dynamics between translation, admiration, and the passage of time, and it provides insights into Pound's own position as a poet and critic.

The first line, "O Harry Heine, curses be," exudes a sense of urgency and desperation. Pound feels the frustration of being born too late to engage directly with Heine, suggesting that there is a particular magic in Heine's era or his personal presence that Pound feels would be beneficial for his own creative process. The phrase "curses be" simultaneously evokes a tone of lamentation and an almost playful cursing of the fates that prevented their meeting.

Pound praises Heine's ability to "demolish" with "polished ease," a duality that captures Heine's wit and mastery of language. This line not only celebrates Heine's wit but also subtly critiques the excesses of society ("Philistia's pomp") and the pretensions of the art world ("Art's pomposities"). In doing so, Pound aligns himself with Heine's critical stance, aspiring to wield the same scalpel of satire and irony to dissect the shortcomings of his own time.

The poem's title, "Translator To Translated" is intriguing in itself. Pound, a translator of various works from different languages, recognizes the nuances and difficulties of translation. In addressing Heine, he brings to the foreground the complexities involved in the act of translating-not just language but also emotions, cultural contexts, and time. It's as if Pound is engaging in a dialogue across time and space with a kindred spirit, one whom he can only access through the inherently imperfect medium of translation.

This short poem can also be seen as a microcosm of Pound's larger project of incorporating multiple cultural and literary traditions into modernist poetry. He viewed the poet as a translator of sorts, responsible for bringing the wisdom of the past into the present. Heine serves as an emblematic figure in this endeavor-a poet who was rooted in his own cultural milieu yet transcended it through his art.

Moreover, the poem evokes the limitations imposed by history. Pound may wish to "sup" with Heine, but the chasm of time between them is unbridgeable. This speaks to a broader existential theme: the isolation of the individual, bound by his own time and circumstances, yet yearning for communion with great minds of the past.

While the poem might seem to be a simple lament for a missed opportunity to engage with an admired poet, it encompasses many layers-Pound's views on the role of the poet and translator, the importance of cross-cultural dialogue, and the challenges and rewards of engaging with the literary past. Even in its brevity, it captures the essence of Pound's multifaceted engagement with the world of art and literature.

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