Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Ezra Pound's Canto XLV: And before hell mouth; dry plain" is a section of "The Cantos," a long and complex poem that Pound worked on for several decades. The canto was written in 1920, during a period of intense experimentation and innovation in Pound's poetry.

The canto begins with the speaker describing a barren and desolate landscape, which he suggests represents the state of the modern world. The speaker notes how the landscape is "dry" and "dead," and suggests that it is a symbol of the spiritual emptiness and decay that characterize modern society.

As the canto progresses, the speaker reflects on the nature of art and poetry in the modern world. He notes how many artists and poets have become disillusioned with traditional forms and structures, and are instead seeking new and unconventional ways of expressing themselves.

The canto ends with a reference to the Greek myth of Orpheus, who famously descended into the underworld to rescue his wife Eurydice. The speaker suggests that the artist and poet must similarly be willing to journey into the depths of the human experience, in order to bring back insights and understandings that can help to heal the spiritual emptiness of the modern world.

Overall, "Ezra Pound's Canto XLV: And before hell mouth; dry plain" is a powerful and complex work of modernist poetry that reflects Pound's interest in the spiritual and cultural decay of the modern world. The canto explores the themes of art, poetry, and the human experience, and encourages readers to embrace new and unconventional forms of expression in order to bring about change and renewal in society.