Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Homage to Sextus Propertius: 9" by Ezra Pound is a lyrical exploration of fate, devotion, and the human struggle against the inexorable pull of mortality. The poem begins in a state of disquiet, with the "twisted rhombs" having ceased their music and the "scorched laurel" lying in "fire-dust," creating an atmosphere laden with omens. The celestial realm remains unyielding as the moon "still declined to descend out of heaven," and the "black ominous owl hoot was audible." Here, the symbols-the moon, the owl, the silent musical instruments-collectively reflect a state of cosmic imbalance, an imbalance that seems to affect human life on Earth, as manifested through the concerns for the unnamed woman's fate.

Pound once again introduces the concept of fate personified by the metaphorical "raft," which "bears our fates on the veiled lake toward Avernus." The idea of Avernus as the gateway to the Underworld makes it a poignant symbol for the transition between life and death. Yet, the speaker's devotion is unflinching: "I shall live, if she continue in life, / If she dies, I shall go with her." Here, love becomes a form of resistance against the immutable forces of fate and divine reckoning. The speaker pleads not just to Zeus but also to the rulers of the Underworld-Persephone and Dis-beseeching them to have mercy on the woman.

The second part of the poem subtly changes the mood by recognizing the reality of human mortality. There are "enough women in hell, quite enough beautiful women," says the speaker, touching upon the idea that beauty and fortune are impermanent. It's a sobering admission of the inescapable realities of existence. Death "delays but for a season," reminding the reader that no one is immune from life's eventual outcome.

The final section sees a shift towards hope and the power of human agency. The woman, the "light" and "light of my eyes," has escaped "from great peril." The poem concludes on an optimistic note, urging her to fulfill her vows to the goddess Diana and, interestingly, to the speaker as well. It becomes a moment that champions the individual's capacity to shape their own destiny, even in the face of cosmic and metaphysical adversities.

In this poem, Ezra Pound crafts a universe where human emotions and divine whims are constantly in flux, a world teetering on the brink of cosmic imbalance yet held together by human love and devotion. It's a plea and a prayer, a testament to human resilience in the ever-tumultuous dance between the mortal and the immortal. Here, love becomes both a challenge to fate and a form of homage to it, encapsulating the complexities and contradictions that make life such a compelling, precarious journey.

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