Lament of the Frontier Guard poem – Ezra Pound poems

By the North Gate, the wind blows full of sand, Lonely from the beginning of time until now! Trees fall, the grass goes yellow with autumn. I climb the towers and towers to watch out the barbarous land: Desolate castle, the sky, the wide desert. There is no wall left to this village. Bones […]

La Regina Avrillouse poem – Ezra Pound poems

Lady of rich allure, Queen of the spring’s embrace, Your arms are long like boughs of ash, Mid laugh-broken streams, spirit of rain unsure, Breath of the poppy flower, All the wood thy bower And the hills thy dwelling-place. This will I no more dream; Warm is thy arm’s allure, Warm is the gust […]

Ione, Dead the Long Year poem – Ezra Pound poems

Empty are the ways, Empty are the ways of this land And the flowers Bend over with heavy heads. They bend in vain. Empty are the ways of this land Where Ione Walked once, and now does not walk But seems like a person just gone.     *** […]

Invern poem – Ezra Pound poems

Earth’s winter cometh And I being part of all And sith the spirit of all moveth in me I must needs bear earth’s winter Drawn cold and grey with hours And joying in a momentary sun, Lo I am withered with waiting till my spring cometh! Or crouch covetous of warmth O’er scant-logged ingle […]

In the Old Age of the Soul poem – Ezra Pound poems

I do not choose to dream; there cometh on me Some strange old lust for deeds. As to the nerveless hand of some old warrior The sword-hilt or the war-worn wonted helmet Brings momentary life and long-fled cunning, So to my soul grown old; Grown old with many a jousting, many a foray, Grown […]

In Tempore Senectutis poem – Ezra Pound poems

When I am old I will not have you look apart From me, into the cold, Friend of my heart, Nor be sad in your remembrance Of the careless, mad-heart semblance That the wind hath blown away When I am old. When I am old And the white hot wonder-fire Unto the world seem […]

In A Station Of The Metro poem – Ezra Pound poems

The apparition of these faces in the crowd; Petals on a wet, black bough.     *** Ezra Pound Poems by Ezra Pound Ezra PoundEzra Weston Loomis Pound (30 October 1885 – 1 November 1972) is one of the most influential but also […]

Hugh Selwyn Mauberly (Part I) poem – Ezra Pound poems

“Vocat aestus in umbram” Nemesianus Es. IV. E. P. Ode pour l’élection de son sépulchre For three years, out of key with his time, He strove to resuscitate the dead art Of poetry; to maintain “the sublime” In the old sense. Wrong from the start — No, hardly, but, seeing he had been born […]

Historion poem – Ezra Pound poems

No man hath dared to write this thing as yet, And yet I know, how that the souls of all men great At times pass athrough us, And we are melted into them, and are not Save reflexions of their souls. Thus am I Dante for a space and am One Francois Villon, ballad-lord […]

Grace Before Song poem – Ezra Pound poems

Lord God of heaven that with mercy dight Th’alternate prayer wheel of the night and light Eternal hath to thee, and in whose sight Our days as rain drops in the sea surge fall, As bright white drops upon a leaden sea Grant so my songs to this grey folk may be: As drops […]

Further Instructions poem – Ezra Pound poems

Come, my songs, let us express our baser passions. Let us express our envy for the man with a steady job and no worry about the future. You are very idle, my songs, I fear you will come to a bad end. You stand about the streets, You loiter at the corners and bus-stops, […]

Francesca poem – Ezra Pound poems

You came in out of the night And there were flowers in your hand, Now you will come out of a confusion of people, Out of a turmoil of speech about you. I who have seen you amid the primal things Was angry when they spoke your name IN ordinary places. I would that […]

Fan-Piece, For Her Imperial Lord poem – Ezra Pound poems

O fan of white silk, clear as frost on the grass-blade, You also are laid aside.     *** Ezra Pound Poems by Ezra Pound Ezra PoundEzra Weston Loomis Pound (30 October 1885 – 1 November 1972) is one of the most influential […]

Ezra on the Strike poem – Ezra Pound poems

Wal, Thanksgivin’ do be comin’ round. With the price of turkeys on the bound, And coal, by gum! Thet were just found, Is surely gettin’ cheaper. The winds will soon begin to howl, And winter, in its yearly growl, Across the medders begin to prowl, And Jack Frost gettin’ deeper. By shucks! It seems […]

Epilogue poem – Ezra Pound poems

O chansons foregoing You were a seven days’ wonder. When you came out in the magazines You created considerable stir in Chicago, And now you are stale and worn out, You’re a very depleted fashion, A hoop-skirt, a calash, An homely, transient antiquity. Only emotion remains. Your emotions? Are those of a maitre-de-cafe. […]

Envoi poem – Ezra Pound poems

Go, dumb-born book, Tell her that sang me once that song of Lawes: Hadst thou but song As thou hast subjects known, Then were there cause in thee that should condone Even my faults that heavy upon me lie And build her glories their longevity. Tell her that sheds Such treasure in the air, […]

E.P. Ode Pour L’election De Son Sepulchre poem – Ezra Pound poems

For three years, out of key with his time, He strove to resuscitate the dead art Of poetry; to maintain “the sublime” In the old sense. Wrong from the start– No, hardly, but seeing he had been born In a half savage country, out of date; Bent resolutely on wringing lilies from the acorn; […]

Dance Figure poem – Ezra Pound poems

For the Marriage in Cana of Galilee Dark-eyed, O woman of my dreams, Ivory sandalled, There is none like thee among the dancers, None with swift feet. I have not found thee in the tents, In the broken darkness. I have not found thee at the well-head Among the women with pitchers. Thine arms […]

Cino poem – Ezra Pound poems

Italian Campagna 1309, the open road Bah! I have sung women in three cities, But it is all the same; And I will sing of the sun. Lips, words, and you snare them, Dreams, words, and they are as jewels, Strange spells of old deity, Ravens, nights, allurement: And they are not; Having become […]

Canto XLIX poem – Ezra Pound poems

For the seven lakes, and by no man these verses: Rain; empty river; a voyage, Fire from frozen cloud, heavy rain in the twilight Under the cabin roof was one lantern. The reeds are heavy; bent; and the bamboos speak as if weeping. Autumn moon; hills rise about lakes against sunset Evening is like […]

Canto XIII poem – Ezra Pound poems

Kung walked by the dynastic temple and into the cedar grove, and then out by the lower river, And with him Khieu Tchi and Tian the low speaking And “we are unknown,” said Kung, “You will take up charioteering? “Then you will become known, “Or perhaps I should take up charioterring, or archery? “Or […]

Canto I poem – Ezra Pound poems

And then went down to the ship, Set keel to breakers, forth on the godly sea, and We set up mast and sail on that swart ship, Bore sheep aboard her, and our bodies also Heavy with weeping, and winds from sternward Bore us onward with bellying canvas, Crice’s this craft, the trim-coifed goddess. […]

Cantico del Sole poem – Ezra Pound poems

The thought of what America would be like If the Classics had a wide circulation Troubles my sleep, The thought of what America, The thought of what America,The thought of what America would be like If the Classics had a wide circulation Troubles my sleep. Nunc dimittis, now lettest thou thy servant, Now lettest […]

Before Sleep poem – Ezra Pound poems

The lateral vibrations caress me, They leap and caress me, They work pathetically in my favour, They seek my financial good. She of the spear stands present. The gods of the underworld attend me, O Annubis, These are they of thy company. With a pathetic solicitude they attend me; Undulant, Their realm is the […]

Ballad of the Goodly Fere poem – Ezra Pound poems

Simon Zelotes speaking after the Crucifixion. Fere=Mate, Companion. Ha’ we lost the goodliest fere o’ all For the priests and the gallows tree? Aye lover he was of brawny men, O’ ships and the open sea. When they came wi’ a host to take Our Man His smile was good to see, “First let […]

Ballad for Gloom poem – Ezra Pound poems

For God, our God is a gallant foe That playeth behind the veil. I have loved my God as a child at heart That seeketh deep bosoms for rest, I have loved my God as a maid to man— But lo, this thing is best: To love your God as a gallant foe that […]

Ancient Music poem – Ezra Pound poems

Winter is icummen in, Lhude sing Goddamm. Raineth drop and staineth slop, And how the wind doth ramm! Sing: Goddamm. Skiddeth bus and sloppeth us, An ague hath my ham. Freezeth river, turneth liver, Damn you, sing: Goddamm. Goddamm, Goddamm, ’tis why I am, Goddamm, So ‘gainst the winter’s balm. Sing goddamm, damm, sing […]

An Immorality poem – Ezra Pound poems

Sing we for love and idleness, Naught else is worth the having. Though I have been in many a land, There is naught else in living. And I would rather have my sweet, Though rose-leaves die of grieving, Than do high deeds in Hungary To pass all men’s believing.     […]

Alba poem – Ezra Pound poems

As cool as the pale wet leaves of lily-of-the-valley She lay beside me in the dawn.     *** Ezra Pound Poems by Ezra Pound Ezra PoundEzra Weston Loomis Pound (30 October 1885 – 1 November 1972) is one of the most influential […]

A Virginal poem – Ezra Pound poems

No, no! Go from me. I have left her lately. I will not spoil my sheath with lesser brightness, For my surrounding air hath a new lightness; Slight are her arms, yet they have bound me straitly And left me cloaked as with a gauze of æther; As with sweet leaves; as with subtle […]

A Pact poem – Ezra Pound poems

I make a pact with you, Walt Whitman– I have detested you long enough. I come to you as a grown child Who has had a pig-headed father; I am old enough now to make friends. It was you that broke the new wood, Now is a time for carving. We have one sap […]

A Girl by Ezra Pound

The tree has entered my hands, The sap has ascended my arms, The tree has grown in my breast- Downward, The branches grow out of me, like arms.   Tree you are, Moss you are, You are violets with wind above them. A child – so high – you are, And all this is folly […]

Tori Soorat Kay Balihaari poem – Amir Khusro poems | Poems and Poetry

Tori soorat kay balihaari, Nijaam Tori soorat kay balihaari. Sab sakhiyan mein chundar meri mailee, Dekh hansain nar naari, Nijaam…….. Ab ke bahar chundar meri rang de, Piya rakh lay laaj hamari, Nijaam…… Sadqa baba Ganj Shakar ka, Rakh lay laaj hamari, Nijaam…….. Qutab, Farid mil aaye barati, ‘Khusrau’ raajdulaari, Nijaam……. Kouo saas […]

Sakal Bun poem – Amir Khusro poems | Poems and Poetry

Sakal bun (or Saghan bhun) phool rahi sarson, Sakal bun phool rahi….. Umbva phutay, tesu phulay, koyal bolay daar daar, Aur gori karat singaar, Malaniyan gadhwa lay aayin karson, Sakal bun phool rahi….. Tarah tarah kay phool lagaaye, Lay gadhwa haathan mein aaye. Nijamudin kay darwazay par, Aawan keh gaye aashaq rung, Aur […]

Rains Have Come poem – Amir Khusro poems | Poems and Poetry

Amman meray baba ko bhaijo ri – Ke saavan ayaa Beti tera baba to boodha ri – Ke saavan ayaa Amman meray bhai ko bhaijo ri – Ke saavan ayaa Beti tera bhai to baala ri – Ke saavan ayaa Amman meray mamu ko bhaijo ri – Ke saavan ayaa Beti tera mamu to […]

Persian Poem poem – Amir Khusro poems | Poems and Poetry

Kafir-e-ishqam musalmani mara darkaar neest Har rag-e mun taar gashta hajat-e zunnaar neest; Az sar-e baaleen-e mun bar khez ay naadaan tabeeb Dard mand-e ishq ra daroo bajuz deedaar neest; Nakhuda dar kashti-e maagar nabashad go mubaash Makhuda daareem mara nakhuda darkaar neest; Khalq mi goyad ki Khusrau but parasti mi kunad Aarey aarey […]

O Wondrous Ecstatic Eyes – Chashmay Mastay poem – Amir Khusro poems | Poems and Poetry

Chashmay mastay ajabay zulf daraazay ajabay, Mai parastay ajabay fitna tarazay ajabay, Behray qatlam chu kushad taighe-nihaan sar basajud, Oo ba-naazay ajabay mun be-neyaazay ajabay, Turk taazay ajabay sho’bada baazay ajabay; Kajkulahay ajabay arbada saazay ajabay; Haq mago kalma-e kufr ast darein ja Khusrau; Raaz daanay ajabay saaheb-e raaz-e ajabay. Translation- O wondrous ecstatic […]

Nami Danam… poem – Amir Khusro poems | Poems and Poetry

Nami danam chi manzil bood shab jaay ki man boodam; Baharsu raqs-e bismil bood shab jaay ki man boodam. Pari paikar nigaar-e sarw qadde laala rukhsare; Sarapa aafat-e dil bood shab jaay ki man boodam. Khuda khud meer-e majlis bood andar laamakan Khusrau; Muhammad shamm-e mehfil bood shab jaay ki man boodam. English […]