The Garden by Ezra Pound is an amazing piece of work and is something that I view as informative and also inspirational. This is a short Poem begins with something that says, “En robe de parade”. This translates as “dressed for show”. The poem begins by talking about the stature of the primary focus of the poem, a woman. He first describes her as a skein of silk. A Skein, is a length of thread or yarn that is loosely coiled and knotted. He describes the way in which she walks in Kensington Gardens as “… a skein of loose silk blown against a wall She walks by the railing of the path in Kensington Gardens.” The way in which I interpret or envision the way in which this woman is walking is very sluggish and perhaps with little dignity or pride. Could this be a reflection of what she is feeling inside? Could this be a reflection of the way in which others have treated her? I think so.
Next, it states “And she is dying piecemeal of a sort of emotional anemia”. Piecemeal means partially taken over a period of time. As I read this, I believe that Pound is trying to paint the picture of a woman who has slowly had her life taken from her. Perhaps it has been from a sickness, but as I continue to read the poem, I begin to believe that it is not her life that has been slowly taken from her, but her emotions. When is says “a sort of emotional anemia”, I picture a woman who has been completely drained of all energy, and even life. The definition of anemia is a condition marked by the deficiency of red blood cells resulting in pallor and weariness. This woman, who is walking through the Kensington Gardens has been stripped of all emotions and it is leaving her weary and broken.
When I think about this, I wander, what has come over this woman that has brought her to this point in her life? Has the love of her life betrayed her, and left her with nothing to live for? Has all the stability that she has ever felt been swept from her? These are all questions that I ask myself as I read through this poem.
I think that this text needs to be interpreted and looked at closely, in order to fully grasp what the author intended. It would be easy to simply glance over this piece of work and not grasp the underlying theme or message that I believe the author intended for us to grasp.
In the third stanza it says, “In her is the end of breeding. Her boredom is exquisite and excessive. She would like some one to speak to her, And is almost afraid that I will commit that indiscretion.” I would like to focus in on the last two lines. “She would like some one to speak to her, And is almost afraid that I will commit that indiscretion.” I think that this is perhaps the climax of the piece. The point in the poem where the reader understands what point the author is trying to get across. After I read this poem several times, I began to look at what it was saying from a different point of view. As I read this line I began to view this woman that he is referring to as someone who is lonely. I realized that People are lonely or perhaps “different” in the eyes of others, want someone to speak to them, but are somewhat afraid that someone will. They do not what others to see who they really are.
As I realize this, I question myself. I ask myself, who am I noticing that needs love? Who am I noticing that needs attention? Sometimes these are the hardest people to love, and to reach out to. However, most of the time, these are the people who need that love the most. They often do not have hope, they often do not have joy, and they often do not have someone to care about their personal feelings. I ask myself if I am doing anyone to reach out to others. Do I even take the time to begin to notice people who seem discouraged, or alone?
There are people who are just like this woman in this poem, and they encircle us every day. They long for acceptance. They long for love. They long to have someone to talk to them.
As I looked even more into this poem, I began to see something more. Perhaps this particular woman that is being discussed, has a lot of material possessions, but is lacking in something very important, relationships. Perhaps she is rich and sophisticated. Although she has several material objects that fill her life, she feels empty inside. People figure she has relationships in her life, simply because of her outward appearance, and because of this, no one even attempts to get to know her.
As I walk away from reading this poem and conducting this exercise, I walk away with more than simple words that were written down for my enjoyment. I leave with a greater understanding of the feelings of others. Often times when I feel lonely, I figure that I am the only one who ever experiences these feelings. However, in reality, there are people who are feeling lonely that are all around me, every day. Perhaps if I take a moment and begin looking to others, and tried to bless them, then my mind would be removed off myself, and I would begin to bless others.
I must ask myself, who am I noticing that needs attention, who am I noticing that needs love? I must then take these words and transform them into actions.
Who are you blessing today, who really needs it?
