Modernist Poem

          Modernist literature is quite difficult to understand and when it comes to the poetry, it even becomes more difficult. Though meaning of the words can be understood, meaning of the poem is difficult to understand. These ten poems demands thinking and their shortness makes us to think more.

      In first poem 'The Embankment', there maybe characteristic of universal mutability. Poet says that once he had found ecstasy in finesse of fiddles, but now hard pavement is stuff off poesy. It also suggests change of subject.  Poet also asks God to make blanket of the sky so he can wrap it and sleep. Because the world is home and our home is not permanent home. Once speaker was rich but now he is on pavement.

        In the second poem 'Darkness' we can find characteristics like pessimism and escapism. Poet stops to find shining star in the bog hole. But he finds silver ribbon of light instead. He looks at it and moves on. He maybe pessimistic that he did not satisfy by silver ribbon of light. It is also possible that shining star means old tradition which poet likes and search for it, but it is going to dim. Poet don't like it and escapes from it.

       In third poem 'Image' there is loneliness and isolation. It is ambiguous. Victorians were believing their age pure, but new generation found out mean, superficial and stupid. They were burning. They forsaken and so they were lonely.

         Fourth poem shows city life. City life is lifeless. Station of metro suggests city and industry. Then poet says that, in crowd faces are lifeless like dead. Poet gives metaphor of petals on wet black bought.

        Again fifth poem 'The Pool' suggests lifelessness. Poet asks are you alive? You quiver like a sea fish. Modern people are like that fish who lives restless life. In end also poet asks what are you?

        Sixth poem 'Insouciance' looks like a war poem. A poem of soldier. Insouciance means who does not worry about anything. Soldiers do not worry for death. They walks in and out of trenches with heavy steps but cheerfully. They make their own poems, delicate like flock of doves, like their family. But then it fly away like white winged dove. Here it maybe symbol of death. War happens and the soldiers go far away from family.

        Morning at the window gives picture of poor people in city. It can be time of great depression. When speaker looks at window he finds terrible picture. He sees gloomy housemaids near area gate. Passerby with tear in eyes, dirty skirts. It gives picture of poor people. Those faces gives smile but vanishes along the level of the roofs. All are depressed. Fog makes the scene more gloomy. So picture of great depression comes out from the poem.

      'The Red Wheelbarrow' sings songs of craftsmanship. Poet says, 'So much depends upon a red Wheelbarrow. It glazes in rain like white chickens. Though industry and factories have took place, craftsmanship is also important.

       New subjects and metaphors also are characteristics of modern literature. In poem 'Anecdote of jar' jar is used as metaphor for supporting man-made objects. Poet places jar on the hill and it catches wilderness of the hill. It raises question if the harmony of nature and man-made objects possible?

        Last poem 'l' talks about loneliness. A leaf falls on loneliness. Here leaf is only one, and which is isolate, falls into loneliness.