A Virginal - A poem by Ezra Pound

Ezra Pound - A Virginal

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 clearness. 
Oh, I have picked up magic in her nearness 
To sheathe me half in half the things that sheathe her. 
No, no! Go from me. I have still the flavour, 
Soft as spring wind that's come from birchen bowers. 
Green come the shoots, aye April in the branches, 
As winter's wound with her sleight hand she staunches, 
Hath of the trees a likeness of the savour: 
As white as their bark, so white this lady's hours.

Added: on July 29th, 2005 at 4:30 PM | Viewed: 14406 times | Comments and analysis of A Virginal by Ezra Pound Comments (4)

A Virginal - Comments and Information
Poet: Ezra Pound (Ezra Pound Art) Poem: A Virginal Poem of the Day: Aug 17 2005 Comment 4 of 4, added on June 18th, 2008 at 4:46 PM. I think Pound must be using aether in the classical sense, the fine gas-like substance thought to fill up the space between the planets. Aether would be like air, but finer, less substantial, and more clear. Coleman from United States Comment 3 of 4, added on August 3rd, 2005 at 11:04 PM. Ether (aether) is an inhaled anesthetic. Though not in use any more (it is highly flammable), it was the most common anesthetic used at the time this poem was written. It's vapors, when inhaled, causes a person to drift off to sleep and be numb or unaware of the goings on while under the influence. The author is talking about being veiled in the gauze of this vapor, making him powerless against it. Kim Kennedy from United States Comment 2 of 4, added on July 29th, 2005 at 4:30 PM. Ether is like Ethl Alchohol. Aether is the all penetrating subsance of existance, i.e. what light through yonder window breaks is the sun, and the aether is the carrier through 90 million miles of empty space. throwaway from United States More Comments >> Are you looking for more information on this poem? Perhaps you are trying to analyze it? The poem, A Virginal, has received 4 comments. Click here to read them, and perhaps post a comment of your own. Of course you can also always discuss poems by Ezra Pound with others on the American Poems poetry forum!

Poem Info
Poet: Ezra Pound Poem: A Virginal Last read: Nov 7 2009, 8:36AM Poem of the Day: Aug 17 2005 Viewed 14406 times. Added on July 29th, 2005 at 4:30 PM.

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