Ballad of the Goodly Fere - A poem by Ezra Pound

Ezra Pound - Ballad of the Goodly Fere

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 these go!" quo' our Goodly Fere,
"Or I'll see ye damned," says he.

Aye he sent us out through the crossed high spears
And the scorn of his laugh rang free,
"Why took ye not me when I walked about
Alone in the town?" says he.

Oh we drank his "Hale" in the good red wine
When we last made company,
No capon priest was the Goodly Fere
But a man o' men was he.

I ha' seen him drive a hundred men
Wi' a bundle o' cords swung free,
That they took the high and holy house
For their pawn and treasury.

They'll no' get him a' in a book I think
Though they write it cunningly;
No mouse of the scrolls was the Goodly Fere
But aye loved the open sea.

If they think they ha' snared our Goodly Fere
They are fools to the last degree.
"I'll go to the feast," quo' our Goodly Fere,
"Though I go to the gallows tree."

"Ye ha' seen me heal the lame and blind,
And wake the dead," says he,
"Ye shall see one thing to master all:
'Tis how a brave man dies on the tree."

A son of God was the Goodly Fere
That bade us his brothers be.
I ha' seen him cow a thousand men.
I have seen him upon the tree.

He cried no cry when they drave the nails
And the blood gushed hot and free,
The hounds of the crimson sky gave tongue
But never a cry cried he.

I ha' seen him cow a thousand men
On the hills o' Galilee,
They whined as he walked out calm between,
Wi' his eyes like the grey o' the sea,

Like the sea that brooks no voyaging
With the winds unleashed and free,
Like the sea that he cowed at Genseret
Wi' twey words spoke' suddently.

A master of men was the Goodly Fere,
A mate of the wind and sea,
If they think they ha' slain our Goodly Fere
They are fools eternally.

I ha' seen him eat o' the honey-comb
Sin' they nailed him to the tree.

Added: on July 25th, 2008 at 7:27 AM | Viewed: 10622 times | Comments and analysis of Ballad of the Goodly Fere by Ezra Pound Comments (8)

Ballad of the Goodly Fere - Comments and Information
Poet: Ezra Pound (Ezra Pound Art) Poem: Ballad of the Goodly Fere Poem of the Day: Nov 22 2000 Comment 8 of 8, added on March 22nd, 2009 at 11:49 AM. The phrase 'capon priest' is there not to say he was unpriestly by any means, but more to describe how he was more personable and like a real man than the hypocritic jewish priests of the time. The word capon means neutered chicken. So thus combined with priest it goes to show the speakers contempt for the 'priests' that were so called "of" God. And that Christ himself did not act all high and mighty and hypocritical so to speak. But as it says, 'a man o' men was he.' This implying he was sympathetic to the common man and that he himself was not only a God but Man also. And I must agree with David Ross's response to Betty Martin's assesment. Remmington Campbell from United States Comment 7 of 8, added on December 11th, 2008 at 11:58 PM. I laughed out loud at the comment that the poem was irony, meant to show that Christ was no more than folk hero. Talk about missing the point! The poem is meant to show that Christ, the REAL Christ, is real man ... and real God. David Ross from United States Comment 6 of 8, added on July 25th, 2008 at 7:27 AM. This poem is filled with irony. It cleverly depicts Christ as a folk hero. The implication being that he is no different from other mythical heroes such as robin hood or king arthur. Betty Martin from United Kingdom More Comments >> Are you looking for more information on this poem? Perhaps you are trying to analyze it? The poem, Ballad of the Goodly Fere, has received 8 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: Ballad of the Goodly Fere Last read: Nov 7 2009, 6:51PM Poem of the Day: Nov 22 2000 Viewed 10622 times. Added on July 25th, 2008 at 7:27 AM.

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