Poets | Members | Poem of the Day | Top 40 | Search | Comments | Privacy
February 10th, 2010 - we have 234 poets, 8,023 poems and 18,527 comments.
Ezra Pound - The Jewel Stairs' Grievance

The jewelled steps are already quite white with dew,
It is so late that the dew soaks my gauze stockings,
And I let down the crystal curtain
And watch the moon through the clear autumn.

Added: on January 16th, 2009 at 1:23 PM | Viewed: 4852 times | Comments and analysis of The Jewel Stairs' Grievance by Ezra Pound Comments (3)


The Jewel Stairs' Grievance - Comments and Information

Poet: Ezra Pound (Ezra Pound Art)
Poem: The Jewel Stairs' Grievance
Poem of the Day: Jun 1 2007

Comment 3 of 3, added on January 1st, 2010 at 5:53 AM.
Interpretation of this poem

Ezra pound once commented:

"Jewelled Stairs, therefore a palace. Grievance, so she is aggrieved about something. Gauze stockings, therefore a court lady and not a servant who complains. She's been there waiting for hours, because the dew has soaked the srairs and her stockings. She is giving up hope and closing (again, evidence of a palace) the crystal curtain. Clear autumn, so her man friend has no excuse for not turning up on account of bad weather. The poem is especially prized because it is elliptical, and she is not making any direct complaint."

If the Poem was translated into modern American English it might read

Waiting on the battlements

I waited until the morning hours when the dew had fallen
The steps and my nylons got well soaked
I gave up waiting and bolted the door
In the clear, cold beautiful moonlight

And an American English version would probably add

"It's the last time I'll wait up for that inconsiderate rogue"



George Edwards
Comment 2 of 3, added on February 16th, 2009 at 11:19 PM.

This poem is the version of Ezra Pound ,who have translated many Chinese classic poems.This poem is origin written by Chinese poet -LiPo in Chinese Tang dynasty . It expresses the feeling of a wife who is waiting for her husband in far away.

Lynn from China
Comment 1 of 3, added on January 16th, 2009 at 1:23 PM.

I am amazed that no comment was made on this poem. It is an unmatchable example of lyrics, no matter far east or near west.

Uluğ Nutku from Turkey

Are you looking for more information on this poem? Perhaps you are trying to analyze it? The poem, The Jewel Stairs' Grievance, has received 3 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

Pound Info
Copyright © 2000-2009 Gunnar Bengtsson. All Rights Reserved. Links | Bookstore