Canto 81. It emphasizes the meaning within the words themselves. Thank you! Wavering! See, they return; ah, see the tentative. With them the silver hounds,              sniffing the trace of air! Please support this website by adding us to your whitelist in your ad blocker. Having researched Ezra pound he was a fascist sympathiser so it wouldn’t surprise me if that was the real meaning behind the poem. Yeah, you could be right. Here, the “silver” hounds are described as being “Slow on the leash.” This would’ve been unimaginable in the past. RHYMINGS.COM QUOTATIONS. The trouble in the pace and the uncertain, In the first stanza of ‘The Return’ the speaker begins by noting, very casually, that “they” have “returned.” Without any prior details, this phrase is quite mysterious. Emma graduated from East Carolina University with a BA in English, minor in Creative Writing, BFA in Fine Art, and BA in Art Histories. However just because written before Pound visited Italy, as a well-travelled and educated man he would have been familiar with the ideas behind fascism. See, they return, one, and by one, With fear, as half-awakened; As if the snow should hesitate And murmur in the wind, and half turn back; These were the "Wing'd-with-Awe," Inviolable. Pound is using this poem to speak on the nature of power. The use of enjambment, especially between the third and fourth lines, is very effective. ‘The Return’ concludes with the gods remaining in their “pallid” and sick form. The poem begins with the speaker stating that “they” are returning. Next, the speaker utilizes the landscape to further express the way the “Gods” feel. The Return by Ezra Pound. It is not until the next stanza that these beings are referred to as “Gods.” They are much more than human but in these moments they are suffering as any might who has not walked or faced the world for a long time. While Pound might’ve had this in mind, the word also acts as a simple exclamation. See, they return, one by one, With fear, as half-awakened; As if the snow should hesitate . He is known as a pioneer of the form. Here the speaker begins with the word “Haie!” This word is unusual, meaning different things within different contexts. Haie! Ezra Pound is generally considered the poet most responsible for defining and promoting a modernist aesthetic in poetry. ‘The Return’ by Ezra Pound is a twenty-nine line, five stanza poem constructed from short lines of varying lengths.The poem was written in 1913 and then published in The New Poetry: An Anthology in 1917.Pound has not chosen to structure this piece with a … The login page will open in a new tab. First Love Quotes – 180+ Beautiful First Love Quotes & Sayings. See, they return, one, and by one,               With fear, as half-awakened;  As if the snow should hesitate            And murmur in the wind,                   and half turn back;      These were the "Wing'd-with-Awe,"                      inviolable. See, they return; ah, see the tentative Movements, and the slow feet, The trouble in the pace and the uncertain Wavering!See, they return, one by one, With fear, as half-awakened; As if the snow should hesitate And murmur in the wind, and half turn back; These were the "Wing'd-with-Awe," Inviolable.Gods of the Wingèd shoe! They were once ‘“Wing’d-with-Awe,”’ but no longer. It is immediately clear they do not have some strength they used to. Instead, lines 2-4 describe how beings move. Pound has chosen to structure his writing in this way as it forces a reader’s eye to jump from line to line. Please log in again. It could apply to any range of beings. Every single person that visits PoemAnalysis.com has helped contribute, so thank you for your support. It certainly fits. Another reading of this piece can cast the “gods” as a reference to the god of the Judeo-Christian religions. The final two lines of ‘The Return’ summarize the change in the dogs and the Gods who walk them. Gods of the wingèd shoe! Let's enjoy the poem "The Return" written by poet Ezra Pound on Rhymings.Com! These were the swift to harry; These the keen-scented; These were the souls of blood.Slow on the leash, pallid the leash-men! We respect your privacy and take protecting it seriously. I believe you are right, because i had thought the same, this poem has many meanings and your interpretation can be the one. With them the silver hounds, sniffing the trace of air!Haie! You could be right, of course. These notions are very human and easy for any reader to understand. Their inner lives, emotions, and most likely experiences, have rid them of the status they once had. © Academy of American Poets, 75 Maiden Lane, Suite 901, New York, NY 10038, The trouble in the pace and the uncertain. In Greek mythology, there were dogs, Khryseos and Argyros, who were said to be made out of silver and gold. See, they return; ah, see the tentative Movements, and the slow feet, The trouble in the pace and the uncertain Wavering! Even if it seemed “inviolable” at one point, it can still wane. The Return by Ezra Pound - See, they return; ah, see the tentative Movements, and the slow feet, The trouble in the pace and the uncert Read poems about / on: silver, snow, fear, wind, The Return Poem by Ezra Pound - Poem Hunter. Pound was known for his dislike of organized religion and the control it had over everyday life. He states that they were once the “Gods of the wingèd shoe!” This could refer to the gods of Greek and Roman mythology specifically Hermes or Mercury. While on the other hand, those who are subjected to the power of god-like men will read it as uplifting. The speaker says that they are having trouble creating a normal “pace” for their steps. Subscribe to our mailing list to get the latest and greatest poetry updates. #It could well be. They sway and have trouble walking. Homage to Sextus Propertius. The idea that the prestige of being a soldier is shattered after the World witnesses WWI. These were the swift to harry;         These the keen-scented;          These were the souls of blood. The “wavering” comes after a break in the line— the word wavers uncertainly itself. They had a strength that was unmatched and a ferocity to be feared. The gods are tentative in their steps as if they are unsure how to proceed. Ads are what helps us bring you premium content! This is not a natural stopping point in one’s speech. Dive deep into Ezra Pound's The Return with extended analysis, commentary, and discussion. This poem was published in 1917, while Pound visited Italy in 1924; and before he was more of an atheist than fascist. Please continue to help us support the fight against dementia. Haie! This is only emphasized in the next lines as the speaker remembers what they, and their “silver hounds” used to be like. The following lines also support the idea that the Gods are those of this specific mythology. There is nothing left of the strength there used to be. Whether this is the subject matter Pound meant to reference or not, these phrases do a lot to describe the presence the beings used to have. They are “pallid,” or weak, and sickly looking. This piece also speaks to a longing for the removal of those who have for too long been in power. At one point they were “swift to harry,” or fight with their enemies. It can refer to a hedge, a physical obstacle hurdle, or a fence of some kind. The Return by Ezra Pound. See, they return; ah, see the tentative Movements, and the slow feet,           The trouble in the pace and the uncertain       Wavering! by Ezra Pound. Those who read this in a position of power might consider the tenuous nature of their position. I have been playing with that idea for a couple of days now and wanted to think what you thought. Haie! The author of this article intimates that there is an alternative interpretation of the text. Rather than marveling at what should’ve been their power, it sees them and whispers about their weakness. Instead, the lines flow in free verse—a way of writing that was still relatively new at the time during Pound’s life. They were so tentative in their steps it is like they are worried the “snow” is going to “hesitate” in its judging of them. All information has been reproduced here for educational and informational purposes to benefit site visitors, and is provided at no charge... Recite this poem (upload your own video or voice file). eNotes critical analyses help you gain a deeper understanding of The Return so you can excel on your essay or test. Literature is one of her greatest passions which she pursues through analysing poetry on Poem Analysis. A reader will immediately notice the varying lengths of the lines. Hello. Slow on the leash,                   pallid the leash-men! so, this poem is rather a commentary on religion.

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