Discussion Ezra Pound’s “In a Station of the Metro”

PROMPT: In this two line poem, Pound was attempting to capture a momentary image of breathtaking beauty in the way he imagined a painter would. We know that he scaled this poem back to two lines from its original thirty so that only the most essential elements remained. The poets who attempted this kind of writing were called “imagists.” Here’s a definition from the University of Pennsylvania: “The Imagists wrote succinct verse of dry clarity and hard outline in which an exact visual image made a total poetic statement.” (Check the “Readings/Preparation” area this week for help with this poem). Think about the following: What is the comparison Pound makes in this poem? What is he trying to accomplish with that comparison? Now, answer this– In your opinion, has Pound succeeded in creating an “exact visual image” which makes “a total poetic statement?” Support your answer with references to the poem. https://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poem/station-metro