Canzoni & Ripostes Part 1

Canzoni & Ripostes.

by Ezra Pound and T.E. Hulme.

CANZONI

CANZON: THE YEARLY SLAIN

(WRITTEN IN REPLY TO MANNING'S "KORe.")

"Et huiusmodi stantiae usus est fere in omnibus cantionibus suis Arnaldus Danielis et nos eum secuti sumus."

DANTE, _De Vulgari Eloquio_, II. 10.

I

Ah! red-leafed time hath driven out the rose And crimson dew is fallen on the leaf Ere ever yet the cold white wheat be sown That hideth all earth's green and sere and red; The Moon-flower's fallen and the branch is bare, Holding no honey for the starry bees; The Maiden turns to her dark lord's demesne.

II

Fairer than Enna's field when Ceres sows The stars of hyacinth and puts off grief, Fairer than petals on May morning blown Through apple-orchards where the sun hath shed His brighter petals down to make them fair; Fairer than these the Poppy-crowned One flees, And Joy goes weeping in her scarlet train.

III

The faint damp wind that, ere the even, blows Piling the west with many a tawny sheaf, Then when the last glad wavering hours are mown Sigheth and dies because the day is sped; This wind is like her and the listless air Wherewith she goeth by beneath the trees, The trees that mock her with their scarlet stain.

IV

Love that is born of Time and comes and goes!

Love that doth hold all n.o.ble hearts in fief!

As red leaves follow where the wind hath flown, So all men follow Love when Love is dead.

O Fate of Wind! O Wind that cannot spare, But drivest out the Maid, and pourest lees Of all thy crimson on the wold again,

V

Kore my heart is, let it stand sans gloze!

Love's pain is long, and lo, love's joy is brief!

My heart erst alway sweet is bitter grown; As crimson ruleth in the good green's stead, So grief hath taken all mine old joy's share And driven forth my solace and all ease Where pleasure bows to all-usurping pain.

VI

Crimson the hearth where one last ember glows!

My heart's new winter hath no such relief, Nor thought of Spring whose blossom he hath known Hath turned him back where Spring is banished.

Barren the heart and dead the fires there, Blow! O ye ashes, where the winds shall please, But cry, "Love also is the Yearly Slain."

VII

Be sped, my Canzon, through the bitter air!

To him who speaketh words as fair as these, Say that I also know the "Yearly Slain."

CANZON: THE SPEAR

I

'Tis the clear light of love I praise That steadfast gloweth o'er deep waters, A clarity that gleams always.

Though man's soul pa.s.s through troubled waters, Strange ways to him are opened.

To sh.o.r.e the beaten s.h.i.+p is sped If only love of light give aid.

II

That fair far spear of light now lays Its long gold shaft upon the waters.

Ah! might I pa.s.s upon its rays To where it gleams beyond the waters, Or might my troubled heart be fed Upon the frail clear light there shed, Then were my pain at last allay'd.

III

Although the clouded storm dismays Many a heart upon these waters, The thought of that far golden blaze Giveth me heart upon the waters, Thinking thereof my bark is led To port wherein no storm I dread; No tempest maketh me afraid.

IV

Yet when within my heart I gaze Upon my fair beyond the waters, Meseems my soul within me prays To pa.s.s straightway beyond the waters.

Though I be alway banished From ways and woods that she doth tread, One thing there is that doth not fade,

V

Deep in my heart that spear-print stays, That wound I gat beyond the waters, Deeper with pa.s.sage of the days That pa.s.s as swift and bitter waters, While a dull fire within my head Moveth itself if word be said Which hath concern with that far maid.

VI

My love is lovelier than the sprays Of eglantine above clear waters, Or whitest lilies that upraise Their heads in midst of moated waters.

No poppy in the May-glad mead Would match her quivering lips' red If 'gainst her lips it should be laid.

VII

The light within her eyes, which slays Base thoughts and stilleth troubled waters, Is like the gold where sunlight plays Upon the still o'ershadowed waters.

When anger is there mingled There comes a keener gleam instead, Like flame that burns beneath thin jade.

VIII