RobertAntonWilsoncommentaryon

TheCantosofEzraPound

CANTOII

Eztoldhisfather,Homer[!]Pound,thatthethemeofmetamorphosesdominatesthiscanto[IthinkEzhasmultiplerealities,notjustmutltiplefathers.HewalksanuneasywaltzbetweenMethodActingandMultiplePersonalityDisorder,likesomenitwit"channeling,"butinsteadofproducingtheirhorseshthesomehowproducesgreatpoetry.RobertGraves,oddly,saidallfirst-ratepoetryemergesinsemi-trance.AndBattyBillyBlakesaidabunchanakedanglesdictatedhispoemstohim.]

ThisCantoseemspsychedelic........

HANGitall,RobertBrowning,a]Emphaticdeparturefromarchaicstyle&subjectofCantoI--metamorphosisofEnglishlanguage/paideumaovercenturiesb]parodyofthetypicalBrowningopening--abrupt,colloquialanddefinitelysomebodyspeakingtosomebodyelsec]parodyofEz'sownfrequentuseofthatstyleofopeninginhisearlypoems(1907-1912)

therecanbebuttheone"Sordello."ButSordello,andmySordello?Thecentral"problems"oftheCantos--canweknowhistorictruth?Andevenifwedo,canwetransmuteitintopoetrywithoutdistortingit?WhichSordellomeansmoreorhasthemostaccuracy--Browning's?Pound's?Theacademichistorian's?MetamorphosisofSordellofromlivemantodeadmantomanlivingagainin3forms:Browning'spoeticimaginationPound'spoeticimaginationacademichistory...

LoSordelssifodiMantovana.Onebitofcertitude--theearliestbiograpicalreferencetoSordellobeginswiththat

sentence.[EPquotesitinhisearliestprosework,TheSpritofRomance,1909,withauthoranddate.]Ifweacceptthis"primarysource,"SordellocamefromMantovanaifwedoubtitforanyreasonwestillretainafact:atleastonecontemporarythoughtSordellohailedfromthar.WeshallhearmoreofSordello.Meanwhile:

So-Shuchurnedinthesea.AsarcasmbyLiPoaboutarivalpoetitintroducesChinaandre-introducesthesea...[LiPomeantthatSo-ShucreatedmorefoamthanwavescfEP'spolemicsagainst"mereornament"andFrankLloydWright'ssimilar&contemporaryrevolutionagainst"mereornament"inarchitecture.]

Sealsportsinthespray-whitedcirclesofcliff-wash,Sleekhead,daughterofLyr,eyesofPicassoUnderblackfur-hood,lithedaughterofOceanAndthewaverunsinthebeach-groove:LovelyuseofImagism,Ithink.Can't"see"asealanymorewithoutseeingthatPicassoeye...Metamorphosisofseatheme--Mediterranean[CantoI]toChinesewaters[So-Shu]toIrishSeaSea-god'snamealsochangesfrom[Latin]Neptuneto[Irish]LyrSealsasdaughtersofLir=familiarthemeinIrishlegend.Somesealsevenmetamorphintohumanwomenandmarrymen.Themenalwaysbecomeheartbrokenwhenthe"wives"turnbacktosealsandreturntothesea.

"Eleanor,ElenausandEliptolis!"MetamorphsHelenofTroy--ElenainGreek--toEleanorofAcquataine,comingupinCantoVI.Bothwomencreditedwithfantasticbeautyandblamedforwarssomebodyelsestarted.Cflaterthemeof"dangerousbeauty"...Thedark[Kali]sideoftheGoddess.Elenaus,Eliptolis=destroyerofships,destroyerofcities[fromAeschylus]punonElena/Eleanor

AndpooroldHomer,blind,blindasabat,NotEz'sdad,buttheGreekpoet[poets?]Ezmayalsohaveinmindtheauthor

ofUlysses,thenstrugglingwithblindness

Ear,earforthesea-surge,murmerofoldmen'svoices:Wunnerful,howthesea-surgeenterstherhythmasitenteredtheearsoftheblindpoet

"Lethergobacktotheships,BackamongGrecianfaces,lestevilcomeonourown,Evilandfurtherevil,andacursecursedonourchildren,Moves,yesshemoveslikeagoddessAndhasthefaceofagodandthevoiceofSchoeney'sdaughters,Anddoomgoeswithherinwalking,Lethergobacktotheships,backamongGrecianvoices."TranslationfromtheIliad,oldmenofTroyworryingaboutGreekarmiescomingtogetElenaback.EdithSitwelllovedtheseasoundinthispassage.Ilovethewayitminglesthatsea-rhythmwithcurrentspeechpatterns.

ClassicsnolongerarchaicasinCantoIEPmakingHomercontemporary[justlikeJoyce]"Anddoomgoeswithheronwalking":Ilovethatlinealsolove"acursecursedonourchilden"inwhichSitwellheardtwowavessmashing

Andbythebeach-run,Tyro,Twistedarmsofthesea-god,Lithesinewsofwater,grippingher,cross-hold,TherapeofTyrobysea-godPoseiden...WhyGreekgodsoftenserialrapists?OrdoIdigress?SchlainblamesitonthealphabetinTheAlphabetversustheGoddess...

ManyhintsintheseearlyCantiofoverthrowofgoddessreligionsbygodreligions?

&IkeepsensingBuckyFuller's"mathematizingsea-god"....

"Lithesinewsofwater":Imagism+seaandsea-godsasidentical...manynamesforsame"thing"....phantapoetics+logopoetics[amidalotofmelopoetics]

FromanearlyLSDtrip:"Theancients

didn't'think'oftheseaasagod--theySAWitasagod!"

Seaassymbolofmetamorphosis.[EPdetestedsymbolismingeneralbutthatdidn'tkeephimfromusingitwhenapt*]:

*"Beautyisaptnesstopurpose"--Ez,MachineArt,1930

Glareazureofwater,cold-welter,closecover,Quietsun-tawnysand-stretch,Thegullsbroadouttheirwings,nippingbetweenthesplayfeathersSnipecomefortheirbath,bendouttheirwing-joints,Spreadwetwingstothesun-film,PureImagism/phantopoeticsandIMOquiteextraordinarilylovelyNowthemajormetamorphosisviaOvid,EuripidesandEP'sownvividimagistimagination:

AndbyScios,toleftoftheNaxospassage,Naviformrockovergrown,algaeclingtoitsedge,Thereisawine-redglowintheshallows,atinflashinthesun-dazzle.Thoselast2linestheremaynotrankasgreatestimagistcoupleteverbuttheyhaveatleastonenomination...

TheshiplandedinScios,menwantingspring-water,Andbytherock-poolayoungboyloggywithvine-must,"ToNaxos?Yes,we'lltakeyoutoNaxos,Cum'alonglad.""Notthatway!""Aye,thatwayisNaxos."AndIsaid:"It'sastraightship."Andanex-convictoutofItalyknockedmeintothefore-stays,(HewaswantedformanslaughterinTuscany)Andthewholetwentyagainstme,BeginningofthestoryofDionysus

kidnappedintoslavery....

Madforalittleslavemoney.TwoofthemajorevilsinPound'suniverse--avariceandslavery--joinedinoneline.Introductionofeconomicstheme.Notethe"mad":inRichardStVictor,amajorsourceofstructureinCantos,allobsessions=madness,duetolackofbalance.ThesesailorsthuscontinuetheInfernoofCantoIinanewform,bymetamorphosis

StVictordividedmind'sfunctionsintothree:1]mindwithoutdiscipline,drivenbypassionsandobsessions2]disciplinedrationality3]mindunitedwithobjectsorwithallnessbylove.EPusestheseasanalogsofDante'sHell,Purgatory[purification/alchemicalGreatWork]andParadise.Moreonthatasweproceed!

AndtheytookheroutofSciosAndoffhercourse...Andtheboycameto,again,withtheracket,Andlookedoutoverthebows,andtoeastward,andtotheNaxospassage.God-sleightthen,god-sleight:Shipstockfastinsea-swirl,Ivyupontheoars,KingPentheus,Acoetes,thehonestsailor,nowinEuripidesBachae,tellingthisstoryaswarningtoPentheus.PentheustriedtostampoutDionysianrelgion:firstimageofreligiousbigotryinthepoem

MaybeEPalsohadinmindwhathelatercalls"theconstrictionofBachus"inU.S.--alcoholprohibition.

grapeswithnoseedbutsea-foam,Ivyinscupperhole.Aye,I,Acoetes,stoodthere,andthegodstoodbyme,Watercuttingunderthekeel,Sea-breakfromsternforrards,wakerunningofffromthebow,

Andwherewasgunwale,therenowwasvine-trunk,Andtenthrilwherecordagehadbeen,grape-leavesontherowlocks,Heavyvineontheoarshafts,EmphasisonDionysusasgodofvegetation,notjustofwineAndnowthegreatcatsofDionysusappear,firstassoundandsensation:

And,outofnothing,abreathing,hotbreathonmyankles,Thenstartingtomanifestinvision:

Beastslikeshadowsinglass,afurredtailuponnothingness.Smell,soundandsightcombined:

Lynx-purr,andheatherysmellofbeasts,wheretarsmellhadbeen,Sniffandpad-footofbeasts,eye-glitteroutofblackair.Theskyovershot,dry,withnotempest,Sniffandpad-footofbeasts,furbrushingmyknee-skin,Rustleofairysheaths,dryformsintheaether.Andtheshiplikeakeelinship-yard,slunglikeanoxinsmith'ssling,Ribsstuckfastintheways,grape-clusteroverpin-rack,voidairtakingpelt.WoW!!!especially"voidairtakingpelt"ThoseMagickCatsofDionysus--Ezhadathingaboutcats.Alwayshadadozenormore.Oftenalotmore.Tookinstrays,theworks.HemingwaycalledEz&Dorothy'spadinRapollo"thecathouse."

Lifelessairbecomesinewed,felineleisureofpanthers,Leopardssniffingthegrapeshootsbyscupper-hole,Crouchedpanthersbyfore-hatch,Andtheseablue-deepaboutus,green-ruddyinshadows,

AndLyaeus:"Fromnow,Acoetes,myaltars,Fearingnobondage,fearingnocatofthewood,Safewithmylynxes,feedinggrapestomyleopards,Olibanumismyincense,thevinesgrowinmyhomage."Lyaeus:anuddernameforDionysus.

I'vereadaninterlinear[Latin/English]Ovidandfindhissound[melopoetic]greatasPound'sbutinimagery[phantapoetic]EPwinsbyaneck.Atleastinthispassage.

Theback-swellnowsmoothintherudder-chains,BlacksnoutofaporpoisewhereLycabshadbeen,Fish-scalesontheoarsmen.AndIworship.IhaveseenwhatIhaveseen.WhentheybroughttheboyIsaid:"Hehasagodinhim,thoughIdonotknowwhichgod."Andtheykickedmeintothefore-stays.IhaveseenwhatIhaveseen:Medon'sfacelikethefaceofadory,Armsshrunkintofins.Andyou,Pentheus,HadaswelllistentoTiresias,andtoCadmus,oryourluckwillgooutofyou.Fish-scalesovergroinmuscles,lynx-purramidsea...Thegreedysailorsmetamorphedtofish=Pound'sviewofavaricedescendingtopre-humanevolution.

Andofalateryear,paleinthewine-redalgae,Ifyouwillleanovertherock,thecoralfaceunderwave-tinge,Rose-palenessunderwater-shift,Ileuthyeria,fairDafneofsea-bords,Theswimmer'sarmsturnedtobranches,

Whowillsayinwhatyear,fleeingwhatbandoftritons,Thesmoothbrows,seen,andhalfseen,nowivorystillness.Ileuthyria--Pound'sinvention,combiningEleuthyria,freedom,withIeliethria,goddessofchildbirth.Cflatercreationof"IsisKuanon,"finalnameofgoddessinclosingCantos--Egyptiangoddessofchildbirth[andothermysteries]+Chinesegoddessofinfinitemercy.

Armstobranches=metamorphosisagain.Cdrefertoseveralclassicmyths

AndSo-shuchurnedinthesea,So-shualso,usingthelongmoonforachurn-stick...Foamonthewaves?+repeat

Litheturningofwater,sinewsofPoseidon,Blackazureandhyaline,glasswaveoverTyro,Anotherrepeat.StructureofCantosmorelikesymphonythantraditionalpoesy.ButdolookatthemontagesofGriffith'sIntoleranceasanotherinfluence.

Closecover,unstillness,brightwelterofwave-cords,Thenquietwater,quietinthebuffsands,Sea-fowlstretchingwing-joints,splashinginrock-hollowsandsand-hollowsInthewave-runsbythehalf-duneGlass-glintofwaveinthetide-ripsagainstsunlight,pallorofHesperus,Greypeakofthewave,wave,colourofgrapes'pulp,

Olivegreyinthenear,far,smokegreyoftherock-slide,Salmon-pinkwingsofthefish-hawkcastgreyshadowsinwater,

Thetowerlikeaone-eyedgreatgoosecranesupoutoftheolive-grove,Sometimesatowerlikeaone-eyedgreatgoosemeansatowerlikeaone-eyedgreatgoose."Callporkporkinyourproposals,"oneofEP'sfavoriteChineseEmperorsinstructshissubalterns.

ThehaikualsoinfluencedEP--notthe5-7-5rulebutthejuxtapositionofpreciseimages.

AndwehaveheardthefaunschidingProteusProteus:yetanothersea-godbutalsoagodofmetamorphoses...

inthesmellofhayundertheolive-trees,Andthefrogssingingagainstthefaunsinthehalf-light.And...Fauns:permanence?Frogs:change?IthinkofthefaunsaspermanentbecauseCrazyUncleEzdefinedgods,nymphs,dryadsetcas"eternalstatesofmind."Endsinmid-sentenceagain/

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CANTOXX

ThisCantoseemstomeasummationofCantos1-19withvariations--newideograms[concreteparticulars]illustratingmajorthemes.

Soundslender,quasitinnula,Sou...slen...quas...nicealiterationwithoutSwinburniantub-thumpingquasitinnula,"asifringing"[Catullus]youcanalmostheartheringing

Ligur'aoide"Sweetsong"[Homer]OdysseusfromCantoI,thistimetemptedbytheSirens...moreOdysseanthemeswillrecurinthisCanto,andlater

Ligur'aoide:Sino'usvei,Domnadonplusmical,Negusvezermonbelpensarnoval."

Si...us...plus...gus...pens....."AndifIseeyounot,ladywhoenflamesme,Nosightisworththebeautyofmythought"[BernartdeVentadom]seductivebeauty,liketheSirens'song,butnotdestructive[leadstoTantrikcontemplationnottocrashingonrocks]recorsoofProvencalcult-of-lovetheme[Cantos4-6]

Betweenthetwoalmondtreesflowering,Twoalmondtreesflowering:theuniquelyPoundianmixofsimplicityandloveliness

ThevielheldclosetohissideAndanother:s'adora"."Sheisadored"[Cavalcanti].IthinkEztakesthisliterally,adeliberateheresyagainstCatholicorthodoxy,andcontinuationofProvencaltheme.CfProvencal/CavalcaantithemeinCanto6.SeeEP'sessays"Psychology&Troubadours"and"Cavalcanti"andmaybemyIshtarRising.[Danteputatleast2oftheCavalcantifamilyinHellforheresy....]

"Possumegonaturaenonmeminissetuae!""CanIforgetthynature"or"thyinwit"or"thysoul"[Propertius,praisingCynthiaforbeautynotvisiblebutfelt]EPcitesthisofteninhisproseasproofthatthetroubadoursdidnot"invent"love,ascynicsclaimactually,PropertiuspraisesCynthia'skindnesscfCunnizadaRomano"whofreedherslavesonaWednesday"[Cantos6&30]

QuisonProperzioedOvidio.AdvicetogoreadPropertiusandOvidonamor

This"overture"combinesEnglish,Latin,Provencal,Greek&Italianintoatotallyuniquemelodicstructure

TheboughsarenotmorefreshwherethealmondshootstaketheirMarchgreen.Loverly,loverly

AndthatyearIwentuptoFreiburg,AndRennerthadsaid:Nobody,no,nobodyKnowsanythingaboutProvencal,orifthereisanybody,It'soldLevy."

Rennert&Levy:leadingscholarsinProvencallanguageandpoetry--thesubjectofPound'sM.A.thesisandasourceofmanyofhistranslations.OneminorbutpersistentthemeintheCantos:Ez'sefforttodiscoverwhatthetroubadoursreallymeant....

AndsoIwentuptoFreiburg,Andthevacationwasjustbeginning,Thestudentsgettingoffforthesummer,FreiburgimBreisgau,Andeverythingclean,seemingclean,afterItaly.Anideogram:GermantownsalwaysseemcleanafterItaly.Chewonit.

AndIwenttooldLevy,anditwasbythen6.30intheevening,andhetrailedhalfwayacrossFreiburgbeforedinner,toseethetwostripsofcopy,Arnaut's,settant'unoR.superiore(Ambrosiana)NotthatIcouldsinghimthemusic.Noteechoofsea-surgerhythmrecurrentsinceCantoI.(thetwostripsofcopy,Arnaut's,settant'unoR.superiore(Ambrosiana)):MS.inwhichDanteusesaProvencal"word,"noigandres,fromtroubadourArnautDaniel.Themeaningofthis"word"remainsindispute

Andhesaid:NowisthereanythingIcantellyou?"AndIsaid:Idunno,sir,or"Yes,Doctor,whatdotheymeanbynoigandres?"Andhesaid:Noigandres!NOIgandres!"Youknowforseexmon'sofmylife"EfferynightwhenIgotobett,Isaytomyself:"Noigandres,eh,noigandres,"NowwhattheDEFFILcanthatmean!"Levydidhaveaguess,whichfollowsshortly

Windovertheolivetrees,ranunculaeordered,BytheclearedgeoftherocksThewaterruns,andthewindscentedwithpineAndwithhay-fieldsundersun-swath.Agostino,JacopoandBoccata.YouwouldbehappyforthesmellofthatplaceAndnevertiredofbeingthere,eitheraloneOraccompanied.

Sound:asofthenightingaletoofarofftobeheard.SandroandBoccata,andJacopoSellaioTheranunculae,andalmond,Italianlandscapesandpainters[andaromas]hintingoftheparadisoterrestrecomingattheclimaxofthepoem

Boughssetespalier.Duccio,Agostinoel'olors-Thesmellofthatplace-d'enoiganres.Espalier:againstthewalll'olors:thearomasd'enoigangres:stavesoffboredom[OldLevy'ssurmise!it'stwowords]

Airmovingundertheboughs,Thecedarsthereinthesun,Haynewcutonhillslope,Thelastlineusesmonosylablestocreateachoppedeffect,asinEP'sChinesetranslations.HethoughtEnglishversehadbecometoolegato.

AndthewaterthereinthecutBetweenthetwolowermeadowssound,thesound,asIhavesaid,anightingaleToofarofftobeheard.Andthelightfalls,remir,fromherbreaststothighs.remir:IgazeanotherProvencalwordfromArnaut.ThispartoftheparadisoseemsFranco-Italian....

Hewasplayingthereatthepalla,Parisina-twodovesforanaltar-atthewindow,"E'lMarcheseStavaperdivenirpazzoafteritall."AndthatwaswhenTroywasdownParsinaMalatesta,cousinofSigismundo[Cantos8-11]marriedNicolod'Este[ElMarchese.]Whenconvincedshehadanaffairwithhisson,Nichadthembothbeheaded.Stavaperdivenirpazzo:andthenhewentnutz[presumablyfromgrief/guilt?]

EchoofHelenofTroy[Canto2]

Ingeneral,PoundseesRennaisance"villians"aspassion-driven,modern"villians"greed-driven.

[&onceagain,unlikeDante,Ezallows

forambiguitiesandmixedcases]

Borsod'Este,3rdsonofNic,continuallytriedtobringpeacebetweenwarringItalianstates.

Andtheycamehereandcutholesinrock,DownRomeway,andputupthetimbersAndcamehere,conditAtesten...Historyofd'Estefamily

"Peace!keepthepeace,Borso."Borsod'Este,3rdsonofNic,continuallytriedtobringpeacebetweenwarringItalianstates.

Andhesaid:Somebitchhassoldus(thatwasGanelon)NicEstebecomesRoland,betrayedtotheMoorsbyGanelon.CfeditinginGriffith'sIntolerance[EPfollowsChansonRoland,poemnothistory//cfopeningsofCantos2and8....]

"Theywontgetanothersuchivory."[Roland'shornhighquality]

AndhelaythereontheroundhillunderthecedarAlittletotheleftofthecut(Estespeaking)Bythesideofthesummit,andhesaid:"Ihavebrokenthehorn,bigod,Ihave"Brokethebestivory,l'olofans."JumpingbackandforthbetweenEsteandRoland:thecommontheme,betrayaloftrust

TheivorywasfromanelephantRolandbrokethehornovertheskullofanArabsenttofinishhimoff.....

Understatedirony:Rolandisdyingbutfussesaboutabrokenhorn

Andhesaid:"Tanmarefustes!"Roland'slastwords,intheChanson."Thewrongtime."EPoftencitedthisasanexampleofthepowerofbrevity.

pullinghimselfoverthegravel,"Bigod!thatbuggarisdonefor,"Theywontgetanothersuchivory."Andtheyweretherebeforethewall,Toro,lasalmenas,

(Este,NicEstespeaking)Este"becomes"theSpanishnationalhero,ElCid,nolonger"being"Roland.

["bigod,""bugger"etc.:EPbelievedinfollowingthetone&styleoftheoriginal,notmakingallantientscriptsoundlikeQueenJamesBible.]

Underthebattlement(Epipurgo)peurdelahasle,AndtheKingsaid:"Godwhatawoman!MyGodwhatawoman"saidtheKingtelorigido."Sister!"saysAncures,"'syoursister!"AlfleftthattowntoElvira,andSanchowantedItfromher,ToroandZamora."Bloodyspaniard!MorescrapsfromthePoemadelCid.Thekinggotahard-on[telorigido]andthenfeltabashedtolearnthewomanwashissister.WeseeErosinmanyformsinthisCanto.

Neestho,le'ergoback...TheEnglishtranslatestheGreek.EchofromCanto2:Helenagain."Lethergobacktotheships"

intheautumn.""Este,go'damnyou."betweenthewalls,arras,Paintedtolooklikearras.Jungle:Glazegreenandredfeathers,jungle,Basisofrenewal,renewalsRisingoverthesoul,greenvirid,ofthejungle,Lozengeofthepavement,clearshapes,Broken,disrupted,bodyeternal,Wildernessofrenewals,confusionBasisofrenewals,subsistence,GlazedgreenofthejunglePost-Darwinianviewofnatureasprocess,not"thing."Subject-rhymewiththemanyappearancesofDionysus&Chinesefertility-gods.Damngoodrhythmsintheretoo.

Zoe,Marozia,Zothar,loudoverthebanners,Glazedgrape,andthecrimson,

Estethinkingofotherunfaithfulwivesimageryofdelerium

HOBIOS,cosiElenavedi,LIFE,whereHelenwalkedEroscombinesjoy,loveandthecontinuationoffertility?Sorta...

Inthesunlight,gatecutbytheshadowAndthenthefacetedair:Floating.Below,seachurningshingle.Floating,eachoninvisibleraft,Onthehighcurrent,invisiblefluid,Borneovertheplain,recumbent,Therightarmcastback,therightwristforapillow,Thelefthandlikeacalyx,Thumbheldagainstfinger,thethird,Thefirstfingerspetal'dup,thehandasalamp,Acalyx.FromtoetoheadThepurple,blue-palesmoke,asofincenseWrappedeachinburnous,smokeastheolibanumsSwift,asifjoyous.Wrapped,floatingandtheblue-palesmokeoftheincenseSwifttorise,thenlazilyinthewindasAeolusoverbean-field,Ashayinthesun,theolibanum,saffron,AsmyrrhwithoutstyraxEachmaninhiscloth,asonraft,onThehighinvisiblecurrentOntowardthefallofwaterAndthenoverthatcataract,Inair,strong,thebrightflames,VshapedAnotherkindofparadiso--butEzdoesnotidentifyitimmediately

NelfuocoD'amoremimise,nelfuocod'amoremimise...&yetanotherkindofparadiso:StFrancis's"InthefireofloveHehasme,

inthefireofloveHehasme"

Yellow,brightsaffron,croceoAndastheolibanumburstsintoflame,Thebodiessoflamedintheair,tookflame,"...Mimise,ilmiosposonovello."["...hasme,mynewspouse."ThisCantomayrecordindirectlythebeginningofEz'saffairwithviolinistOlgaRudgeandhiswife'sbrieferaffairwithanunknownEgyptian.]

Shotfromstreamintospiral,

Orfollowedthewater.OrlookedbacktotheflowingOthersapproachingthatcataract,Astodawnoutofshadow,theswathedclothsNowpurpleandorange,Andthebluewaterduskybeneaththem,pouringthereintothecataract,Withnoiseofseaovershingle,strikingwith:hahhahahahthmmthunb,ahwohwoharahathumm,bhaaa.Andfromthefloatingbodies,theincenseblue-pale,purpleabovethem.Shelfofthelotophagoi,[lotus-eatersfromHomer.ItwastheirParadisewevisitedbeforeSt.Francis's!]

Leparadisnec'estpasartificielbutisjaggedForaflashforanhourThenagony.Thenanhour--Canto90-somethingwritinyeoldebugghouseparaphrasingbaudilaire

IthinkhemeantBaudwasstonedondopebuthe,Ez,wasn'tIseenoevidencethatEzevergotstoned.Buthedidpranayamaeverydayandspent40someyearsmeditatin'onChineseideogramslikecloudoverfallingrainoverdancingshamanwhichhefinallyrendered"sensibility."Chinese+pranayamamay="stoned"perception......

Aerial,cutintheaether.Reclining,

Withthesilverspilla,Theballasofmeltedamber,coiled,caughtup,andturned.Lotophagoiofthesuavenails,quiet,scornful,Voce-profondo:"FearedneitherdeathnorpainforthisbeautyIfharm,harmtoourselves."[Wotallusdoperssay....]

Andbeneath:theclearbones,fardown,Thousandonthousand,"WhatgainwithOdysseus,"Theythatdiedinthewhirlpool"Andaftermanyvainlabours,"Livingbystolenmeat,chainedtotherowingbench,"Thatheshouldhaveagreatfame"Andliebynightwiththegoddess?"Theirnamesarenotwritteninbronze"NortheirrowingstickssetwithElpenor's"Norhavetheymournedbysea-bord."ThatsawnevertheolivesunderSpartha"Withtheleavesgreenandthennotgreen,"Theclickoflightintheirbranches"Thatsawnotthebronzehallnortheingle"Norlaytherewiththequeen'swaitingmaids,"NorhadtheyCircetocouch-mate,CirceTitania,"NorhadtheymeatsofKalupso"Orhersilkshirtsbrushingtheirthighs."Give!Whatweretheygiven?Ear-wax."Poisonandear-wax,[sotheywdn'theartheSirens'song]

andasaltgravebythebull-field,"nesonamumona,theirheadslikeseacrowsinthefoam,"Blacksplotches,sea-weedunderlightning"CannedbeefofApollo,tencansforaboatload."Ligur'aoide."Sweetsong"--usedironicallynow.

Thispowerfulandpowerfullyrhythmicpassagemarksaturningpoint.Occidentalindividualismseenasflawedattheroot.Cf"thepoordevils

dyingofcold"inCantos9,10thetrenchesofWorldWarIinCanto16....

RescuingasaneindividualismandmergingitwithasaneholismrepresentthemajortaskEzsethimselfintheCantos

Andfromtheplainwhencethewater-shoot,Across,back,totheright,theroads,awayinthegrass,TheKhan'shuntingleopard,andyoungSalustioAndIxottathesuaveturfAcfaraefamiliares,andthecarsslowly,andthepanthers,soft-footed.Malatestawealth....leopardfromanunknownKhan...acfaraefamiliares:wildanimals[soundslikeCitizenKane'sXanadu]

SalustioMalatesta:murderedbyhisbrotherIxotta:Sigismundo'sbeloved,towhomtheTempleisdedicated.

Plain,astheplainofSomnus,theheavycars,asatriumph,Gilded,heavyonwheel,andthepantherschainedtothecars,Oversuaveturf,thefoamwrapped,Rose,crimson,deepcrimson,And,inthebluedusk,acolourasofrustinthesunlight,Outofwhitecloud,movingovertheplain,Headinarm'scurve,recliningTheroad,backandaway,tillcutalongthefaceoftherock,Andtheclifffoldsinlikeacurtain,TheroadcutinundertherockSquaregrooveinthecliff'sface,aschiostri,Thecolumnscrystal,withpeacockscutinthecapitals,ThesoftpadofbeastsdraggingthecarsCars,slow,withoutcreak,Andatwindowsininnerroadside:ledonneeicavalierismoothfaceunderhennin,Thesleevesembroideredwithflowers,Greatthistleofgold,oranamaranth,Acornsofgold,orofscarlet,Cramoisianddiaspre

slashedwhiteintovelvetCrystalcolumns,acanthus,sirensinthepillarheadsAndatlast,betweengildedbarocco,Twocolumnscoiledandfluted,Vanoka,leaninghalfnaked,wastehalltherebehindher.TheimagesandsoundstranscendevenCanto2.....

"Peace!Borso...,Borso!"AcryforBorsod'Este,whotriedtobringpeacetoItaly

commentaryCopyright:RobertAntonWilson