Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

In Ezra Pound's "Langue d'oc: Compleynt of a Gentleman Who Has Been Waiting Outside," the reader is presented with an ironic lament of a man left waiting outside while his friend enjoys a romantic tryst. The poem is set in the pre-dawn hours, a time usually synonymous with peace and quietude, yet here it becomes a period of frustration and restlessness for the narrator. This cleverly plays against the traditional notion of love as a communal experience, exposing the selfishness that often accompanies romantic pursuits. It's a poem that engages with the reader's sensibilities about love, loyalty, and the dichotomies between public decorum and private passion.

The poem begins with an invocation to the "plasmatour and true celestial light," a plea to the divine powers to assist the narrator's "good-fellow" in spite of his foolishness. Right away, the irony sets in; the narrator is asking for divine intervention for a situation that is both humorous and worldly. The repetition of "And day comes on" serves as a haunting refrain, a constant reminder of the impending dawn and the urgency felt by the man left waiting. It brings a sense of drama to an otherwise mundane act of waiting.

Throughout the poem, the narrator repeatedly calls out to his friend, "my good fellow," trying to wake him up to the approaching dawn, but his attempts are futile. He warns him of the breaking dawn through the signs he observes: the stars, the birds, and the sky. Yet, the urgency of these natural phenomena is lost on his friend, who remains enveloped in his amorous endeavors. The mention of the "bird in flight / That plaineth of the going of the night" is especially poetic, imbuing the scene with a touch of melancholy.

Interestingly, while the gentleman waiting outside is visibly frustrated, there's a strange sense of respect for the one inside. He calls him "Old swenkin," an archaic term that could imply familiarity or even admiration. This juxtaposition of frustration and respect complicates the emotional landscape of the poem.

Finally, a bass voice from inside responds, dismissing the concerns of the gentleman waiting outside. The man inside is too engrossed in his passionate encounter to heed the warnings of his waiting friend. He even mockingly notes that he will not forsake his lover "For yammer of the cuckold, / Though day break." This line is especially impactful; it not only dismisses the gentleman outside but also suggests that the man inside might be involved with a married woman.

"Langue d'oc: Compleynt of a Gentleman Who Has Been Waiting Outside" reveals Pound's capacity to infuse humor and irony into traditional forms. Through its archaic language and romantic backdrop, it critiques the complexities of love, passion, and friendship, showing how they often intermingle yet diverge sharply based on individual priorities. It encapsulates a universal experience, one where personal desires sometimes eclipse communal or moral obligations. Thus, the poem does not merely entertain but engages in a critical dialogue about the contradictions inherent in human relationships, making it a striking work in both form and content.

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