Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

In Ezra Pound's "A Pact," the poet stages a reconciliation with Walt Whitman, one of the towering figures of American poetry. The poem serves as both a nod to Whitman's influence and a declaration of Pound's own artistic independence. Within its brief lines, "A Pact" wrestles with themes of lineage, artistic tradition, and the evolution of poetic form, offering a nuanced perspective on the relationship between past and present in the creative act.

The opening lines of the poem mark the shift from animosity to acceptance. Pound declares, "I have detested you long enough." The use of the word "detested" is strong, suggesting a vehement repudiation. However, this emotional intensity is immediately tempered by what follows: "I come to you as a grown child / Who has had a pig-headed father." This metaphor recontextualizes the relationship. Just as a child may rebel against a parent but eventually come to appreciate their wisdom, so too has Pound's understanding of Whitman matured. The admission reveals an evolution in Pound's thinking, a willingness to engage with what he once rejected.

The line "It was you that broke the new wood" pays homage to Whitman's groundbreaking style and themes. Whitman's free verse and focus on the individual and the collective broke new ground in American poetry. He "broke the new wood," but now, as Pound suggests, "Now is a time for carving." This marks the shift from innovation to refinement. If Whitman's role was to pioneer new territories in form and content, Pound sees his own role as that of the artisan who shapes raw material into a refined object of beauty. The two acts are different but complementary stages in the evolution of art.

Pound's acknowledgment that "We have one sap and one root" highlights the intrinsic connection he feels with Whitman. Despite their differences in style and form, they draw from the same wellspring of inspiration. The sap and root metaphor suggests that while the expressions of their artistry may differ, the essence remains shared. This interconnectedness serves as a foundation for the "commerce" between them, a mutual exchange of ideas, influence, and respect.

The poem itself demonstrates this symbiosis. Though stylistically more aligned with Pound's Modernist sensibilities-concise, focused, and stripped of excess-it nonetheless embodies the Whitmanesque idea of a common human experience that transcends individual differences. The very act of engaging with Whitman's work in such a direct manner exemplifies the kind of "commerce" Pound is advocating for, where each generation learns from the one before, even as it seeks to define itself in new and innovative ways.

"A Pact" is, therefore, more than just an accord between two poets; it's a compact with history, a recognition that the new is perpetually shaped by the old. It's a brief but profound commentary on how artists and thinkers are linked across time, each generation setting the stage for the next, in a continual process of revolt and reconciliation.