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RobertAntonWilsoncommentaryon

TheCantosofEzraPound

CANTOII
Eztoldhisfather,Homer[!]Pound,that
thethemeofmetamorphosesdominatesthiscanto
[IthinkEzhasmultiplerealities,notjustmutltiplefathers.
HewalksanuneasywaltzbetweenMethodActingandMultiple
PersonalityDisorder,likesomenitwit"channeling,"
butinsteadofproducingtheirhorseshthesomehow
producesgreatpoetry.RobertGraves,oddly,said
allfirst-ratepoetryemergesinsemi-trance.
AndBattyBillyBlakesaidabunchanakedangles
dictatedhispoemstohim.]
ThisCantoseemspsychedelic........

HANGitall,RobertBrowning,
a]Emphaticdeparturefrom
archaicstyle&subjectofCantoI-metamorphosisofEnglishlanguage/paideuma
overcenturies
b]parodyofthetypicalBrowningopening
--abrupt,colloquialanddefinitelysomebody
speakingtosomebodyelse
c]parodyofEz'sownfrequentuseofthat
styleofopeninginhisearlypoems
(1907-1912)

therecanbebuttheone"Sordello."
ButSordello,andmySordello?
Thecentral"problems"oftheCantos-canweknowhistorictruth?Andeven
ifwedo,canwetransmuteitinto
poetrywithoutdistortingit?
WhichSordellomeansmoreorhas
themostaccuracy--Browning's?
Pound's?Theacademichistorian's?
MetamorphosisofSordellofrom
livemantodeadmantomanliving
againin3forms:Browning's
poeticimaginationPound'spoetic
imaginationacademichistory...

LoSordelssifodiMantovana.
Onebitofcertitude--theearliestbiograpical
referencetoSordellobeginswiththat

sentence.[EPquotesitinhisearliest
prosework,TheSpritofRomance,1909,
withauthoranddate.]Ifweacceptthis"primarysource,"
SordellocamefromMantovana
ifwedoubtitforanyreasonwestillretainafact:
atleastonecontemporary
thoughtSordellohailedfromthar.
WeshallhearmoreofSordello.
Meanwhile:

So-Shuchurnedinthesea.
AsarcasmbyLiPoaboutarivalpoet
itintroducesChinaandre-introduces
thesea...[LiPomeantthatSo-Shu
createdmorefoamthanwaves
cfEP'spolemicsagainst"mere
ornament"andFrankLloydWright's
similar&contemporaryrevolution
against"mereornament"inarchitecture.]

Sealsportsinthespray-whitedcirclesofcliff-wash,
Sleekhead,daughterofLyr,
eyesofPicasso
Underblackfur-hood,lithedaughterofOcean
Andthewaverunsinthebeach-groove:
LovelyuseofImagism,Ithink.
Can't"see"asealanymorewithout
seeingthatPicassoeye...
Metamorphosisofseatheme--Mediterranean[CantoI]
toChinesewaters
[So-Shu]toIrishSea
Sea-god'snamealsochangesfrom
[Latin]Neptuneto[Irish]Lyr
SealsasdaughtersofLir=familiar
themeinIrishlegend.Somesealseven
metamorphintohumanwomen
andmarrymen.Themenalwaysbecome
heartbrokenwhenthe"wives"
turnbacktosealsandreturn
tothesea.

"Eleanor,ElenausandEliptolis!"
MetamorphsHelenofTroy--Elena
inGreek--toEleanorofAcquataine,
comingupinCantoVI.Bothwomen
creditedwithfantasticbeautyand
blamedforwarssomebodyelsestarted.
Cflaterthemeof"dangerousbeauty"...
Thedark[Kali]sideoftheGoddess.
Elenaus,Eliptolis=destroyerof
ships,destroyerofcities[from
Aeschylus]punonElena/Eleanor

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

ofUlysses,thenstrugglingwithblindness

Ear,earforthesea-surge,murmerofoldmen'svoices:
Wunnerful,howthesea-surgeentersthe
rhythmasitenteredtheearsofthe
blindpoet

"Lethergobacktotheships,
BackamongGrecianfaces,lestevilcomeonourown,
Evilandfurtherevil,andacursecursedonourchildren,
Moves,yesshemoveslikeagoddess
Andhasthefaceofagod
andthevoiceofSchoeney'sdaughters,
Anddoomgoeswithherinwalking,
Lethergobacktotheships,
backamongGrecianvoices."
TranslationfromtheIliad,oldmen
ofTroyworryingaboutGreekarmies
comingtogetElenaback.
EdithSitwelllovedtheseasoundin
thispassage.Ilovethewayitmingles
thatsea-rhythmwithcurrentspeechpatterns.
Classicsnolongerarchaicasin
CantoIEPmaking
Homercontemporary[justlikeJoyce]
"Anddoomgoeswithheronwalking":
Ilovethatlinealsolove
"acursecursedonourchilden"
inwhichSitwellheardtwowavessmashing

Andbythebeach-run,Tyro,
Twistedarmsofthesea-god,
Lithesinewsofwater,grippingher,cross-hold,
TherapeofTyrobysea-godPoseiden...
WhyGreekgodsoftenserial
rapists?OrdoIdigress?Schlain
blamesitonthealphabetin
TheAlphabetversustheGoddess...
ManyhintsintheseearlyCantiof
overthrowofgoddessreligions
bygodreligions?
&IkeepsensingBuckyFuller's
"mathematizingsea-god"....
"Lithesinewsofwater":Imagism+
seaandsea-godsasidentical...
manynamesforsame"thing"....
phantapoetics+logopoetics
[amidalotofmelopoetics]
FromanearlyLSDtrip:"Theancients

didn't'think'oftheseaasagod-theySAWitasagod!"
Seaassymbolofmetamorphosis.
[EPdetestedsymbolismingeneral
butthatdidn'tkeephimfrom
usingitwhenapt*]:
*"Beautyisaptnesstopurpose"--Ez,
MachineArt,1930

Glareazureofwater,cold-welter,closecover,
Quietsun-tawnysand-stretch,
Thegullsbroadouttheirwings,
nippingbetweenthesplayfeathers
Snipecomefortheirbath,
bendouttheirwing-joints,
Spreadwetwingstothesun-film,
PureImagism/phantopoetics
andIMOquiteextraordinarilylovely
Nowthemajormetamorphosis
viaOvid,EuripidesandEP'sown
vividimagistimagination:

AndbyScios,
toleftoftheNaxospassage,
Naviformrockovergrown,
algaeclingtoitsedge,
Thereisawine-redglowintheshallows,
atinflashinthesun-dazzle.
Thoselast2linestheremaynotrank
asgreatestimagistcoupletever
buttheyhaveatleastonenomination...

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

kidnappedintoslavery....

Madforalittleslavemoney.
TwoofthemajorevilsinPound's
universe--avariceandslavery-joinedinoneline.Introduction
ofeconomicstheme.Notethe
"mad":inRichardStVictor,amajor
sourceofstructureinCantos,
allobsessions=madness,
duetolackofbalance.
Thesesailorsthuscontinuethe
InfernoofCantoIinanewform,
bymetamorphosis
StVictordividedmind'sfunctions
intothree:1]mindwithoutdiscipline,
drivenbypassionsandobsessions
2]disciplinedrationality3]mind
unitedwithobjectsorwithallness
bylove.EPusestheseasanalogs
ofDante'sHell,Purgatory[purification/
alchemicalGreatWork]andParadise.
Moreonthatasweproceed!

AndtheytookheroutofScios
Andoffhercourse...
Andtheboycameto,again,withtheracket,
Andlookedoutoverthebows,
andtoeastward,andtotheNaxospassage.
God-sleightthen,god-sleight:
Shipstockfastinsea-swirl,
Ivyupontheoars,KingPentheus,
Acoetes,thehonestsailor,nowin
EuripidesBachae,tellingthisstory
aswarningtoPentheus.Pentheus
triedtostampoutDionysianrelgion:
firstimageofreligiousbigotry
inthepoem
MaybeEPalsohadinmind
whathelatercalls"the
constrictionofBachus"inU.S.
--alcoholprohibition.

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

Andwherewasgunwale,therenowwasvine-trunk,
Andtenthrilwherecordagehadbeen,
grape-leavesontherowlocks,
Heavyvineontheoarshafts,
EmphasisonDionysusasgodof
vegetation,notjustofwine
AndnowthegreatcatsofDionysus
appear,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--Ezhadathingabout
cats.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,
Blacksnoutofaporpoise
whereLycabshadbeen,
Fish-scalesontheoarsmen.
AndIworship.
IhaveseenwhatIhaveseen.
WhentheybroughttheboyIsaid:
"Hehasagodinhim,
thoughIdonotknowwhichgod."
Andtheykickedmeintothefore-stays.
IhaveseenwhatIhaveseen:
Medon'sfacelikethefaceofadory,
Armsshrunkintofins.Andyou,Pentheus,
HadaswelllistentoTiresias,andtoCadmus,
oryourluckwillgooutofyou.
Fish-scalesovergroinmuscles,
lynx-purramidsea...
Thegreedysailorsmetamorphedtofish=
Pound'sviewofavaricedescending
topre-humanevolution.

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

Whowillsayinwhatyear,
fleeingwhatbandoftritons,
Thesmoothbrows,seen,andhalfseen,
nowivorystillness.
Ileuthyria--Pound'sinvention,combining
Eleuthyria,freedom,withIeliethria,
goddessofchildbirth.Cflatercreation
of"IsisKuanon,"finalnameofgoddess
inclosingCantos--Egyptiangoddessof
childbirth[andothermysteries]+
Chinesegoddessofinfinitemercy.
Armstobranches=metamorphosis
again.Cdrefertoseveralclassicmyths

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

Litheturningofwater,
sinewsofPoseidon,
Blackazureandhyaline,
glasswaveoverTyro,
Anotherrepeat.StructureofCantos
morelikesymphonythantraditional
poesy.Butdolookatthemontages
ofGriffith'sIntoleranceasanother
influence.

Closecover,unstillness,
brightwelterofwave-cords,
Thenquietwater,
quietinthebuffsands,
Sea-fowlstretchingwing-joints,
splashinginrock-hollowsandsand-hollows
Inthewave-runsbythehalf-dune
Glass-glintofwaveinthetide-ripsagainstsunlight,
pallorofHesperus,
Greypeakofthewave,
wave,colourofgrapes'pulp,
Olivegreyinthenear,
far,smokegreyoftherock-slide,
Salmon-pinkwingsofthefish-hawk
castgreyshadowsinwater,

Thetowerlikeaone-eyedgreatgoose
cranesupoutoftheolive-grove,
Sometimesatowerlikeaone-eyedgreatgoosemeansatower
likeaone-eyedgreatgoose."Callporkporkinyour
proposals,"oneofEP'sfavoriteChineseEmperors
instructshissubalterns.
ThehaikualsoinfluencedEP--not
the5-7-5rulebutthejuxtaposition
ofpreciseimages.

AndwehaveheardthefaunschidingProteus
Proteus:yetanothersea-godbutalso
agodofmetamorphoses...

inthesmellofhayundertheolive-trees,
Andthefrogssingingagainstthefauns
inthehalf-light.
And...
Fauns:permanence?Frogs:change?
Ithinkofthefaunsaspermanent
becauseCrazyUncleEzdefinedgods,nymphs,dryadsetc
as"eternalstatesofmind."
Endsinmid-sentenceagain/

-------

CANTOXX

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

Soundslender,quasitinnula,
Sou...slen...quas...
nicealiterationwithoutSwinburnian
tub-thumping
quasitinnula,"asifringing"[Catullus]
youcanalmostheartheringing

Ligur'aoide
"Sweetsong"[Homer]OdysseusfromCantoI,
thistimetempted
bytheSirens...moreOdysseanthemeswillrecur
inthisCanto,andlater

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

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

Betweenthetwoalmondtreesflowering,
Twoalmondtreesflowering:theuniquely
Poundianmixofsimplicityandloveliness

Thevielheldclosetohisside
Andanother:s'adora".
"Sheisadored"[Cavalcanti].IthinkEz
takesthisliterally,adeliberateheresyagainst
Catholicorthodoxy,
andcontinuationofProvencaltheme.
CfProvencal/CavalcaantithemeinCanto6.
SeeEP'sessays"Psychology&Troubadours"
and"Cavalcanti"andmaybemyIshtarRising.
[Danteputatleast2oftheCavalcantifamily
inHellforheresy....]

"Possumegonaturae
nonmeminissetuae!"
"CanIforgetthynature"or"thyinwit"
or"thysoul"[Propertius,praisingCynthia
forbeautynotvisiblebutfelt]
EPcitesthisofteninhisproseas
proofthatthetroubadoursdidnot
"invent"love,ascynicsclaim
actually,PropertiuspraisesCynthia's
kindnesscfCunnizadaRomano"whofreed
herslavesonaWednesday"[Cantos6&30]

QuisonProperzioedOvidio.
AdvicetogoreadPropertiusandOvidonamor
This"overture"combinesEnglish,Latin,Provencal,
Greek&Italianintoatotallyuniquemelodicstructure

Theboughsarenotmorefresh
wherethealmondshoots
taketheirMarchgreen.
Loverly,loverly

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

Rennert&Levy:leadingscholarsinProvencal
languageandpoetry--thesubjectofPound'sM.A.
thesisandasourceofmanyofhistranslations.
Oneminorbutpersistenttheme
intheCantos:Ez'sefforttodiscover
whatthetroubadoursreallymeant....

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

AndIwenttooldLevy,anditwasbythen6.30
intheevening,andhetrailedhalfwayacrossFreiburg
beforedinner,toseethetwostripsofcopy,
Arnaut's,settant'unoR.superiore(Ambrosiana)
NotthatIcouldsinghimthemusic.
Noteechoofsea-surgerhythmrecurrent
sinceCantoI.
(thetwostripsofcopy,
Arnaut's,settant'unoR.superiore(Ambrosiana)):
MS.inwhichDanteusesaProvencal"word,"noigandres,
fromtroubadourArnautDaniel.Themeaningof
this"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,
Bytheclearedgeoftherocks
Thewaterruns,andthewindscentedwithpine
Andwithhay-fieldsundersun-swath.
Agostino,JacopoandBoccata.
Youwouldbehappyforthesmellofthatplace
Andnevertiredofbeingthere,eitheralone
Oraccompanied.

Sound:asofthenightingaletoofarofftobeheard.
SandroandBoccata,andJacopoSellaio
Theranunculae,andalmond,
Italianlandscapesandpainters[andaromas]
hintingoftheparadisoterrestrecomingattheclimax
ofthepoem

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

Airmovingundertheboughs,
Thecedarsthereinthesun,
Haynewcutonhillslope,
Thelastlineusesmonosylablestocreate
achoppedeffect,asinEP'sChinesetranslations.
HethoughtEnglishversehadbecometoolegato.

Andthewaterthereinthecut
Betweenthetwolowermeadowssound,
thesound,asIhavesaid,anightingale
Toofarofftobeheard.
Andthelightfalls,remir,
fromherbreaststothighs.
remir:IgazeanotherProvencalword
fromArnaut.Thispartoftheparadiso
seemsFranco-Italian....

Hewasplayingthereatthepalla,
Parisina-twodovesforanaltar-atthewindow,
"E'lMarchese
Stavaperdivenirpazzo
afteritall."AndthatwaswhenTroywasdown
ParsinaMalatesta,cousinofSigismundo[Cantos8-11]
marriedNicolod'Este[ElMarchese.]
Whenconvincedshehadanaffairwithhis
son,Nichadthembothbeheaded.
Stavaperdivenirpazzo:andthenhewent
nutz[presumablyfromgrief/guilt?]
EchoofHelenofTroy[Canto2]
Ingeneral,PoundseesRennaisance"villians"
aspassion-driven,modern"villians"greed-driven.
[&onceagain,unlikeDante,Ezallows

forambiguitiesandmixedcases]
Borsod'Este,3rdsonofNic,continually
triedtobringpeacebetweenwarring
Italianstates.

Andtheycamehereandcutholesinrock,
DownRomeway,andputupthetimbers
Andcamehere,conditAtesten...
Historyofd'Estefamily

"Peace!keepthepeace,Borso."
Borsod'Este,3rdsonofNic,continually
triedtobringpeacebetweenwarring
Italianstates.

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

"Theywontgetanothersuchivory."
[Roland'shornhighquality]

Andhelaythereontheroundhillunderthecedar
Alittletotheleftofthecut(Estespeaking)
Bythesideofthesummit,andhesaid:
"Ihavebrokenthehorn,bigod,Ihave
"Brokethebestivory,l'olofans."
JumpingbackandforthbetweenEsteandRoland:
thecommontheme,betrayaloftrust
Theivorywasfromanelephant
Rolandbrokethehornovertheskullof
anArabsenttofinishhimoff.....
Understatedirony:Rolandisdying
butfussesaboutabrokenhorn

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

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

(Este,NicEstespeaking)
Este"becomes"theSpanishnationalhero,ElCid,
nolonger"being"Roland.
["bigod,""bugger"etc.:EPbelievedinfollowing
thetone&styleoftheoriginal,notmaking
allantientscriptsoundlikeQueenJamesBible.]

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

Neestho,le'ergoback...
TheEnglishtranslatestheGreek.Echofrom
Canto2:Helenagain."Lethergobacktotheships"

intheautumn."
"Este,go'damnyou."betweenthewalls,arras,
Paintedtolooklikearras.
Jungle:
Glazegreenandredfeathers,jungle,
Basisofrenewal,renewals
Risingoverthesoul,greenvirid,ofthejungle,
Lozengeofthepavement,clearshapes,
Broken,disrupted,bodyeternal,
Wildernessofrenewals,confusion
Basisofrenewals,subsistence,
Glazedgreenofthejungle
Post-Darwinianviewofnatureasprocess,
not"thing."Subject-rhymewiththemanyappearances
ofDionysus&Chinesefertility-gods.Damn
goodrhythmsintheretoo.

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

Estethinkingofotherunfaithfulwives
imageryofdelerium

HOBIOS,
cosiElenavedi,
LIFE,
whereHelenwalked

Eroscombinesjoy,loveandthecontinuation
offertility?Sorta...

Inthesunlight,gatecutbytheshadow
Andthenthefacetedair:
Floating.Below,seachurningshingle.
Floating,eachoninvisibleraft,
Onthehighcurrent,invisiblefluid,
Borneovertheplain,recumbent,
Therightarmcastback,
therightwristforapillow,
Thelefthandlikeacalyx,
Thumbheldagainstfinger,thethird,
Thefirstfingerspetal'dup,thehandasalamp,
Acalyx.
Fromtoetohead
Thepurple,blue-palesmoke,asofincense
Wrappedeachinburnous,smokeastheolibanums
Swift,asifjoyous.
Wrapped,floatingandtheblue-palesmokeoftheincense
Swifttorise,thenlazilyinthewind
asAeolusoverbean-field,
Ashayinthesun,theolibanum,saffron,
Asmyrrhwithoutstyrax
Eachmaninhiscloth,asonraft,on
Thehighinvisiblecurrent
Ontowardthefallofwater
Andthenoverthatcataract,
Inair,strong,thebrightflames,Vshaped
Anotherkindofparadiso--butEzdoesnotidentify
itimmediately

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

inthefireofloveHehasme"

Yellow,brightsaffron,croceo
Andastheolibanumburstsintoflame,
Thebodiessoflamedintheair,tookflame,
"...Mimise,ilmiosposonovello."
["...hasme,mynewspouse."
ThisCantomayrecordindirectlythebeginning
ofEz'saffairwithviolinistOlgaRudgeand
hiswife'sbrieferaffairwithanunknownEgyptian.]

Shotfromstreamintospiral,
Orfollowedthewater.Orlookedbacktotheflowing
Othersapproachingthatcataract,
Astodawnoutofshadow,theswathedcloths
Nowpurpleandorange,
Andthebluewaterduskybeneaththem,
pouringthereintothecataract,
Withnoiseofseaovershingle,
strikingwith:
hahhahahahthmmthunb,ah
wohwoharahathumm,bhaaa.
Andfromthefloatingbodies,theincense
blue-pale,purpleabovethem.
Shelfofthelotophagoi,
[lotus-eatersfromHomer.ItwastheirParadise
wevisitedbeforeSt.Francis's!]
Leparadisnec'estpasartificiel
butisjagged
Foraflash
foranhour
Thenagony.
Thenanhour
--Canto90-something
writinyeoldebugghouse
paraphrasingbaudilaire
IthinkhemeantBaudwasstonedondopebuthe,Ez,wasn't
IseenoevidencethatEzevergotstoned.
Buthedidpranayamaeverydayandspent
40someyearsmeditatin'
onChineseideogramslikecloudover
fallingrainover
dancingshaman
whichhefinallyrendered"sensibility."
Chinese+pranayamamay="stoned"perception......

Aerial,cutintheaether.
Reclining,

Withthesilverspilla,
Theballasofmeltedamber,coiled,caughtup,andturned.
Lotophagoiofthesuavenails,quiet,scornful,
Voce-profondo:
"Fearedneitherdeathnorpainforthisbeauty
Ifharm,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.
Thispowerfulandpowerfullyrhythmicpassage
marksaturningpoint.Occidentalindividualism
seenasflawedattheroot.Cf"thepoordevils

dyingofcold"inCantos9,10thetrenches
ofWorldWarIinCanto16....
Rescuingasane
individualismandmergingitwitha
saneholismrepresentthemajortask
EzsethimselfintheCantos

Andfromtheplainwhencethewater-shoot,
Across,back,totheright,theroads,awayinthegrass,
TheKhan'shuntingleopard,andyoungSalustio
AndIxottathesuaveturf
Acfaraefamiliares,andthecarsslowly,
andthepanthers,soft-footed.
Malatestawealth....leopardfromanunknownKhan...
acfaraefamiliares:wildanimals
[soundslikeCitizenKane'sXanadu]
SalustioMalatesta:murderedbyhisbrother
Ixotta:Sigismundo'sbeloved,towhomthe
Templeisdedicated.

Plain,astheplainofSomnus,
theheavycars,asatriumph,
Gilded,heavyonwheel,
andthepantherschainedtothecars,
Oversuaveturf,thefoamwrapped,
Rose,crimson,deepcrimson,
And,inthebluedusk,acolourasofrustinthesunlight,
Outofwhitecloud,movingovertheplain,
Headinarm'scurve,reclining
Theroad,backandaway,tillcutalongthefaceoftherock,
Andtheclifffoldsinlikeacurtain,
Theroadcutinundertherock
Squaregrooveinthecliff'sface,aschiostri,
Thecolumnscrystal,withpeacockscutinthecapitals,
Thesoftpadofbeastsdraggingthecars
Cars,slow,withoutcreak,
Andatwindowsininnerroadside:
ledonneeicavalieri
smoothfaceunderhennin,
Thesleevesembroideredwithflowers,
Greatthistleofgold,oranamaranth,
Acornsofgold,orofscarlet,
Cramoisianddiaspre

slashedwhiteintovelvet
Crystalcolumns,acanthus,sirensinthepillarheads
Andatlast,betweengildedbarocco,
Twocolumnscoiledandfluted,
Vanoka,leaninghalfnaked,
wastehalltherebehindher.
TheimagesandsoundstranscendevenCanto2.....

"Peace!
Borso...,Borso!"
AcryforBorsod'Este,whotriedtobring
peacetoItaly
commentaryCopyright:RobertAntonWilson

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