How would "In a Station of the Metro" change if the bough was bright and lively rather than wet and black?
Would the word "apparition" still be appropriate?
What do you think?
"In a Station of the Metro
BY EZRA POUND
The apparition of these faces in the crowd:
Petals on a wet, black bough."
"If the bough was bright and lively rather than wet and black," the poem "In a Station of the Metro" by Ezra Pound would undergo a significant transformation. Here's how the change would affect the overall poem:
Original Version:
The apparition of these faces in the crowd;
Petals on a wet, black bough.
Revised Version:
The apparition of these faces in the crowd;
Petals on a bright and lively bough.
By substituting the words "wet and black" with "bright and lively," the imagery and mood of the poem would shift. In the original version, the wetness and darkness of the bough reinforce a sense of dampness, gloom, and melancholy. This melancholic tone is evocative of the weighing and oppressive atmosphere of a metro station.
However, in the revised version with a bright and lively bough, the mood would become more vibrant, cheerful, and optimistic. It would convey a liveliness, freshness, and possibly even a hint of spring or regeneration. The change in visual imagery could suggest a more hopeful and uplifting experience within the metro station, showcasing the beauty of the faces in the crowd like vibrant petals on a lively bough.
To create this revised version, one would rewrite the second line to reflect the desired bright and lively characteristics of the bough. It is essential to consider the impact of this change on the overall meaning and tone of the poem.
If the bough (branch) in Ezra Pound's poem "In a Station of the Metro" was described as bright and lively instead of wet and black, the overall imagery and tone of the poem would change significantly. Here's how the changes would occur step by step:
1. Line 1 of the original poem reads: "The apparition of these faces in the crowd." If we change it with "The apparition of these faces in the crowd," it would remain the same, as the bough is not directly mentioned in this line.
2. Line 2 of the original poem reads: "Petals on a wet, black bough." Here, we would change "wet, black bough" to "bright and lively bough."
3. The change from "wet, black bough" to "bright and lively bough" would introduce a contrasting image to the faces in the crowd. Instead of the dark and damp visual provided by "wet, black," the reader would now visualize a vibrant and energetic bough.
4. With this change, the overall tone of the poem would become more positive and vibrant. The contrast between the lively bough and the apparition of faces in the crowd could symbolize the presence of joy or liveliness amidst the dreary urban environment of a metro station.
In summary, if the bough in "In a Station of the Metro" was described as bright and lively rather than wet and black, it would introduce a contrasting and more positive image, which could shift the tone of the poem.