“In a Station of the Metro” by Ezra Pound: A Critical Analysis

Introduction: “In a Station of the Metro” by Ezra Pound

“In a Station of the Metro” by Ezra Pound was first published in 1913 in the literary magazine Poetry. Later, it appeared in his 1917 collection Lustra. The poem is celebrated for its brevity, consisting of just two lines and fourteen words. It embodies the quintessential qualities of Imagism, a modernist movement that sought to distill poetry to its most essential imagery. The poem’s stark juxtaposition of faces in a crowd with petals on a wet branch creates a vivid, haiku-like image that resonates with readers long after they’ve encountered it. Its impact lies not in elaborate descriptions or narrative, but in the power of a single, carefully crafted image.

Text: “In a Station of the Metro” by Ezra Pound

Annotations: “In a Station of the Metro” by Ezra Pound

Phrase	Annotation
In a Station of the Metro	The title sets the scene in a Paris metro station, suggesting a busy, urban environment filled with people.
The apparition of these faces in the crowd:	“Apparition” implies a sudden, ghostly appearance, creating an ethereal quality to the faces seen in the crowd. The use of “these faces” personalizes the observation, making it immediate and specific.
Petals on a wet, black bough.	This line draws a vivid, contrasting image. “Petals” suggest beauty and delicacy, while “wet, black bough” implies something dark, damp, and possibly lifeless, enhancing the visual contrast between the human faces and their surroundings. The metaphor likens the fleeting presence of the faces to delicate petals, emphasizing their transience and the starkness of the urban environment.

Literary And Poetic Devices: “In a Station of the Metro” by Ezra Pound

Literary/Poetic Device	Example/Explanation
Alliteration	“black bough” – The repetition of the ‘b’ sound creates a sense of cohesion and rhythm.
Ambiguity	“Apparition” – The word can mean both a ghostly figure and a sudden appearance, adding depth to the imagery.
Compression	The entire poem is an example of Pound’s imagist technique, conveying a vivid image in very few words.
Contrast	“Petals” vs. “wet, black bough” – The delicate petals contrast with the dark, wet bough, enhancing imagery.
Imagism	The poem exemplifies Imagism, focusing on clear, sharp images and economy of language.
Juxtaposition	The placement of the faces and the petals side by side to highlight their similarities and differences.
Metaphor	The faces are metaphorically compared to petals on a wet, black bough, linking urban life to natural imagery.
Mood	The mood is both haunting and beautiful, created through the juxtaposition of imagery.
Symbolism	“Petals” symbolize beauty and ephemerality, while “wet, black bough” symbolizes the harsh, urban environment.
Visual Imagery	The poem creates a strong visual image of faces appearing in a crowd like petals on a tree branch.

Themes: “In a Station of the Metro” by Ezra Pound

• Transience of Human Life
• The theme of transience is central to the poem, reflected in the ephemeral nature of the faces seen in the metro station. The word “apparition” suggests a fleeting, ghostly presence, emphasizing the temporary nature of these encounters. Just as petals on a tree are momentarily vibrant before they fall, the faces in the crowd are seen briefly and then disappear into the hustle of city life. This comparison highlights the transient nature of human existence, where moments and interactions are fleeting and quickly vanish.
• Urban Alienation
• Pound contrasts the natural image of petals with the urban setting of the metro station, suggesting a sense of alienation within the city. The “wet, black bough” serves as a metaphor for the harsh, lifeless environment of the urban landscape, in stark contrast to the delicate, living petals. This imagery underscores the isolation and disconnection experienced by individuals in a crowded, impersonal urban space, where people are like ghosts, momentarily appearing and disappearing without forming meaningful connections.
• Beauty in the Mundane
• Despite its brevity, the poem finds beauty in an everyday scene. The faces in the crowd are compared to “petals on a wet, black bough,” elevating a mundane moment to something poetically significant. This metaphor suggests that there is beauty in the ordinary and the overlooked, inviting readers to see the world around them with a heightened sense of awareness and appreciation for the fleeting moments of beauty in daily life.
• Intersection of Nature and Modernity
• Pound’s imagery juxtaposes elements of nature with the modern urban setting, reflecting the intersection of these two worlds. The natural beauty of “petals” contrasts with the artificiality and monotony of the “wet, black bough,” representing the modern metro station. This blend of natural and urban imagery highlights how elements of beauty and nature persist even within the constructed environments of modernity, suggesting a coexistence and tension between the two.

Literary Theories and “In a Station of the Metro” by Ezra Pound

Literary Theory	Application to “In a Station of the Metro”	References/Explanation
Imagism	“In a Station of the Metro” is a prime example of Imagist poetry, which focuses on clarity, precision, and economy of language.	The poem’s brevity and vivid imagery, as seen in “The apparition of these faces in the crowd: / Petals on a wet, black bough,” encapsulate the Imagist principles of clear, sharp imagery and direct treatment of the subject.
Modernism	The poem reflects Modernist themes of alienation, urban life, and fleeting moments of beauty amid industrialization.	The juxtaposition of the natural (petals) with the urban (metro station) highlights the Modernist concern with the changing landscape of the early 20th century and the alienation it brings.
Symbolism	Symbolism plays a significant role, with the faces and petals serving as symbols for the fleeting and ephemeral nature of human experience.	The metaphor of “petals on a wet, black bough” symbolizes the transient and delicate beauty of human faces in the crowd, representing the Symbolist emphasis on suggestion and emotional resonance over direct statement.

Critical Questions about “In a Station of the Metro” by Ezra Pound

• Question 1: What is the central image of the poem, and how does it relate to the poet’s themes?
• The central image of the poem is the comparison of faces in the metro station to “petals on a wet, black bough” (Pound, 1913). This image captures the idea of beauty in a mundane, urban setting, and highlights the tension between nature and city life. The image also suggests a sense of isolation and disconnection, as the faces are compared to delicate, easily bruised petals.
• Question 2: How does Pound’s use of Imagist techniques contribute to the overall effect of the poem?
• Pound’s use of Imagist techniques, such as concise language and precise images, creates a sense of clarity and directness in the poem. The short, simple sentences and lack of ornamentation emphasize the concrete, tangible aspects of the scene, and allow the reader to experience it in a vivid, unmediated way. This technique also underscores the idea that beauty can be found in brief, fleeting moments, like the glimpse of faces in a metro station.
• Question 3: What role does juxtaposition play in the poem’s meaning and structure?
• Juxtaposition is a key element of the poem, as Pound places two distinct images side by side: the faces in the metro station and the petals on a wet, black bough. This juxtaposition creates a sense of tension and contrast, highlighting the differences between the natural and urban worlds. The juxtaposition also suggests a connection between the two images, implying that beauty can be found in both the natural and urban realms.
• Question 4: How does the poem’s structure and form reflect its themes and ideas?
• The poem’s structure and form, consisting of just two lines, reflects the themes of brevity and fleetingness. The short, simple structure creates a sense of urgency and immediacy, underscoring the idea that beauty can be found in brief, passing moments. The structure also mirrors the idea of juxtaposition, placing two distinct images side by side in a way that creates tension and contrast.

Literary Works Similar to “In a Station of the Metro” by Ezra Pound

1. “The Red Wheelbarrow” by William Carlos Williams: This poem, like “In a Station of the Metro,” encapsulates a vivid image in just a few lines, inviting contemplation of the ordinary and everyday.
2. “This Is Just To Say” by William Carlos Williams: A brief, direct poem that focuses on a simple yet impactful confession, echoing the concise and evocative style of Pound’s work.
3. “Oread” by H.D.: This Imagist poem captures the essence of a mountain nymph through a series of vivid and evocative images, much like Pound’s juxtaposition of faces and petals.
4. “Pear Tree” by H.D.: A concise poem that focuses on a single image of a pear tree, emphasizing its beauty and simplicity, similar to Pound’s focus on the fleeting moment in the metro station.
5. “The Fog” by Carl Sandburg: This short poem employs a striking metaphor to describe the silent, creeping presence of fog, resonating with the ephemeral nature of the encounter in Pound’s poem.

Suggested Readings: “In a Station of the Metro” by Ezra Pound

1. Moody, A. David. Ezra Pound: Poet: A Portrait of the Man and His Work, Volume I: The Young Genius 1885–1920. Oxford UP, 2007.
2. Kenner, Hugh. The Pound Era. U of California P, 1971.
3. Poetry Foundation. “In a Station of the Metro.” Poetry Foundation, www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/47238/in-a-station-of-the-metro.
4. Academy of American Poets. “Ezra Pound.” Poets.org, https://poets.org/poet/ezra-pound.

Representative Quotations of “In a Station of the Metro” by Ezra Pound

Quotation	Context	Theoretical Perspective
“The apparition of these faces in the crowd:”	This line introduces the observation of faces in a crowded metro station.	Imagism: This line exemplifies Imagist principles by presenting a clear and precise image of faces suddenly appearing in a bustling urban environment.
“Petals on a wet, black bough.”	This metaphor compares the faces to delicate petals on a dark, wet branch.	Symbolism: The use of “petals” symbolizes the ephemeral beauty of human faces, contrasting them against the stark urban setting represented by the “wet, black bough.”