Before Sleep Poem by Ezra Pound

Before Sleep

Rating: 3.1


The lateral vibrations caress me,
They leap and caress me,
They work pathetically in my favour,
They seek my financial good.

She of the spear stands present.
The gods of the underworld attend me, O Annubis,
These are they of thy company.
With a pathetic solicitude they attend me;
Undulant,
Their realm is the lateral courses.


Light!
I am up to follow thee, Pallas.
Up and out of their caresses.
You were gone up as a rocket,
Bending your passages from right to left and from left to right
In the flat projection of a spiral.
The gods of drugged sleep attend me,
Wishing me well;
I am up to follow thee, Pallas.

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Stanton Hager 20 August 2006

For 'pathetic/pathetically' read sympathetic/sympathetically. This INVOCATION poem curiously invokes the wrong goddess. Pallas (Athena) governs wisdom, war, and the practical arts. For a good night's sleep, one might better invoke Nyx, mother of night, or her son Hypnos, god of sleep....Words & phrases like 'rocket' and 'flat projection of a spiral' fail to 'modernize' the poem....Has some pretty lines but some awkward ones, too. Not among Pound's best.

5 5 Reply
Chinedu Dike 30 December 2021

Nicely expressed thoughts and feelings. Thanks for sharing and do remain enriched...................

0 1 Reply
Suryendu Chaudhury 29 September 2020

The reference to mythical figures makes the poem hightened in its flavour of deliverance.

0 0 Reply
man dude 14 December 2018

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4 0 Reply
Czyka Tumaliuan 16 January 2008

In addition, he doesnt want 'sympathy'. He accepts that he should be looked down with pity for he exchanged wisdom for money.

3 5 Reply
Czyka Tumaliuan 16 January 2008

REPLY TO MR. HAGER: Apparently, the persona in the poem is a person who has a 'side job' that helps him in his financial needs. However, the persona seems to be unhappy with such work as it is not intellectually fulfilling. Thus, he seeks Pallas in his sleep...since it's only there that he will meet wisdom...only in his dreams.. I like the poem.

4 6 Reply
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Ezra Pound

Ezra Pound

Hailey / Idaho
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