If the "wet, black bough" in Ezra Pound's "In a Station of the Metro" were described as "bright and lively," the poem's entire atmosphere and the reader's perception would undergo a significant transformation. The original's stark, almost melancholic, impression would shift towards a more vibrant and optimistic tone, making the station seem cheerier.
Shifting the Poem's Mood and Imagery
The change in the bough's description fundamentally alters the central metaphor of the poem, where "The apparition of these faces in the crowd;" are compared to "Petals on a wet, black bough."
-
Original Imagery: The phrase "wet, black bough" evokes images of dampness, darkness, and perhaps a sense of coldness or decay. It suggests a fleeting, almost ghostly beauty (the "apparition" and "petals") set against a harsh, uninviting background. This creates a mood of urban anonymity and transient beauty, often interpreted as somewhat somber or melancholic. The faces appear briefly, like delicate petals clinging to a stark, dark branch, emphasizing their isolation and the fleeting nature of their presence.
-
Altered Imagery: If the bough were "bright and lively," the imagery would suggest vitality, warmth, and vibrancy. The "petals" (faces) would no longer appear against a stark, somber backdrop but rather on a flourishing, energetic one. This would imbue the scene with a sense of renewal, activity, and perhaps even joy. The station, instead of feeling like a place of fleeting, almost ghostly encounters, would seem livelier and more inviting. The faces, like petals on a vibrant branch, would appear fresh, full of life, and part of a dynamic, living scene.
Key Transformational Aspects
The table below highlights the dramatic shift in interpretation and feeling:
| Aspect | Original ("Wet, Black Bough") | Altered ("Bright and Lively Bough") |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Mood | Somber, stark, ephemeral, melancholic, isolated. | Cheerful, vibrant, optimistic, dynamic, connected. |
| Perception of Faces | Fragile, fleeting, ghostly, detached, brief apparitions. | Fresh, vital, beautiful, animated, part of a living whole. |
| Station Atmosphere | Cold, impersonal, transient, possibly dreary. | Warm, inviting, energetic, bustling, perhaps even beautiful. |
| Symbolism | Beauty in decay, urban anonymity, fleeting existence. | Life, renewal, vibrant urban energy, resilience, shared vitality. |
Implications for Poetic Interpretation
The imagist movement, to which Pound belonged, focused on direct presentation of images with minimal words. Therefore, every word is critical. Changing "wet, black" to "bright and lively" shifts the entire emotional resonance and symbolic weight of the poem.
- From Isolation to Connection: The original implies a sense of isolation for the individual faces against the dark backdrop. A bright bough might suggest more connection and a shared vitality among the crowd.
- From Stark Reality to Idealized Vision: The initial imagery grounds the "apparition" in a somewhat harsh reality. A "bright and lively" bough could lead to a more idealized or romanticized view of the urban crowd.
In essence, the revised poem would lose its poignant sense of transient beauty against a somber, impersonal urban backdrop and gain a more uplifting, energetic, and visually appealing character. The station would indeed seem much cheerier.
