Cindy,
You should be able to find Whitman's LEAVES OF GRASS in almost any new
bookstore, used bookstore, garage sale, or flea-market. Your teacher is
being "very creative" (see Roz Chast's cartoon "The Berlitz Guide to
Parent-Teacher Conferences" on page 86 in the Nov 15th, 1999 issue of The
New Yorker for an explanation of what that means) if he or she expects you
to write such an essay if you are familiar with Whitman's greatest hits.
Tell your teacher you want to read all of the poems in the original edition
of Leaves of Grass before you write your essay, and ask for one-week
extension. Just think of Whitman's poems as song lyrics for which the music
has been lost.
Tim Romano
 
 
----- Original Message -----
From: Cindy Jepsen <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, 11 Nov 1999 10:24 PM
Subject: Pound/Whitman "A Pact"
 
 
> To Anyone with the answers:
> I need to write a 500 word essay on the reason why Pound wrote "A Pact" to
> Whitman. I need to know what kind of poet Whitman was, and what he thought
> poetry should and can do.  I need to know what a modern poet is.  I need
to
> answer what modern poets value, and what they think poetry should and can
> do.  What is the pact between Pound and Whitman as Pound sees it?  Why
does
> Pound say he once detested Whitman?  Why has this gone on long enough?
> What is the thing about "a grown child"?  Who is the pig headed father?
> What does "old enough to make new friends" mean in regards to what age has
> to do with friendship?  What is "new wood"?  What is "carving" a metaphor
> for?  How are the poets connected  in "one root"?  A sample thesis is
> "Pound wrote this poem to Whitman because he......"  ??
>
> If you can point me in the direction of information that will help me
> answer these questions and complete my essay, please reply.  The library
in
> my town (and surrounding areas) is useless.  The community college in my
> town has one book of Pound's Cantos, nothing on "A Pact", and no
biography.
> I've spent 2 hours sorting through the information on Pound on the web and
> still don't have what I need.
>
> Ideas would be greatly appreciated :)
>
>