Pound's silence What is that about? Hamlet offers some clues........ >From: Tim Romano <[log in to unmask]> >Reply-To: Ezra Pound discussion list of the University of Maine > <[log in to unmask]> >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: Re: the Confucian / apocalpytic dimension >Date: Mon, 22 May 2000 08:38:50 -0400 > >After readinging En Lin Wei's interesting essay on the emergence of >Buddhist "quietism" in Pound's thought, I have a few questions and even a >couple of suggestions for elaboration of the essay. > >First, some minor points: I am not sure what was meant by the phrase "the >sanctity" of the text. Is "textual integrity" or "holiness" intended here? >Regarding the use of the word "salvation" in the essay : is one speaking of >the safe continuance of the peoples -- avoidance of annihilation in a >nuclear age-- or of the spiritual salvation of the individual soul, in a >religious sense? > >The essay quotes Pound, wondering whether, in light of the atomic bomb, he >should be writing an apocalypse instead of a paradiso. Is there a place in >confucian philosophy for the eschatological and the apocalyptic? An >excursion into the history of the confucian response to apocalpyse would be >great. > >If, near the end of his life, the poet comes to understand, from >contemporary events, that history itself might come to an explosive end, >there are two basic responses, it would seem: a redoubling of >statecraft-poetry efforts (lifetime and poet's human energy permitting) or >renunciation and surrender. Right? Or could it be that Pound saw a >poetry of tranquility as a continuation of statecraft, a mode that might do >something to ameliorate international "tensions"? Perhaps in this final >phase of his poetry and his life Pound achieved a *synthesis* of confucian >and buddhist thought? Contemplative poetry as political action. > >Tim Romano ________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com