Ezra Pound

Poetic Eggs

Poetic Eggs - meaning Summary

Poetry as Crafted Product

The poem uses a conceit of a ‘‘poetic hen’’ who lays eggs as a metaphor for making poems. The speaker separates elements of poetry into parts: philosophy as yolk, beauty as albumen, and form as the shell that humanizes the text. It presents composition as a craft that blends idea, aesthetic, and structure, with a modest desire for quiet to preserve temperament. The tone is wry and deliberately schematic.

Read Complete Analyses

I am a grave poetic hen That lays poetic eggs And to enhance my temperament A little quiet begs. We make the yolk philosophy, True beauty the albumen. And then gum on a shell of form To make the screed sound human.

default user
PoetryVerse just now

Feel free to be first to leave comment.

8/2200 - 0