Poem Analysis - The Summons

Initial Impression and Tone

The poem The Summons by Ezra Pound presents a speaker who rejects conventional expressions of love and instead invites his beloved to join him on a spiritual journey. The tone shifts from a nostalgic remembrance of past love to a fervent, almost urgent call to a higher, more intense connection. The speaker's voice is both reflective and commanding, creating a sense of both intimacy and grandeur.

Themes of Love and Spiritual Ascension

The poem explores several interconnected themes. The first is the rejection of conventional love, as seen in the speaker's refusal to use honeyed words or romantic gestures. Instead, the speaker seeks a deeper, more spiritual connection. This is evident in lines such as I can not bow to woo thee and All these things have I known once and passed. The speaker has moved beyond these superficial expressions of love and now seeks something more profound.

The second theme is spiritual ascension. The speaker describes being swept upward to the center of all truth, suggesting a journey towards enlightenment or divine understanding. This is reinforced by the imagery of a great involving flame and the repeated call to follow. The speaker is not just inviting his beloved to join him but is urging her to strive for the same spiritual heights. The phrase I come, go thou yet further emphasizes this theme of continuous spiritual growth and competition.

Imagery and Symbolism

The poem is rich in vivid imagery and symbolism. The honey words and flower kisses represent traditional, romantic expressions of love, which the speaker has outgrown. The dew of sweet half-truths and the grass of old quaint love-tales suggest the fleeting and insubstantial nature of these conventional loves. The speaker has moved beyond these and now seeks a more authentic and enduring connection.

The great involving flame is a powerful symbol of spiritual transformation and purification. It represents the intense, all-consuming nature of the speaker's love and his spiritual journey. The flame also suggests a sense of urgency and danger, as seen in the lines we may not tarry. The speaker is not inviting his beloved to a comfortable, easy path but to a challenging and transformative journey.

The Call to Follow

The repeated call to follow is a central motif in the poem. It represents the speaker's invitation to his beloved to join him on his spiritual journey. The call is urgent and insistent, suggesting that the speaker sees this journey as a matter of great importance. The phrase I come, go thou yet further adds a competitive element to this call, suggesting that the speaker and his beloved are not just journeying together but are also striving to outdo each other in their spiritual ascent.

The final lines of the poem, And again, Follow, For we may not tarry, emphasize the urgency and importance of this call. The speaker is not just inviting his beloved to join him but is urging her to make this journey a priority in her life. The phrase we may not tarry suggests that there is a sense of urgency to this journey, that it cannot be delayed or postponed.

Conclusion

The Summons is a powerful exploration of love, spirituality, and the journey towards enlightenment. Through vivid imagery and urgent language, Pound invites the reader to consider the nature of love and the importance of spiritual growth. The poem's final lines, with their sense of urgency and competition, leave the reader with a strong impression of the importance of this journey and the need to strive for spiritual ascension. The poem's significance lies in its invitation to the reader to consider their own spiritual journey and to strive for a deeper, more authentic connection with the divine.