Joey Saves The Day!: Facts about Ezra Pound

Learn some quick facts about

Ezra Pound.

This week’s famous poet is Ezra Pound. Last week’s famous poet was William Butler Yeats.

Ezra Pound, a prolific poet and writer, began his poetic journey before the age of eleven. He penned over sixty books of poetry, each reflecting his unique style and themes. Pound was born in Hailey, Idaho, to Homer Loomis Pound and Isabel Weston, and he was an only child.

Continue reading to find out more about Ezra Pound.

Here is a list of some poems by Ezra Pound:

Francesca
A Pact
The Sea of Glass
The Return
Papyrus
Canto V
Come My Cantilations
Portrait d'une Femme
Liu Ch'e
The River-Merchant's Wife: A Letter

Parents/caretakers, be sure poems are child-friendly before reading them to your child/children.

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Quick facts about Ezra Pound:

1. Ezra Pound, a renowned poet, was born on October 30, 1885, in Hailey, Idaho. He died in Venice, Italy, on November 1, 1972, at eighty-seven years old.

2. Ezra Pound wrote a poem titled The Cantos. The poem is about 800 pages long, and it was never completed. The book has about 120 poems in it.

3. The following is one of Ezra Pound’s poems:

A Pact

I make truce with you, Walt Whitman—

I have detested you long enough.

I come to you as a grown child

Who has had a pig-headed father;

I am old enough now to make friends.

It was you that broke the new wood,

Now is a time for carving.

We have one sap and one root—

Let there be commerce between us.

(You can print out a worksheet on this poem. The worksheet is designed to help you engage with the poem more deeply. You will fill in the missing words in the poem, which will enhance your understanding of Pound's poetic style and the themes he explores.)

4. Did you know that in 1896, Ezra Pound had his first limerick published at eleven years old? It was published in the Jenkintown Times-Chronicle.

5. Ezra Pound’s education journey began in 1892. He attended several schools, and when he was twelve, he started going to Cheltenham Military Academy. He attended the academy for about three years but did not graduate. In 1901, he began attending the University of Pennsylvania. In 1903, he transferred to Hamilton College in New York. He graduated from Hamilton in 1905. These early educational experiences played a crucial role in shaping his intellectual development and future career as a poet and writer.

6. In 1907 Pound began teaching at Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Indiana. His linguistic abilities were remarkable, as he taught French and Spanish to 345 students. Pound's fluency in multiple languages was a testament to his intellectual prowess and dedication to broadening his horizons.

Some languages Ezra Pound learned and taught:

English

French

German

Greek

Italian

Latin

Spanish

7. In 1914, Ezra Pound married Dorothy Shakespear, and they were blessed with one child, a son named Omar Shakespear Pound. Pound also had a daughter, Mary de Rachewiltz, with Olga Rudge, whom he was not married to. His family life, though complex, played a significant role in shaping his personal and professional life.

Children of Ezra Pound:

Omar Shakespear Pound (1926-2010)

Mary de Rachewiltz (1925-)

8. In 1927, Pound's literary contributions were recognized when he won The Dial Poetry Award, a prestigious honor with a $2000 prize. This award was a testament to Pound's profound impact on the world of literature, a contribution that continues to be celebrated today.

9. In 1949, Pound's life took a dramatic turn when he was arrested for nineteen accounts of treason against the United States. Though controversial, this event is an important part of his life story and his impact on the world of poetry.

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Get your printable Ezra Pound worksheet here:

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Books about Ezra Pound:

Ezra Pound and Music: The Complete Criticism by Ezra Pound

Ezra Pound: the image and the real by Herbert Schneidau

Ezra Pound: The Solitary Volcano by John Tytell

Parents/caretakers, be sure books are child-friendly before reading them to your child/children.

"Hey there! Thanks for taking the time to read my poetry post! If you spot any mistakes, I would love to hear from you. Let us make this poetry journey perfect together!"

We have reached number twenty in the famous poets. I hope you enjoyed learning about these twenty poets. You can get yourself a printable certificate of completion here:

“A great age of literature is perhaps always a great age of translations.”—Ezra Pound. Pound's translations, a significant part of his literary work, have greatly influenced the literary world, making him a key figure in the history of literature.

The Famous Poets Workbook is available for purchase on the Amazon platform. To obtain further information about the product, kindly click on the book to access additional details.