Poetry Analysis

‘These fought in any case’ from Hugh Selwyn Mauberley Ezra Pound

4 These fought in any case, and some believing, pro domo, in any case ... Some quick to arm, some for adventure, 5 some from fear of weakness, some from fear of censure, some for love of slaughter, in imagination, learning later ... some in fear, learning love of slaughter; 10

Died some, pro patria, non ‘dulce’ non ‘et décor’ … walked eye-deep in hell believing in old men’s lies, then unbelieving came home, home to a lie, 15 home to many deceits, home to old lies and new infamy; usury age-old and age-thick and liars in public places. Daring as never before, wastage as never before. 20 Young blood and high blood, fair cheeks, and fine bodies; fortitude as never before frankness as never before, disillusions as never told in the old days, 25 hysterias, trench confessions, laughter out of dead bellies. 5 There died a myriad, And of the best, among them, For an old bitch gone in the teeth, 30 For a botched civilization, Charm, smiling at the good mouth, Quick eyes gone under earth’s lid, For two gross of broken statues, For a few thousand battered books. 35