Poetry
Reading H. D.’s “Night”
An Appreciation for an Early Imagist Poem
H. D., Hilda Doolittle, is one of those writers who can wind literary theorists and critics into knotted arguments. Her position as an early and influential Modernist writer, an exemplar of the Imagist movement to both Ezra Pound and Amy Lowell, and a female who followed no traditional women’s roles, puts her at the nexus of much literary debate.
I will not wade into those waters. I recently revisited my weak Modernist literary education to shore up what I skimmed in college and high school. Last time I wrote of Louise Bogan’s poem “Sub Contra” but this time I’d like to go back a little earlier. To maybe rescue H. D. from the academics long enough to appreciate one of her early poems collected in the book, Sea Garden. I am only beginning an exploration of her poetry. I’ve only read her (posthumous) novel HERmione when I was in college.
Unlike some of the literary debaters, I do not consider Sea Garden an early effort that was only a stepping stone to later greatness. This is the work of a mature poet in full control. Her images are precise and her language confident and masterful. The sound of her language evokes emotion and beauty as recognizable and fully rendered as any contemporary poet.
