Help with "Meditatio" by Ezra Pound?

Question

When I carefully consider the curious habits of dogs
I am compelled to conclude
That man is the superior animal.

When I consider the curious habits of man
I confess, my friend, I am puzzled.





i THINK understand the poem: The dog is not the superior animal. Niether are humans the same as
animals. Dogs can be loving, witty, violent and exhibit any number of
other complex behaviours that they may share with humans. Humans, however,
have creative capabilities of art, and of science. Dogs can use their
reasoning skills to catch a ball or a frisbee, but they will never, as
Newton did, attempt to use that principle to explain the motion of the
stars and planets.

The key to the second part of the poem is that humans can choose to act
constructively, through science, art, literature, archecture...any number
of disciplines OR to just be lazy. A lazy human is not superior to a dog.





i cant find any forms of figurative language in this.......
are there any?

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

your pretty much correct. note that Pound repeats "curious habits." Repetition is a poetic device to clue in the reader to the message. So think about the curious habits of man and dog. I wouldn't say "lazy" because there's no clue about this in the poem. Whatever those curious habits are, it leaves the narrator in the poem puzzled. Think about this.

This might help you read poetry better:
http://www.bookstove.com/Poetry/How-to-R…