You were praised, my books, <br />because I had just come from the country; <br />I was twenty years behind the times <br />so you found an audience ready. <br />I do not disown you, <br />do not you disown your progeny. <br /> <br />Here they stand without quaint devices, <br />Here they are with nothing archaic about them. <br />Observe the irritation in general: <br /> <br />‘Is this’ they say, 'the nonsense <br />that we expect of poets?’ <br />'Where is the Picturesque ?' <br />‘Where is the vertigo of emotion?' <br />‘No! his first work was the best.’ <br />'Poor Dear! he has lost his illusions.’ <br /> <br />Go, little naked and impudent songs, <br />Go with a light foot! <br />(Or with two light feet, if it please you!) <br />Go and dance shamelessly! <br />Go with an impertinent frolic! <br /> <br />Greet the grave and the stodgy, <br />Salute them with your thumbs at your noses. <br /> <br />Here are your bells and confetti. <br />Go! rejuvenate things! <br />Rejuvenate even 'The Spectator.’ <br />Go! and make cat calls! <br />Dance and make people blush, <br />Dance the dance of the phallus <br />and tell anecdotes of Cybele! <br />Speak of the indecorous conduct of the Gods! <br />(Tell it to Mr. Strachey) <br /> <br />Ruffle the skirts of prudes, <br />speak of their knees and ankles. <br />But, above all, go to practical people <br />go! jangle their door-bells! <br />Say that you do no work <br />and that you will live forever.<br /><br />Ezra Pound<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/salutation-the-second/
