Poem: A Girl by Ezra Pound

 

The tree has entered my hands,
The sap has ascended my arms,
The tree has grown in my breast -
Downward,
The branches grow out of me, like arms.

Tree you are,
Moss you are,
You are violets with wind above them.
A child - so high - you are,
And all this is folly to the world.

Background:

According to Greek Mythology, Apollo was the god of the sun and poetry, and he drove his 4-horse chariot every day like the sun in his blood. While on the other hand, Daphne was the daughter of a river god. Daphne was famous for her utmost beauty and was a virgin for the rest of her life. She was successful in distracting. Apollo once mocked Eros's power. Eros retaliated very aggressively and made Apollo fall in love with Daphne, and a lead arrow made Daphne hate Apollo.

 Apollo followed Daphne considerably and ran after her like mad. Daphne, as we discussed, was the daughter of Peneus, the river god, asking for help from her father to preserve her virginity. Her father finally transformed her body into a small plant with an amazing smell. Apollo came nearer to her, and finally, the flight was arrested, as her feet took root in the ground. Her body twinkled, her arms shot up, and as Apollo seized her with his arms, he found himself grasping a bush of laurel with shining leaves, the color of Daphne's dark green hair.

 It's believed in Greek mythology that Daphne has to sacrifice her body and turn it into a tree, as this was the only way she could avoid Apollo's sexual advances. After that, Apollo in sorrow wore the bark clothes. 

Explanation:

 The poem’s imagery flows with effortless passion, weaving contrasts that make it both vivid and profound. It breathes life into the inanimate, capturing a transformation that is both tender and unyielding. There is a delicate balance between vulnerability and strength, as the subject embraces her own essence, seeking herself even as the world fails to understand her. The imagery feels organic yet mystical, simple yet deeply evocative, painting a picture of a soul both rooted in nature and reaching beyond it.

In the first stanza, Daphne shares her feelings about being transformed. It can also represent a girl wanting to break free to escape her life, just like a poem, a way of putting everything on hold and expressing differently what we feel about things. The speaker describes a transformation where a tree becomes a part of them. The imagery suggests a deep connection with nature as if the tree's essence is merging with the speaker’s body. The sap flowing through the arms could symbolize vitality, energy, or a spiritual awakening. The tree growing within the speaker’s breast, extending downward, and branching outward like arms, suggests an organic fusion of the self with the natural world.

 In the second stanza, the perspective shifts to Apollo, the sun god, who falls in love with Daphne. The poet describes Apollo’s pursuit of Daphne as something delicate, like the wind moving through the tree she has become. The line "Tree you are, Moss you are, You are violets with wind above them" shows how Apollo sees Daphne after her transformation—no longer human, but part of nature. Calling her a tree highlights her change, while moss and violets suggest her softness and distance from him.

Apollo sees this as foolishness, unable to understand why she would rather become a tree than love him. The line "A child—so high—you are, and all this is folly to the world" expresses his pain and frustration. Daphne’s transformation is her way of rejecting him completely, and Apollo struggles to accept it.

Analysis:

Ezra Pound’s "A Girl" explores transformation, individuality, and rejection through vivid natural imagery. Inspired by the myth of Apollo and Daphne, the poem portrays Daphne’s metamorphosis into a tree as a symbol of her uniqueness and defiance.

The first stanza illustrates an inevitable change overtaking the speaker, as nature merges with their body. This transformation sets the girl apart from others, with her distinct qualities growing more visible, much like vines extending outward for the world to see.

The second stanza shifts to Apollo’s perspective, where he sees Daphne as completely absorbed into nature. He perceives her as both strong and delicate, beyond his grasp. Her transformation is not just a physical change but a statement of independence, distancing herself from unwanted pursuits.

The poem concludes by highlighting society’s failure to understand or accept those who embrace their differences. Daphne’s rejection of Apollo is viewed as foolish, emphasizing how the world often dismisses individuality and nonconformity.