Interpreting H. D.'s 'Oread'
Some people might believe that it is much more convenient and easier to read something that is shorter rather than a longer text. Furthermore, it is possible that they might think that a shorter text will get straight to the point and require absolutely no analysis because of the text’s brevity. However, anyone who has ever read H.D.’s poem, “Oread”, will understand that this is not the case. The poem is only twenty-six words, which means that it might take a person about ten seconds to read it. Nevertheless, analyzing it is a completely different story. The reason for this is because there are many ways one can interpret the poem. Another reason is because the reader is left with many unanswered questions at the end. For instance, “Oread”
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The oread commands, “Whirl up, sea-” (H.D. 1). The image most people see is that of an oread standing on a large rock on the shore, facing the sea and yelling at it. This is interesting because in other fictional texts, an oread is normally portrayed as cute and delicate. However, in this poem, the oread is definitely indirectly described as being strong and authoritative. At this point in the poem, the reader begins to wonder why the oread is commanding the sea to do this. This is not necessarily answered in the poem, but towards the end, the reader gets a sense as to why the oread could have wanted this to happen. At the start of the poem, there is an immediate command and it is clear that the oread does not want to waste any time. For instance, she begins her commands with verbs such as “Whirl” to make the reader understand that she is demanding something (H.D. 1). It is evident that this is why “Oread” is considered an imagist poem because from the beginning of the poem, the oread gets right to the point. In the second line, the reader is quickly able to identify the first metaphor. The oread says to the sea, “Whirl your pointed pines” (H.D. 2). Clearly, seas do not have “pointed pines” (H.D. 2). However, from this line, the reader is able to see that the oread is comparing two different things: a sea and a forest. Furthermore, she is implying that the sea has pine trees as forests do. Also,
The oread commands, “Whirl up, sea-” (H.D. 1). The image most people see is that of an oread standing on a large rock on the shore, facing the sea and yelling at it. This is interesting because in other fictional texts, an oread is normally portrayed as cute and delicate. However, in this poem, the oread is definitely indirectly described as being strong and authoritative. At this point in the poem, the reader begins to wonder why the oread is commanding the sea to do this. This is not necessarily answered in the poem, but towards the end, the reader gets a sense as to why the oread could have wanted this to happen. At the start of the poem, there is an immediate command and it is clear that the oread does not want to waste any time. For instance, she begins her commands with verbs such as “Whirl” to make the reader understand that she is demanding something (H.D. 1). It is evident that this is why “Oread” is considered an imagist poem because from the beginning of the poem, the oread gets right to the point. In the second line, the reader is quickly able to identify the first metaphor. The oread says to the sea, “Whirl your pointed pines” (H.D. 2). Clearly, seas do not have “pointed pines” (H.D. 2). However, from this line, the reader is able to see that the oread is comparing two different things: a sea and a forest. Furthermore, she is implying that the sea has pine trees as forests do. Also,