"Anecdote of Canna" by Wallace Stevens is a poem that explores the interplay between imagination and reality through the figure of X, a powerful thinker. The poem begins with a depiction of enormous canna plants in X's dreams, symbolizing the grandeur of his thoughts. These plants fill the terrace of his capitol, suggesting the vastness and influence of his intellectual realm. Despite the grandeur, X's thoughts remain isolated, unable to connect with other thoughts or things, highlighting the solitude of intellectual pursuit. As day breaks, X walks among the dewy stones, fixating on the canna, which signifies his continuous contemplation and the persistent nature of his thought process. The poem reflects on the nature of thought, the separation between dreams and reality, and the solitary journey of the thinker.
By Wallace Stevens · First published 1923 · Genre: Modernist Poetry, Philosophical Poetry, Imagist Poetry