" April is the cruellest month, breeding
Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing
Memory and desire, stirring
Dull roots with spring rain.
..."

This is from The Waste Land by T.S. Eliot. The point I don't understand is why were the verbs made in form "V+ing" form instead of bare infinitive (breed, mix, stir)?

Question

"  April is the cruellest month, breeding
Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing
Memory and desire, stirring
Dull roots with spring rain.
..."

This is from The Waste Land by T.S. Eliot. The point I don't understand is why were the verbs made in form "V+ing" form instead of bare infinitive (breed, mix, stir)?

Answer

Both forms would be correct, but the ing forms emphasize the fact that these things are happening now.

Answer

I cannot say what Eliot had in miond, but I suspect it comes from the month thing.
.
He's not saying at this moment in time, but during this month, lasting in time. The piece is about and emphasising a continuing period, during April, the whole month, not one day or one moment.
So the breeding, mixing, stirring are all continuous.
Just my uneducated impression.

Answer

See if you can get a response form someone who actually appreciates poetry. They may be able to give you a better perspective.