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Cheryl's Reviews > Collected Poems
Collected Poems
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Cheryl's review
bookshelves: collected-poems-1934-1952, book-a-child-s-christmas-in-wales, book-under-milk-wood, born-1914-died-1953
Oct 18, 2017
bookshelves: collected-poems-1934-1952, book-a-child-s-christmas-in-wales, book-under-milk-wood, born-1914-died-1953
Dylan Thomas was first recognized after the publication in 1934 of "Light Breaks Where No Sun Shines".
Light breaks where no sun shine;
Where no sea runs, the waters of the heart
Push in their tides;
And, broken ghosts with glow-worms in their heads
The things of light
File through the flesh where no flesh decks the bone. (more)
Critics wrote that his work is "too narrow and suffers from verbal extravagance". Robert Lowell wrote "he is a dazzling obscure writer who can be enjoyed without understanding". Generally, 20th century criticism ignored rather than studied his work because it failed to fit standard narratives.
In my reading of his poems, I can understand the critics's view, but I agree with Robert Lowell.
In his poem Elegy, Thomas wrote
O deepest wound of all that he should die
On that darkest day. Oh, he could hide
The tears out of his eyes, too proud to cry.
Until I die he will not leave my side.
Dylan Thomas died in New York City in 1953. He was 39.
Light breaks where no sun shine;
Where no sea runs, the waters of the heart
Push in their tides;
And, broken ghosts with glow-worms in their heads
The things of light
File through the flesh where no flesh decks the bone. (more)
Critics wrote that his work is "too narrow and suffers from verbal extravagance". Robert Lowell wrote "he is a dazzling obscure writer who can be enjoyed without understanding". Generally, 20th century criticism ignored rather than studied his work because it failed to fit standard narratives.
In my reading of his poems, I can understand the critics's view, but I agree with Robert Lowell.
In his poem Elegy, Thomas wrote
O deepest wound of all that he should die
On that darkest day. Oh, he could hide
The tears out of his eyes, too proud to cry.
Until I die he will not leave my side.
Dylan Thomas died in New York City in 1953. He was 39.
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Quotes Cheryl Liked
“A worm tells summer better than the clock,
The slug's a living calendar of days;
What shall it tell me if a timeless insect
Says the world wears away?”
― Collected Poems
The slug's a living calendar of days;
What shall it tell me if a timeless insect
Says the world wears away?”
― Collected Poems
Reading Progress
October 11, 2017
–
Started Reading
October 11, 2017
– Shelved
October 18, 2017
– Shelved as:
collected-poems-1934-1952
October 18, 2017
– Shelved as:
book-a-child-s-christmas-in-wales
October 18, 2017
– Shelved as:
book-under-milk-wood
October 18, 2017
– Shelved as:
born-1914-died-1953
October 18, 2017
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-4 of 4 (4 new)
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That was so nice of you to remember a poem that connects you to the poet! And I'm especially glad you loved it! Thanks, Fionnuala.
Thanks for reminding me of Dylan Thomas, Cheryl. I remember learning 'Fern Hill' at school. Let's see if I can recall it...
'When I was young and easy under the apple boughs
About the lilting house and happy as the grass was green....'
I'll have to look up the rest. But how I loved that poem!