Residues

by R.S. Thomas

Contains poems that are paired down to response to the metaphysical questions and contradictions. The enlargement of the author's concerns is built upon the refinement of his technique. This book shows him in a winter light.

Genres: Poetry

70 pages, Hardcover

First published December 31, 2002

About the author

Ronald Stuart Thomas (1913-2000) (otherwise stylised as R.S. Thomas) was a Welsh poet and Anglican priest who was noted for his nationalism, spirituality and deep dislike of the anglicisation of Wales.

Reviews

[j]

wanted to read more of R.S. Thomas because of that Joy Clarkson podcast episode.... read this in between writing final assignments..... this was BEAUTIFUL

/

"'Dance for me,' time
says. 'Half of my kingdom
if you dance well.'
the machine does so

coming with its request
at the end not
for humanity's head but
its heart on a platter."

(Reward)

/

"Ask no rhyme
of a poem, only
that it keep faith

with life's rhythm.
Language will trick
you if it can.
Syntax is words'

way of shackling
the spirit. Poetry is that
which arrives at the intellect
by way of the heart."

/

"Later I was alone in my room
reading, and, the door closed,
she was there, speechlessly enquiring:
Was all well? It was true
what the book said in answer
to the world's question as to where
at death does the soul go:
'There is no need under a pillarless
heaven for it to go anywhere."

(from The Morrow)

[Alan Fricker]

"Poetry is that which arrives at the intellect by way of the heart" AKC recommended reading - I enjoyed it