The Poetry of Lucy Maud Montgomery

by L.M. Montgomery, Kevin McCabe (Introduction), Lucy Maud Montgomery

Book by

Genres: Poetry, Classics, Canada, Nonfiction, Adult, Canadian Literature

153 pages, Hardcover

First published April 30, 1987

About the author

Lucy Maud Montgomery was a Canadian author whose novels, stories, essays and poems made her one of the most widely read writers in Canadian literary history. Publishing under the name L. M. Montgomery, she achieved international recognition with the novel Anne of Green Gables, released in 1908, which quickly became a bestseller and introduced readers to the imaginative orphan Anne Shirley. The success of the book transformed Montgomery from a schoolteacher and magazine contributor into a celebrated literary figure whose work reached audiences far beyond Canada. Raised on Prince Edward Island, she drew deeply on its landscapes, rural communities, and storytelling traditions, turning the island into the setting for many of her novels. The popularity of Anne of Green Gables led to numerous sequels, including Anne of Avonlea and Anne of the Island, establishing a beloved series that followed Anne from childhood to adulthood. Montgomery continued to write steadily throughout her life, producing twenty novels and more than a thousand short stories poems and essays. Her fiction often centered on young women, personal growth, and the emotional ties between people and place, combining gentle humor with reflections on memory, imagination, and belonging. Although she enjoyed enormous popularity, Montgomery also faced personal difficulties, including long periods of depression and the strain of caring for her husband, a Presbyterian minister who struggled with mental illness. Writing became both a profession and a refuge, allowing her to transform memories of childhood and observation of everyday life into vivid storytelling. In addition to the Anne series, she created other notable works, including the Emily novels and several stand alone stories that explored identity, creativity, and attachment to home. Her books were translated widely and attracted devoted readers around the world, helping shape the international image of Prince Edward Island as a place of pastoral beauty and warm community life. Scholars later studied her extensive journals letters and manuscripts, which revealed the complex inner life behind the cheerful tone of many of her books. By the time of her death in 1942, Montgomery had become one of the most successful and influential authors in Canadian literature. Her stories about imagination, resilience, and the search for belonging continue to inspire readers of all ages, and Anne Shirley remains one of the most recognizable characters in children's fiction. Through generations of readers, Montgomery's work has encouraged appreciation for storytelling, nature, and the emotional richness of ordinary life. Her legacy also includes a vast body of diaries and correspondence that document the challenges faced by a professional woman writer in the early twentieth century. Institutions such as the L. M. Montgomery Institute have continued to examine her influence on literature culture and tourism, particularly on Prince Edward Island, where sites associated with her fiction attract visitors from many countries. Adaptations of Anne of Green Gables for film, television, and theatre have introduced new audiences to her stories, ensuring that her characters remain part of global popular culture. Though critical opinion once dismissed her as merely a writer for children, later scholarship recognized the depth of her themes and the enduring craft of her storytelling. Today she is remembered as a central figure in Canadian literature whose imaginative vision gave voice to the beauty of rural life while celebrating the hopes of young dreamers who search for belonging.

Reviews

[Manybooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I of course and also quite naturally for me do not tend to all that much enjoy and have in fact never really liked L.M. Montgomery’s love poetry all that much (as well as those verses where Montgomery waxes away a bit too patriotically and sometimes even with a sense of distinct but for me also rather uncomfortable nationalism), she always most definitely and certainly does have a sweetly tender lyrical eye and delightful sense for nature and of course first and foremost for the sea (lyrical musings about nature’s seasonal magic, about flowers, trees and Prince Edward Island’s red roads and enchanting pathways and indeed the magical, enthralling call of the ocean, a passionate appreciation and love for its wildness, for its sense of mystery, for the sea’s siren song of yearning for places abroad, exotic and unknown).

And thus, while some of the sections in Poetry of Lucy Maud Montgomery and some of editors presented and featured personal choices I have bien sûr not found all that much to my lyrical tastes (but which I have also totally expected as I have indeed never to date encountered a poet or a poetress where I have equally liked and appreciated all of his or her output, usually finding certain subjects and certain ways of lyrical expression not compatible with and to me both poetically and emotionally), I do as already mentioned above absolutely adore L.M. Montgomery’s ocean and nature themed verses and yes indeed with all my heart, with all my soul and being.

Therefore and finally, I do most definitely majorly and highly recommend Poetry of Lucy Maud Montgomery even though that on a personal level, I certainly can and will only suggest the latter types of poems (Montgomery’s ocean and nature themed verses), because yes, L.M. Montgomery’s ocean, seasonal and nature themed poems, they are (they have been) totally magical and delightfully descriptive, absolutely evocative enough to make Poetry of Lucy Maud Montgomery truly special and wonderful (and for a rating of four solid stars, albeit that there is love, human interest and some political themed poetry included in Poetry of Lucy Maud Montgomery which thematics and content wise just are absolutely not really my thing and never will be to my poetic tastes).

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many know of Lucy Maud Montgomery as the author of ANNE OF GREEN GABLES. Lucy Maud Montgomery was born in November 30 1874 in Clifton, Prince Edward Island. The Introduction of this book gives some insight into her life and her writing of poetry and prose.
The poems in THE POETRY OF LUCY MAUD MONTGOMERY selected and introduced by John Ferns and Kevin McCabe were written to reach readers she thought of as "kindred spirits".

THE MAYFLOWER'S MESSAGE, WHEN AUTUMN COMES, AFTER DROUGHT, and IN TWILIGHT FIELDS are my four favourite poems from Part 1: Poems of Nature. I like the message they tell and the way Lucy Maud Montgomery put the words together.

Part II: Poems of Humanity had five poems that "tickled my fancy".
THE APPLE-PICKING TIME brings back memories of apple-picking time in the Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia. There apple-picking starts in August and goes on until the apples are all picked, often as late as November. There are many varieties of apples grown - early, mid season and late.
One autumn, needing money and wanting adventure, a friend and I decided to pick apples. We would start in the early morning hours and work at filling the bins until the sun went down.
It was hard, but rewarding work and we appreciated being outside in the clean fresh air - not so much when it was rainy and cold.
My favourite apples to eat are Ginger Gold, Burgundy, Cortland, Old Fashioned Gravensteins, Red Gravensteins, Jonagold and Northern Spy. Some prefer to buy the apples called Honeycrisp.

The three poems COULD WE BUT KNOW, THE WORDS I DID NOT SAY, and THE LAND OF SOME DAY were in Part II, but under the subtitle Ethical Verse. They are poignant and very well written.
THE GRUMBLE FAMILY seems familiar to me. It's a fun four stanza verse about those who complain and grumble.
I enjoyed reading this book of poetry slowly and taking time to ponder over the poems. 4 stars ⭐️️⭐️️⭐️️⭐️️

[Kathryn]

My PEI book purchase! :-)

[Courtney Herondale · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first half of this books poetry was definitely a five but the second half of the book was only a four. Just such beautiful vivid imagery I loved it.

[Linda Sacco · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although Montgomery wrote hundreds of poems in her lifetime, this is a collection of just under a hundred. These make for an intriguing collection of poetry, grouped by subject matter. Her odes to feeling at one with nature are plentiful, and she really shines when tackling humanity in her ethical verse and reflections on childhood and youth. I'm glad I bought this book to satisfy my curiosity about Montgomery's poetry. Like most readers, I know of her from her Anne of Green Gables series and her wonderful Emily series. If you enjoy her prose, it's well worth tracking down her poetry. There's something in here for everyone.

[Carrie Brownell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read a different edition of this book (a much prettier one). I've owned this collection of Montgomery's poetry for years and years and have read it through a few times. Critics will tell you she's not the best writer of poetry and she might have agreed with them. It's clear from reading through her poems, that she LIKES poetry and is trying to create something beautiful with words. However, I think her strong suit is prose. At any rate, this collection makes for interesting reading for any true fan of Montgomery.

[Susie Peky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing poems! Some beautifully describe nature's wonders and some have a great nostalgic tone to them. Her descriptions are as if you can see or feel what she portrays.
Though You can never thoroughly finish a poetry book.... there's always something new to notice every time you read....

[Sheri-lee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh.

[Adrika Mondal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucy Maud Montgomery has inspired me a lot. Her writings always make me content. Maud's poetry collection was something I coveted to read. When I finally got a kindle copy of it, I started reading it at once. Truthfully, the edition which I read(a public domain book) had very poor fonts. I will recommend not to choose it if you desire to read it, apart from this cons, the book will be a great read.
LM Montgomery mostly wrote nature poems, painting both sombre and happy themes. I devoured all the contents of this poetry collection. I found some poems portraying the same themes but that wasn't a disadvantage as she wrote all of them in a different style. She also wrote different verses including french verse. There are hidden meanings which when discovered will surely touch your heart and you'll crave to read more of her passionate works. 

Few of my favourites include:

Fancies
The Call of the Winds
The Poet
I Feel(this was a verse libre)
Realization
As the Heart Hopes

Maud's writings will remain vibrant on my heart, forever. Being the victim of several uncertainties she continued writing as it helped her escape from her life's chaos. Her works were always the product of hard work, passion and love. She is an inspiration, indeed.


~Adrika

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely collection of poetry from Lucy Maud Montgomery. Some feel like they could have come from the pen of Anne Shirley.

They cover a range of topics--nature, romance, loss, home. It's a book worthy of being read more than once.

Update, 11/17/25:
This time around, Montgomery's poetry accompanied our Morning Time. Absolutely lovely.

[Morgan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not a poetry fan so I am really not a great judge of this book. It does offer some insight into the darker side of the author. Her usual flights of fancy are in there too. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone and don't think that it will be in heavy rotation in my re-read pile.

[Jennie Lanz · Rating 2 out of 5]

The introduction was the most interesting part. I'm really not a fan of romantic poetry.

[C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I prefer L.M Montgomery's novels to her poetry but I did enjoy this. A nice read with a cup of tea

[Sheryl Sato · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful collection of poems to feed your soul.

[Brian Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Grumble Family" is my favorite. This is worth reading for several reasons, you'll find out why when you read it.

[Kereesa · Rating 2 out of 5]

There's a reason no one talks about Montgomery's poetry.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

My final review for 2022!

I will admit, I struggled reading this even though I love Montgomery and her writing.

I think this is due to my mental health taking a huge plunge downward. I’ve been struggling to get back into things I enjoy. Usually everything has been a battle to find any solace in.

So far, only two friends and a single anime (One Piece) has helped. I’m slowly making my track back to my normal self but it’s still hard.

I don’t blame Montgomery in the slightest for my struggles with this book. Some of the poetry was good. Some poetry wasn’t for me. Montgomery had one hell of a mind that I’m sure anyone would love.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not and never have been a big poetry reader, so it doesn't surprise me that there were ups and downs. Plus, as the preface discusses so well, Montgomery's poetry itself varies in level. There were a couple that I really liked, a couple that missed the rhythm aspect of poems that I personally am extraordinarily attuned to and which drives me crazy when it's missed, and most of them were fine. Glad I read them, though. Another little glimpse into the life and art of one of my favorite authors.

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

''On the last day of 1892, she wrote in her diary:

'92 dies tonight - a glorious death, for the white earth floats in aerial silver to frost and moonshine and the sky is powdered with thousands of stars to watch its deathbed,"

[Brenton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review to follow on Jun 8, 2021

[Makayla]

Lucy Maud Montgomery grapples the human heart with her wordsmithery. I particularly feel her passion and niche is nature. She truly grasps the essence of the simple moments in life: an apple picking, a bird calling, the ocean waves. Most beautiful.