Letters from Maine

by May Sarton

Book by Sarton, May

Genres: Poetry, Lesbian

62 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1984

About the author

May Sarton was born on May 3, 1912, in Wondelgem, Belgium, and grew up in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Her first volume of poetry, Encounters in April, was published in 1937 and her first novel, The Single Hound, in 1938. An accomplished memoirist, Sarton boldly came out as a lesbian in her 1965 book Mrs. Stevens Hears the Mermaids Singing. Her later memoir, Journal of a Solitude, was an account of her experiences as a female artist. Sarton died in York, Maine, on July 16, 1995.

Reviews

[Julie G · Rating 3 out of 5]

May Sarton was an incredibly prolific American writer who has now vanished, POOF, from our collective bookshelves.

Her work deserves to be read, and two of my favorites of hers are a novel, ANGER, and a memoir, JOURNAL OF A SOLITUDE.

She published some 15+ collections of original poetry and this is my second attempt at it. No disrespect to Ms. Sarton, but her poetry isn’t my favorite genre of hers.

This work, published collectively in 1984, centers around a later-in-life romance. Ms. Sarton had lived alone, for years, after the passing of her romantic partner, and this work marks the appearance and then the quick departure of a new romantic prospect.

In theory, it is all very interesting. What happens to us, when we have grieved and struggled, then survived and thrived, and then someone new comes along and messes with our routines, our thoughts and our nervous systems?

We have what was planned, and something more,
We have what was planned and something less.
Salvage, invent, re-think and re-explore
The garden-child and the child-wilderness--
Each day I recognize their fealty
To that self whom I slowly learn to free.

This self has lately come to solitude
Who long demanded love as source and prime.
Now the wild garden and the ragged wood,
And the uncharted winter’s fallow time
Become the source and the true reservoir:
Look for my love in the autumnal flower.

Despite the themes of autumn/winter, aging and grieving, this is a surprisingly empowering and uplifting collection.

I love this in theory, or I should write: I love her positivity and her ability to thrive alone.

What works less for me: the actual verse. The poetry here, for the most part, feels a bit “dialed in” for me. A little dull?

All in all, not very memorable for me, though I do love the idea she suggests in this stanza, that we are all natural beings and our inclination is to survive and grow:

After a winter’s silence
I feel the shock of spring.
My breath warms like the sun,
Melts ice, bursts into song.
So when that inner one
Gives life back the power
To rise up and push through,
There’s nothing to it.
We simply have to do it,
As snowdrops know
When snowdrops flower.

I think it’s good to remember, especially these days, that it is our nature to right ourselves and thrive again.

[Ruth York · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always have a hard time rating poetry. Some is easy, when it speaks to me. This volume was nice. But very few resonated with me in any deep way. That being said, I know they do with others. Because that is the nature of poetry. I did particularly enjoy "After a Winter's Silence" (perhaps because I am on the eve of spring here in Maine) and "The Image is a Garden" (likely because while the poem is set in autumn, I am anxious to get my hands into the dirt of my own garden).

[lou · Rating 3 out of 5]

sarton is a lovely observer of the world & of relationships, some of these fell flat for me but overall lovely

[Alexa Liccardi · Rating 5 out of 5]

crushed by may sarton, the good kind

[Jeanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Moose in the Morning. May Sarton always comes across as a depressed soul. Except in her poem “Moose in the Morning “. The delight and excitement of seeing a moose upon waking can certainly cure one of any ill feelings.

Nice selection of poems. Perhaps winter in Maine brings one to feel rather sodden. And so her poems can be as bleak as a gray day shrouded in fog. Or equally enticing to share in the mystery of nature and it’s ability to cure.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

May Sarton is a favorite author and prolific writer of novels, poetry, short stories and memoir. I'm working my way through her writing. I want to include more poetry in my reading. This is a short, solid collection that provides a glimpse into Sarton's appreciation for nature, solitude and friendships.

[Brooke Haley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This little book of poetry is one I was gifted by very close family members who share a love of everything Maine and literature with me. It’s such a beautiful collection, and I found myself re-reading certain poems that really spoke to me. The themes of loss, aging, and healing by the ocean waves all resonated with me on different levels. This is a collection I plan to revisit often.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm committed to reading at least one book of poetry each week in April, since it's National Poetry Month. I'd not read May Sarton's poetry before, though I've read some of her books. This was lovely.

[Jacqueline Gordon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have a particular interest in regionally inspired poetry, and this collection did not disappoint. The beautiful winter landscape of the Northeast shines through beautifully in this collection, and I hope to find more like it.

[q-bert · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice collection of May Sarton’s poems. I personally really enjoyed her poems surrounding her life in Maine, describing the calmness she felt and the changing of seasons. Overall a great collection of works- I’m happy to have stumbled upon it at work!

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful, meaningful writing. Good for those who are grieving.

[EternalClementine · Rating 4 out of 5]

The ambivalence of both life and death, of both creation and loss.
Thank you May Sarton, this was exactly what I wanted to read !

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure why I never read any of May Sarton's work. Sometimes I think because I'm from Maine, I disregard those poets also from Maine, thinking they're no good because how could they be? They're like me. (Ridiculous thinking, I know.) But when a library patron returned this book and highly recommended it, I figured I'd give it a shot.

I had no idea how much passion May Sarton had. I think of her as an old woman, but old women are just like all of us---full of ideas and memories and in Sarton's case, passion. The poems, The Seed and A Farewell, were my favorites. Both a bit about mourning a love that was lost.

I would have given this 3.5 stars, but not quite four. There were a bunch of poems about winter that I didn't care for and one about dolphins dying that could have been quite poignant, but just made me roll my eyes. Yet nearly every poem Sarton wrote in this book about someone she loved, was beautiful or heartbreaking or breath-taking. Now I know why she is so well known.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

What better inspiration for a poet than the demise of a brief love affair and Maine, especially Maine in winter? Some of the poems eluded me, but the ones that didn't were stunning. Some of my favorites were "Snowfall," (does one get a better description of a gentle winter snowfall than this: "A cool white down, a tenderness of snowing?") "For Monet," (truly as awe-inspiring as the best Monet painting), and "Moose in the Morning" (oh,to see a moose in the morning!). So, must read more Sarton.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m glad I read this. These poems spoke of both the pain and the recovery from a broken love affair. But as in all good poetry they did go deeper than that as well. A collection like this could be maudlin or way too revealing - but she, for the most part, keeps a nice balance. She is learning and teaching at the same time. She helped me see some things I might otherwise miss in my own life and in the lives of others.

[Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

May Sarton is May Sarton

In any May Sarton book, you can expect an exactness and precision of language, a taut prosody, and a clear vision. This book has that, and it has integrity in spades.

[Debbi]

Was expecting some nature connections from this title by favorite author. Was about a recently ended love affair so put it aside. May go back to it later. Moved on to Wendell Berry.

[Edward Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love her poetry

[Kristina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Overly sentimental and simplistic at times. School-girlish.

[Jordan St. Stier]

An absolutely beautiful book of poems, by the ever-fabulous May Sarton.