Collected Poems of Walter De LA Mare

by Walter de la Mare

De la Mare's capacity to both disturb and charm is demonstrated in a compilation of verse from earlier published volumes that chronologically arranges poems dating from 1906 to 1953

Genres: Poetry

460 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1920

About the author

Walter John de la Mare was an English poet, short story writer and novelist. He is probably best remembered for his works for children, for his poem "The Listeners", and for his psychological horror short fiction, including "Seaton's Aunt" and "All Hallows". In 1921, his novel Memoirs of a Midget won the James Tait Black Memorial Prize for fiction, and his post-war Collected Stories for Children won the 1947 Carnegie Medal for British children's books.

Reviews

[Hilary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having enjoyed Walter de la Mare's poetry for children I was excited about reading his other work but didn't find much I enjoyed. Will try again with this at some point but was disappointed it was so different from the work I knew him for.

[Tori Samar · Rating 5 out of 5]

'What is this Poetry,' self whispered self,
'But the endeavour, faithfully and well
As speech in language man-devisèd can,
To enshrine therein the inexpressible?'

Walter de la Mare has now joined the ranks of my favorite poets. I’m so sad to finish this collection and lose him (for now) as my near-daily reading companion. As with any poetry collection, some poems are better than others, but this collection is still chock full of poems that mesmerized me with their beauty of both language and images. And because Walter de la Mare had such a penchant for the mysterious, I felt even more than I usually do when reading good poetry that the veil was being pulled back for a moment to reveal an unseen reality.

(The Literary Life Podcast’s 2 for '22 Reading Challenge: Poetry, Well Read Poem Podcast Poets – Second poet)

[Ruth · Rating 2 out of 5]

After a lifetime of familiarity with poems of childhood, many of which were written by Walter de la Mare and are favorites of mine, I borrowed this collection from the local library with high hopes--only to be puzzled by how few poems really spoke to me. Many were on the cumbersome side, somehow; only a few stood out as truly lovely gems of the art. de la Mare shows a quirky tendency to write many poems on the same subject (for instance, several poems on owls..?) and many have a dark, even morose, tone. I suspect he--like many poets before and since--struggled with depression. Often that can bring special insight, but in this case, it just read as sort of sad and dark. Too bad--I was kind of disappointed overall.

[Benjamin Smedberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Walter de la Mare's poems because many of them have obvious meaning and are not abstract, but still have beautiful depth. You can learn them as a child and they will grow up with you. I especially love "Be Angry Now No More" from "The Listeners", in which the author begs for forgiveness, but almost despairs of it being given.

[Salli · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will admit to dipping this book rather than reading every poem. It was the topic for my poetry club this month. When I first read them I found them just too Victorian and ordinary. As I have read more they have grown on me. He lived into the 1950s and continued to write "proper" poetry, so you find alliteration, rhyme, onomatopoeia, simile, metaphor, verses etc. I can't say I have grown to love his poems, they seem to remain on a surface or observational level to me, he has a good turn of phrase which occasionally (for me) struck home and I do admire his work.

[Pollymoore3 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Favourites: the much-anthologised but still mysterious “The Listeners”, and “An Epitaph”(“Here lies a most beautiful lady”).

[Derek Henderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great poet on all levels

[DocNora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adored him as a child and I still can't get enough of him..

[Gavin Lightfoot · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very much poetry of the imagination, often feeling that you are in a fantasy realm. I usually prefer blank verse, but his rymes and use of language shine through.