Selected poems

by Gwen Harwood

Glittering with inventive wit and subversive humor, this evocative collection of poetry explores themes of yearning and loss. The reflections range in scope from Mozart to the Tasmanian landscape and from geese to heavyhearted love. The poet’s many pseudonyms are fresh identities that come together in this comprehensive oeuvre of one of Australia’s most brilliant female artists.

Genres: Poetry, School, 20th Century

111 pages, Paperback

First published September 3, 2001

Reviews

[Tanzin Myers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Low key changed my life

[Lea · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, I tried reading something different...the poetry style is not the type I usually like, and I couldn’t relate much to the poems at all. I personally didn’t really enjoy reading this book, but I did appreciate some lines here and there. Regardless, I’m happy I finished, and actually surprised I pulled through. Luckily, I felt like reading poetry that was outside of my comfort zone. If I wasn’t in the mood, I don’t think I’d have finished this book. Glad it’s finally done tho ✅ 1.5 stars

[chlo ✰ · Rating 4 out of 5]

the themes of motherhood shattered me into a million pieces

only read like 12 poems but let me tell you they were GOOD

[Annabel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a collection of many wonderful poems, these poems were emotionally powerful and some even made me shed a tear. I thoroughly enjoyed reading these selected poems by Gwen Harwood

[Lou | bookswithlou]

This was one of my year 12 English texts, I need not read all the poems but I quite enjoyed a number of the ones I did read.

[Aqsa R · Rating 4 out of 5]

beautiful, passionate

[Stef Rozitis · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's interesting that just because she is a successful female poet people typically label Harwood a "feminist poet". I am not sure that this is really true- I doubt it's her intention and it's certainly not how she comes across. Is this the 90s cliche that anything that is not a doormat is automatically a feminist? Harwood's voice is quite liberal, and to me liberal seems conservative- like someone who mostly believes in the system and the great men but does at least want to open it up a bit through the use of reason and building culture.

I learned a fair bit (I think) from reading her poetry. Now and then I was amused or impressed or moved but mostly this just seemed very conservative- perhaps it wasn't in it's own day! I was lucky enough later to read a book of essays about Harwood which gave me a bit more insight. An interesting discussion in the book was ho Harwood gives us layers and layers of fake memoir which is cool and I would like to learn to do more of that. I am glad I read it (and I certainly enjoyed it more than Dante which I am currently suffering through) but ...shrugs...

[Kitty · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

[Anka · Rating 5 out of 5]

She has become one of my favourite poets. Amazing use of poetic techniques alongside important themes. Absolutely brilliant, thankful to study good poetry at school.

[The Book Type Gal · Rating 3 out of 5]

You can hear my thoughts on my blog: https://thebooktypegal.wordpress.com/...

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gwen deftly combines musicality, nature and her life experiences and weaves them into poetry. This book was a chance pick up at a local op shop, where through the course of a year, I finished the compendium of over a hundred poems. Themes of love, motherhood, pastorals, music, nature, art, life and death were covered in a range of rhyming schemes. Much of her poetry is personal, which can be a plus or a negative for a reader. Attempting to traverse her personal constructs, I enjoyed imagining my own intellections to animate her poetic frames. What was particularly refreshing about her writing is the musical vein that she embodies in her poetry.

Favourite quote:

You will find all nature exhausted as beauty though radiant as mystery still.
- At the Water’s Edge, To Vivian Smith.

[Idiolalia]

Selected poems by Gwen Harwood (2001)

[Charlotte Donovan · Rating 3 out of 5]

my feminist queen

[Pip · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it, I don't read a lot of poetry but so glad I read this and spent the time to admire it. Gwen Harwood is lowkey an icon