Darryl Friesen’s Reviews > The Collected Poems of C. S. Lewis: A Critical Edition > Status Update

Finished Part II of this collection, up to the end of 1919, which is mostly made up of poems from WWI, including the published collection, “Spirits in Bondage”. Unrelentingly dark and despairing, with only moments and glimmers of brilliance and hope scattered throughout. But beautiful, beautiful writing.

“The Ass” (pub. 1919) is wonderful!

“Atoms dead could never thus
Stir the human heart of us
Unless the beauty that we see
The veil of endless beauty be,
Filled full of spirits that have trod
Far hence along the heavenly sod
And seen the bright footprints of God.”
~from “Song” (May 1918)