The Poetic Image

by Cecil Day-Lewis

Discusses the creative principles of poetry, the use of image and pattern, the inspiration of real events, symbolism, and metaphor

Genres: Poetry

157 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1947

About the author

Cecil Day-Lewis, often written as C. Day-Lewis, was an Anglo-Irish poet and Poet Laureate from 1968 until his death in 1972. He also wrote mystery stories under the pseudonym of Nicholas Blake, most of which feature the fictional detective Nigel Strangeways.
During World War II, Day-Lewis worked as a publications editor in the Ministry of Information for the U.K. government, and also served in the Musbury branch of the British Home Guard. He was the father of actor Daniel Day-Lewis, and documentary filmmaker and television chef Tamasin Day-Lewis.

Reviews

[Astragen · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're into stuff like this, you can read the full review.

Word of Warning: What you're about to read might not make much sense if you don't have read the book. Read at your own peril...


Perhaps what Blake also represents to me is the “thou†in performance, on a threshold over which lay different spacial awareness, new, thee in triplicate state, digital long haul through double-number's realm - restoring boring patter to the even lie that led to this.

PS

Goodbye

I cannot go on for very much longer, because Carol's shelf-life, at the bottom of a reject-pile, thee's words, alert the authorities to one's 'undercover' performance as thine own Songs of Experience and Failure, 'shit', you know how it is. Blake here, he did you feel injustice because it is all there?

Anonymity, rejection, failure. It's all you knew and experienced, as a prophet: not only unrecognised by the community in your own land of 'Albion', as their Prophet; but also viewed with bafflement, indifference, disconnection, de-friend quality in personal dealings with your fellow bards, more or less, wholly inconsequential; you have, like, 'zero' effect you, in Albion thine of a too, too soppy mug, sceptic tank, this beach, this hut, this sea, this dump, this fecking Portugal’s greater glory, God and Lady AD's words, offering tokens of animal sacrifice and conditions on a toilet by the lake where.


If you're into Poetry and Blake in particular, read on.

[Mustafa Bilal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very solid exploration of image in poetry and how it is central to a poetic work. I found the book by chance from an old vendor, otherwise I would have slept on this gem of a work.

[يوسف عبداللطيف · Rating 4 out of 5]

A brilliantly structured analysis offering a fresh perspective, 'The Poetic Image' by Cecil Day-Lewis, providing the reader with an intellectually stimulating discourse, making it an indispensable addition for any critical thinker.