Gillian Clarke: Selected Poems

by Gillian Clarke

These poems combine traditional skills with a highly individual voice. A unique perspective in Welsh history and the role of women is presented.

Genres: Poetry

112 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1985

About the author

Gillian Clarke is one of the central figures in contemporary Welsh poetry, the third to take up the post of National Poet of Wales. Her own poems have achieved widespread critical and popular acclaim (her Selected Poems has gone through seven printings and her work is studied by GCSE and A Level students throughout Britain) but she has also made her cultural mark through her inspirational role as a teacher, as editor of the Anglo-Welsh Review from 1975 - 1984, and as founder and President of Ty Newydd, the writers' centre in North Wales.

Clarke currently runs an organic small-holding in Ceredigion, the Welsh landscape is a shaping force in her work, together with recurrent themes of war, womanhood and the passage of time. Her last three books have all been Poetry Book Society Recommendations.

Reviews

[Ali Miremadi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some lovely poems. Who says helping the kids with their revision has to be dull?

[Falcon Blackwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful poems. I saw that she had written a poem about Curlews, my personal favourite bird… at first, it didn’t really speak to me, but I re-read it and gradually, its power was released. The same could be said for many of the poems in this book, they are slow burners which, for me, suddenly flame into meaning and depth. I like them all the more for that. There are a range of different subjects and emotions within the book, but the imagery and lyrical writing is always honest and sincere. Wonderful stuff!

[Pamela Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The phrasing and words in these poems invite you to return to a reflection of pure joy, wonder, amazement, horror, pain and tragedy...and humor that is honest and stunning. Simply profound. Love her work!

[Nic Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Discovered Clarke whilst on holiday in Bridport, Dorset. At our Airbnb I found a copy of these amazing poems. Plenty of Welsh interest - I’ve lived in Wales for 35 years - just lovely stuff!

[Dr. des. Siobhán · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good collection of poems. Could've included more Welsh for my liking but I overall enjoyed this.

[Julie Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

The best of. Hiraeth. Cariad.

[David Kenvyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gillian Clarke is someone to be treasured. Her poems evoke a Welshness that will be understood by everyone. They are like the smell of Teisen Lap (a very sugary fruit cake) drifting from the oven as it bakes. They are full of the hiraeth, a longing for a place to which you cannot return, that Housman speaks about in “A Shropshire Lad” or that Burns evokes in “My heart’s in the Hielans” [It has always struck me that when Housman wrote of “blue remembered hills” and of a country to which he could not return – his childhood – he was writing about hiraeth. Unfortunately, the English language does not have a word to match the concept].
There are Welsh words scattered throughout these poems, but they are always translated in a footnote, which means that the reader does not lose the meaning and the impact of the language is not lessened. For me though it was the reference to the places that struck home. The poem about the Honddu valley (pronounced Hon-thee) was particularly enthralling because it is well-known to me. If you have read Owen Sheers “Resistance” it will be familiar to you as the setting of his story. Some of you will know about Llanthony as the place where Eric Gill set up his artists’ colony. Some of you will have seen Capel-y-Ffin towering over the Hay Book Festival.
There poems about the lambs born in the spring. There are poems about the legends of Wales. There are poems about music and the playing of the organ. There are poems about fruit. There are poems about wildlife. There are poems about grandparents, and the Welsh words used for them. There are poems about train journeys and the landscape. There are poems about every aspect of what it means to be Welsh.
These poems exude the landscape, the culture, the food and, even though it is hardly used at all, the language - All the things that make Wales a different country from its larger neighbour. They are a window into the Welsh soul. That is exactly the reason why Gillian Clarke was chosen to be the Poet Laureate of Wales.
All I can say to Gillian Clarke is thank you very much. Diolch yn fawr.

[Nicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Studied Clarke for GCSE, and then got this. I love it. My favourite poem is "October".

[S · Rating 2 out of 5]

Can't we force her into retirement now?

[Ned Gill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gotta say I love this book, the earlier poems I do feel are better then the added one but all are lovely in reminding me of Wales!

[Gareth Culshaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic book of poetry. One of Wales great poets and a leading light for women's writing. This book is a must.

[S-J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Signed by Gillian when I met her at LitSoc.

[Setareh Ebrahimi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book, such high quality poetry. The images in this book were rich and sharp.

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

Glorious.

[Isabella Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

just….holy shit