Wild Angels

Poetry #1

by Ursula K. Le Guin

Book by Ursula K. Le Guin

Genres: Poetry

50 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1975

About the author

Ursula K. Le Guin published twenty-two novels, eleven volumes of short stories, four collections of essays, twelve books for children, six volumes of poetry and four of translation, and has received many awards: Hugo, Nebula, National Book Award, PEN-Malamud, etc. Her recent publications include the novel Lavinia, an essay collection, Cheek by Jowl, and The Wild Girls. She lived in Portland, Oregon.

She was known for her treatment of gender (The Left Hand of Darkness, The Matter of Seggri), political systems (The Telling, The Dispossessed) and difference/otherness in any other form. Her interest in non-Western philosophies was reflected in works such as "Solitude" and The Telling but even more interesting are her imagined societies, often mixing traits extracted from her profound knowledge of anthropology acquired from growing up with her father, the famous anthropologist, Alfred Kroeber. The Hainish Cycle reflects the anthropologist's experience of immersing themselves in new strange cultures since most of their main characters and narrators (Le Guin favoured the first-person narration) are envoys from a humanitarian organization, the Ekumen, sent to investigate or ally themselves with the people of a different world and learn their ways.

Reviews

[DivaDiane SM · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most of these poems from UKL’s first published book of poetry wouldn’t be considered speculative poetry, but there’s not so much that is terribly realistic either. She herself said that she didn’t have any control to make her poems SF or Fantasy. Many are very dreamlike, and all are imbued with Le Guin’s gorgeous language. Several I don’t profess to have understood at all. A few of my favorite poems were “The Darkness”, “The Anger”, “Ars Lunga”, “Arboreal” and “Dreampoem”. And probably several from the first half that I didn’t make note of here on GR.

I’m sure I’ll return to these poems one day.

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a slim volume that collects some of LeGuin's early poetry. They're mostly of traditional, classic arrangement, and her word-choice is always rich and evocative. There's little here of a speculative fiction nature, but but her dreamlike descriptions are quite stirring. I'm not sure that I always understood just what she was saying, but that's quite all right for poems... she always said everything very well.

[Kristyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did not expect to like this collection of poems as much as I did. I have read many of Ursula K. Le Guin's novels and short stories, and sometimes when you are used to a writer's voice in one format, it can be jarring in another. These poems are story though, and hints of larger story, they are smooth and windblown. I was enchanted by the first sequence of poems "Coming of Age" and my mind kept trying to make the other poems connected to that sequence as well, which points to how well those connected with me.

[Peggy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm being hard on Le Guin by giving Wild Angels only three stars; 3.5 is more like it. This is her first chapbook, published in 1975. The poems draw from her lifelong immersion in fantasy and mythology, classics, dreams, and people from her California life. In the tradition of fantasy literature, these poems are metered and rhymed, contradicting the prevailing interest in free verse of the time. As usual, Le Guin was ahead of her time. My favorite poem is the brief "Offering," which I can imagine could be an effective prayer and last thought for all poets approaching sleep.

I made a poem going
to sleep last night, woke
in sunlight, it was clean forgotten.

If it was any good, gods
of the great darkness
where sleep goes and farther
death goes, you not named,
then as true offering
accept it.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5

I’m not much of a poetry reader, so I knew reading her books of poetry might be tough to get through in my slow goal of reading everything Le Guin published, but honestly this was a treat. I don’t always (or perhaps more accurately: often) “get” poetry, but a few of these I loved and none drove me mad, so yay, progress haha. I am still slightly dreading reading her longer books of poetry, but I really need to just change how I read them. I’m someone that has to read a book cover-to-cover, but that doesn’t work as well for poetry so I’m hoping to slowly train myself to read poetry better.

[Mark Oppenlander · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a brief chapbook of some of Ursula K. LeGuin's early poetry. Much of it comes from a dreamlike place, not unlike some of her short stories, written outside of any specific time or place. While a handful reference the natural world, or recognizable human activities, many seem to simply evoke moods or emotions.

I actually found this collection relatively dull. It was certainly unmemorable. I enjoy LeGuin's poetic writing in her prose. But I guess I don't care much for her actual poetry.

[andré crombie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beyond the castle towers lay the hills,
folded and forest-darkened
or round and covered with dry grass.
And we come here to the heart of the pain
having reached the heart of peace.

One wild-oats stalk on an empty sky,
elegant, fragile, painful, and fulfilled.

[Miguel Vian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ursula's distinctive good taste and clarity and with words is even present in her very first published collection of poetry. Whatever may be good or bad, she always ended up finding the right way. The Tao way.

[Unreliable NarraTBR · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

big sad

[fer veganda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I chose this to honor the change of seasons.
Deep, polished poems with much symbolism and astute syntax in addition to the heart-felt poetic body.

[Joe Hay · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think this book is good, not great. Mostly for Le Guin completionists. I found most of the poems enjoyable, covering her usual themes of patience, compassion, and the power of writing, among other things. Lots of stones and small animals, good stuff.

The longest poem, which opens the book, "Coming of Age," I thought was somewhat tedious and too opaque. Did I do it justice as a reader? I'm not sure. I may read it again. The whole volume is very short. But I didn't find it memorable. I know as a fact she went on to publish poetry that moved me a lot more.

[Madison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow I feel so lucky to get to read this over and over again. 10/10.

[Elliott · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hmm. I really love LeGuin's poetic prose, but this didn't have the same allure for me. I'm new to poetry though so my palate just might be pretty undeveloped.

[Gabby Gilliam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish you could give half stars. This is a solid 3.5 for me. I don't like it as much as some of Le Guin's other books of poetry, but there were still a handful here that really spoke to me.

[Carole · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am not much of a poetry person, so it is hard for me to rate this. Not my favorite poems, but others might like them better.