Collected Poems, 1943-1995

by Alison Hoddinott, Alison Hoddinott (Editor), Gregory Kratzmann (Editor)

This definitive collection is a bumper edition of over 600 pages of published and previously uncollected poems, many illuminated by the poet’s own notes. Harwood’s pseudonymous selves have made literary history, most famously perhaps as Walter Lehmann whose Bulletin acrostic “f*#k” — once deciphered — rocked the Establishment. This collection is the product of diligent research by Harwood scholars Alison Hoddinott and Gregory Kratzmann, both longtime friends of the poet. Their editorial introduction places Gwen Harwood, who died in 1995, among the most formidable literary talents of our age.Roll back, you fabulous animalbe human, sleep. I’ll call you upfrom water’s dazzle, wheat-blond hills,clear light and open-hearted roses,this day’s extravagance of bluestored like a pulse beat in the skull.Gwen Harwood, ‘Carnal Knowledge 1’

Genres: Poetry

640 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2003

Reviews

[laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

it apparently took me a whole year to read this. poetry is just a thing you have to be im the headspace for and today i finally was. poetry's for januarys

[Lefa · Rating 5 out of 5]

flipping through my copy again, really enjoying re-experiencing the poems on motherhood now I can directly relate.

[Frankie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It feels mean giving this three stars, when parts of it I enjoyed a lot and it meant something to me to read it, but the best poems started for me at around page 300, and much of the last sections were poems written to read at functions, all of which read like poems written to read at functions, so it was a bit of a slog. The more introspective poems, including the pastorals written at Kettering/Oyster Cove, I liked the most.