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Under the North Star
Under the North Star
Hardcover
First published March 31, 1981
About the author
Ted Hughes
393 books743 followersEdward James Hughes was an English poet, translator, and children's writer. Critics frequently rank him as one of the best poets of his generation and one of the twentieth century's greatest writers. He was appointed Poet Laureate in 1984 and held the office until his death. In 2008, The Times ranked Hughes fourth on its list of "The 50 greatest British writers since 1945".
He married fellow poet Sylvia Plath in 1956, and they lived together in the United States and then in England, in a tumultuous relationship. They had two children before separating in 1962 and Plath ended her own life in 1963.
He married fellow poet Sylvia Plath in 1956, and they lived together in the United States and then in England, in a tumultuous relationship. They had two children before separating in 1962 and Plath ended her own life in 1963.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 12, 2021
The hushed limbs of forest,
Of clouds, of mountains, here
Take their hard-earned rest
Under the Lynx's ear.
In his sleep, they sleep—
As in a deep lake—deep.
Do not disturb this beast
Or clouds will open eyes,
Soundless the forest
Will fold away all its trees
And hazy mountains
Fade among their stones.
September 10, 2021
Open Library. Boring poems, wondrous art.
January 27, 2014
Glorious art.
I really enjoyed the poetry, especially the piece entitled An Evening Seal. Rich and well spoken. However, in many of his poems, the words felt excessive... And it felt a chore to read some of them. All in all though, it was still an enjoyable escape.
I really enjoyed the poetry, especially the piece entitled An Evening Seal. Rich and well spoken. However, in many of his poems, the words felt excessive... And it felt a chore to read some of them. All in all though, it was still an enjoyable escape.
July 26, 2021
Hughes, Ted. Under the North Star. Illus. by Baskin, Leonard. NY: Viking Press, 1981. 46 pgs. Elementary.
Set under the “North Star” in Alaska, 14 animals of the tundra and forests are highlighted through individual poems showcasing their individual qualities and strengths. The layout of the poems and organization of the book are quite lovely in nature, but at times it seemed as though some were excessively wordy which made a couple hard to read. However, the full-color detailed drawings do a wonderful job capturing the beauty and mystery in Alaskan’s wildlife.
AK: Loon, Wolverine, Snowy Owl, Black Bear, Seal, Muskellunge, Lynx, Snow-Shoe Hare, Woodpecker, Musk-Ox, Heron, Grizzly Bear, Brooktrout, Wendigo, Osprey, Moose, Arctic Fox, Puma, Skunk, Goose, Wolf, Mosquito, Eagle
Activity: Pair with a unit on Poetry. Have each child choose an Alaskan animal and write an acrostic poem describing that animal.
Set under the “North Star” in Alaska, 14 animals of the tundra and forests are highlighted through individual poems showcasing their individual qualities and strengths. The layout of the poems and organization of the book are quite lovely in nature, but at times it seemed as though some were excessively wordy which made a couple hard to read. However, the full-color detailed drawings do a wonderful job capturing the beauty and mystery in Alaskan’s wildlife.
AK: Loon, Wolverine, Snowy Owl, Black Bear, Seal, Muskellunge, Lynx, Snow-Shoe Hare, Woodpecker, Musk-Ox, Heron, Grizzly Bear, Brooktrout, Wendigo, Osprey, Moose, Arctic Fox, Puma, Skunk, Goose, Wolf, Mosquito, Eagle
Activity: Pair with a unit on Poetry. Have each child choose an Alaskan animal and write an acrostic poem describing that animal.
August 2, 2020
Picked up for Baskin and the illustrations alone are easily worth picking it up for. The poems range from upsettingly beautiful to children's doggerel, which is weird but not awful.
December 18, 2009
The 4 stars are really for Baskin's illustrations rather than Hughes poetry which, while demonstrating flashes of brilliance, is not his best. I ordered this because I had met the artist many years ago at a showing of his insect images, at which I was working. He is a very nice guy, friendly, intelligent and unpretentious. I am a bit surprised to see from the cover blurb that he and Hughes have done multiple projects together, because I felt that while the images and poems suited one another on a superficial, stylistic level they did not mesh on a more meaningful emotive level. Baskin's illustrations convey the affection and respect for animals and the natural world which I would call characteristic of his work, while Hughes' poems are suggestive of a negativity and fearfulness towards animals, to which the poet seems to attribute a surprising degree of spite. Most of the animals are portrayed as stupid, vicious, or both.
The poem I liked best was "The Snowy Owl". I'm not sure about all those exclamation points in the second half, though.
Yellow Eye O Yellow Eye
Yellow as the yellow Moon.
Out of the Black Hole of the North
The Ice Age is flying!
The Moon is flying low--
The Moon looms, hunting her Hare--
The Moon drops down, big with frost
And hungry as the end of the world.
The North Pole, rusty-throated,
Screeches, and the globe shudders--
The globe's eyes have squeezed shut with fear.
But the stars are shaking with joy.
And look!
The Hare has a dazzling monument!
A big-eyed blizzard standing
On feet of black iron!
Let us all rejoice in the Hare!
Snowy Owl O Snowy Owl
Staring the globe to stillness!
The Moon flies up.
A white mountain is flying.
The Hare has become an angel!
The poem I liked best was "The Snowy Owl". I'm not sure about all those exclamation points in the second half, though.
Yellow Eye O Yellow Eye
Yellow as the yellow Moon.
Out of the Black Hole of the North
The Ice Age is flying!
The Moon is flying low--
The Moon looms, hunting her Hare--
The Moon drops down, big with frost
And hungry as the end of the world.
The North Pole, rusty-throated,
Screeches, and the globe shudders--
The globe's eyes have squeezed shut with fear.
But the stars are shaking with joy.
And look!
The Hare has a dazzling monument!
A big-eyed blizzard standing
On feet of black iron!
Let us all rejoice in the Hare!
Snowy Owl O Snowy Owl
Staring the globe to stillness!
The Moon flies up.
A white mountain is flying.
The Hare has become an angel!
April 26, 2012
For a collection specifically aimed at children, there is much in here for adults to enjoy too. The theme is the animals that live in the Northern Hemisphere and how they interconnect with each other and all part of a natural, almost cosmic life-cycle.
Naturally, for a reasonably large collection of wildlife to cover, there are some ropey poems in this collection and a bizarre poem about the mythical Wendigo that I wish hadn't been included at all in the final edition.
In spite of that there is still much to enjoy that makes you laugh, moves you to the point of tears, and makes you think. It is as educational as it is fun to read.
Naturally, for a reasonably large collection of wildlife to cover, there are some ropey poems in this collection and a bizarre poem about the mythical Wendigo that I wish hadn't been included at all in the final edition.
In spite of that there is still much to enjoy that makes you laugh, moves you to the point of tears, and makes you think. It is as educational as it is fun to read.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews