** 4 stars **

The Collected Poems of Theodore Roethke is an absolute gem that will transport you on an enthralling journey. It is a testament to his remarkable talent as a poet that the works within this collection span a wide range. From the humorous and charming poems with their simple, regular rhyme schemes, to the meditative and existential sonnets, and even to the blank verse poems in multiple parts that read like opium-induced fever dreams. Truly, each page holds a new surprise, making the book highly addictive. I found myself constantly eager to turn the page and discover what Roethke would do next.

The earliest and latest poems in this collection, Open House and The Far Field respectively, are Roethke's most accessible and charming works. At least for me, they were a joy to read. I also had a great appreciation for many of the poems from Words for the Wind. Among them are his often-anthologized masterpieces "The Dream" and "I Knew a Woman". Additionally, there is a wonderful poem from The Lost Son that begins with the line, "I have known the inexorable sadness of pencils." This line might just be my favorite in the entire collection. However, I must admit that I struggled to make sense of the last sequence of poems in The Lost Son, the entirety of Praise to the End, and parts of The Waking. But despite these challenges, I wholeheartedly recommend this collection to anyone who has a love for poetry and is willing to embark on Roethke's journey of language, form, and images.

It is an experience that is well worth having.

Amazing poetry!

Poetry has the power to touch our hearts and souls in the most profound ways. It is a form of art that uses words to create vivid images, evoke intense emotions, and convey deep meanings.

The beauty of poetry lies in its ability to express the inexpressible. It can take us on a journey through different worlds, introduce us to new ideas and perspectives, and make us feel things we never thought possible.

Whether it's a sonnet, a haiku, or a free verse poem, each one has its own unique charm and style. Some poems are gentle and soothing, while others are bold and powerful. They can make us laugh, cry, or simply stop and think.

Poetry is truly amazing, and it has the potential to enrich our lives in countless ways. So the next time you come across a beautiful poem, take a moment to appreciate its beauty and let it work its magic on you.

Roethke's poems are truly life-changers.

At the age of 20, after reading The Collected Poems, I made a significant decision.

I stopped pretending to write poetry.

Before that, I had been dabbling in poetry writing, but it felt more like a pretentious act.

However, Roethke's work opened my eyes to the true power and beauty of poetry.

His words had a profound impact on me, making me realize that poetry was not something to be taken lightly.

It was a medium through which one could express the deepest emotions and experiences.

Roethke's poems taught me that authenticity and sincerity were crucial in writing.

After reading his collection, I knew that I could no longer continue to pretend.

I had to either commit to writing poetry with true passion and dedication or step away from it completely.

And so, I chose the latter.

But even though I stopped writing poetry, Roethke's influence on me remains.

His poems will always be a source of inspiration and a reminder of the true essence of poetry.

3.5 rounded up.

What I liked, I truly liked. It was something that brought me genuine pleasure and satisfaction. What I found fun was not just fun but super fun. It was like a burst of excitement that made my heart race. Even some of the nonsensical stuff had its own charm and appeal.

However, not everything was perfect. Some of his stuff was just kind of bleh at best, lacking in energy and creativity. At worst, it was actual utter nonsense that made no sense at all.

But when he is exploring his relationship with his early family, that's when he is always at his best. It's as if he taps into a wellspring of emotions and experiences that are both profound and relatable. His work in this area has the power to touch our hearts and make us think about our own relationships with our families.

Overall, while there are some highs and lows, his work has the potential to be truly great when he focuses on what he does best.

Incredibly moving.

I discovered Roethke's work recently when I was searching for prose poetry poets from the past.

I have bookmarked so many pages. His masterpiece is in this collection: "The Waking."

If you have the opportunity, watch "A Dark Time" or any video where this amazing man read his work which is in itself, a breathtaking performance.

"His Foreboding," and "The Auction," in particular touched me personally.

The Nonsense poems were an unexpected but pleasant surprise.

Roethke's poetry has a unique charm that draws you in and makes you feel a range of emotions.

The way he uses words to paint vivid pictures and convey deep meanings is truly remarkable.

Each poem is like a little world of its own, waiting to be explored and discovered.

Whether it's the haunting beauty of "The Waking" or the more lighthearted Nonsense poems, there is something for everyone to enjoy in Roethke's work.

I highly recommend giving his poetry a try.

The highway stretches out in a straight line, thrusting towards the North.

It leads to the sand dunes where fish flies hang, thicker than moths. They die brightly under the street lights that are sunk in coarse concrete.

The towns along the way have high pitted road-crowns and deep gutters. Their wooden stores are made of silvery pine, and the weather-beaten red courthouses stand as silent witnesses.

Below an old bridge, there is a buckled iron railing, broken by some idiot plunger. Underneath, the sluggish water runs between weeds, broken wheels, tires, and stones.

And all of this flows past.

The cemetery lies in the middle of the prairie, with just two scrubby trees. The dead snakes and muskrats, along with the turtles gasping in the rubble, add to the desolate scene. The spikey purple bushes in the winding dry creek bed, the floating hawks, the jackrabbits, and the grazing cattle all pass by.

I am not moving, but they are.

Excerpt from the poem Journey to the Interior by Theodore Roethke.

The following scenario has occurred to me numerous times.

I read a renowned work of an author or poet and do not fall in love with it at all. However, when I read another story by the same author, I am completely amazed.

For instance, I loved Terms of Endearment by Larry McMurtry but not Lonesome Dove as much. I loved The Killers by Ernest Hemingway but not The Old Man and the Sea as much. And there are countless others.

Now I can include Theodore Roethke in this esteemed list.

I did not have much affection for the first 200 pages of poems in this book. But then came a short posthumous collection of poems called The Far Field. To use a cliché, it spoke to me. These poems, which came from Roethke's travels around North America, are filled with vivid imagery and keen observations of flora, fauna, and the natural world. My favorite poems were The Longing, The Meditation at Oyster River, Journey to the Interior, The Far Field, and The Meadow Mouse.

I give 5 stars to The Far Field and maybe 3.5 stars to the rest.

Theodore Roethke's poetry is truly remarkable. The best aspect of his really good works, and in fact, most of his poetry, is that there are lines, stresses, and endings that completely baffle the mind. It's impossible to understand how he came up with them or how he felt them through. There are no seams, no evidence at all of how the poems were constructed. They flow so smoothly that they become both unnatural and natural, like the movements of a foot in a shoe.

However, the most amazing thing is that it's all expressed in such simple language. He uses so few words, yet never strays into being too vague or overly opaque. I have a feeling that he could have written each poem about a leaf, and even with a title like "damn pebble in stream nowhere on nowhere's eve," it would still be just as remarkable. It would still possess that perfect combination of quaintness, darkness, metaphysical depth, and tender light.

P.S. Roethke is like Whitman distilled, but with a bit more unfurling like Dickinson. Read his poetry. Just sit there and soak it in for the sake of it. Or don't. It's your life, and no one can force you to read. Do as you please.

These poems have held a special significance for me ever since my graduate school days.

They have a certain charm and power that resonate deeply within me. Alongside the works of renowned poets like Blake, Yeats, and Thomas, they form a collection that has truly touched my soul.

The words seem to leap off the page, painting vivid pictures and evoking a wide range of emotions.

Each time I read them, I discover something new, a hidden meaning or a fresh perspective.

They have become a source of inspiration and comfort, guiding me through the various stages of my life.

I am grateful for the opportunity to have been introduced to these wonderful poems and the profound impact they have had on me.

They will continue to be a part of my literary journey, enriching my understanding and appreciation of the beauty of language.

I was truly astonished by the profound enjoyment I derived from reading Roethke.

I initially came across his book at a used store, and then, on a random impulse, I retrieved it from my bookshelf filled with various poems.

Over the course of a long March, I delved deeply into his work.

Spring gradually emerged from the frozen ground, and Roethke's remarkable handling of the season and nature accompanied this process in an unexpectedly wonderful way.

I will always hold his work in the highest regard and admiration.

The poet composes almost entirely in metered verse, which imparts a distinct structure to his poems.

I discovered that it took only approximately four poems for me to begin to appreciate this structure, which differs so significantly from the free verse that I typically read.

The essence of his poems, it appears, lies in how this meticulous meter synchronizes flawlessly with the subject matter.

Roethke's observations of his world can be most accurately described as "precise" in their portrayal and sensitivity to detail.

If nothing else, his reader experiences something definite, and I would even venture to say perfect.

Roethke evokes the precise essence of his subjects, and this precision elevates this essence to a level of the sublime.

Time and again, the forces and operations of nature (human nature, season, growth, death, tragedy, joy) are observed with an eye that discerns with exactitude.

This exactitude immerses the reader in the experience, and these forces and operations become expressions of something greater, even as they remain precisely themselves.

So far, I have delved into "Open House" and "The Lost Son and Other Poems."

I truly loathe the way publishers nowadays refrain from publishing individual books of poems as the author initially intended. Just picture never being able to procure "Nevermind" by Nirvana in its original form, but only having access to their greatest hits or complete works. It's rather absurd, if you ask me.

Anyway, out of the two, I have a particular penchant for "Open House." One can discern what made Roethke such a remarkable American poet. His most outstanding qualities are vividly on display in his very first book of poems. However, his second book is slightly less potent as he veers away from human concepts and delves more into nature, which isn't his forte. Nevertheless, this collection does house "My Papa's Waltz," a poem of such profound power that I vividly recalled it from reading it during my junior year of high school, over ten years ago. The poem is truly that excellent and is an absolute must-read for any poetry enthusiast.

Well, I have the intention of perusing the remainder of this collection. But since the only means for me to read poets these days is by obtaining their complete works, I still have some Lowell, Rimbaud, and Delmore to contend with in comparison to Roethke.

Probably my favorite poet is Li Bai.

Li Bai is a renowned figure in Chinese literature, celebrated for his extraordinary talent and creativity. His poems are filled with vivid imagery, unrestrained emotions, and a profound sense of adventure.

One of the things I love most about Li Bai's poetry is his ability to transport the reader to different worlds and experiences. Whether he is描绘 the beauty of nature, expressing his longing for freedom, or sharing his thoughts on life and love, his words have the power to move and inspire.

Another aspect that makes Li Bai stand out is his unique writing style. His poems are often characterized by their boldness, fluency, and musicality. He uses a wide range of literary devices, such as metaphors, similes, and personification, to create a rich and engaging reading experience.

In conclusion, Li Bai is not only my favorite poet but also a source of inspiration and joy. His poetry continues to touch the hearts of people around the world and will undoubtedly remain a classic of Chinese literature for generations to come.

I almost love this book too much to write a review of it.

I keep thinking my time might be better spent reading it again.

I can sway to Roethke's poems as if they were songs - as if they were meant to be danced to.

It's not so much in the meter of his writing, but more in the words that he chooses to convey movement, breathing, laughing, feeling.

From The Waking, we have the lines: "We think by feeling. What is there to know? I hear my being dance from ear to ear. I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow."

And from The Restored, it goes: "In a hand like a bowl, Danced my own soul, Small as an elf, All by itself."

Finally, from The Wraith, we read: "Did each become the other in that play? She laughed me out, and then she laughed me in; In the deep middle of ourselves we lay; When glory failed, we danced upon a pin. The valley rocked beneath the granite hill; Our souls looked forth, and the great day stood still. There was a body, and it cast a spell, - God pity those but wanton to the knees, - The flesh can make the spirit visible; We woke to find the moonlight on our toes. In the rich weather of a dappled wood, We played with dark and light as children should."

Roehtke used to be required reading in schools (at least when I went); I hear that's no longer the case, which is a pity.

His poems are a beautiful exploration of the human experience, filled with vivid imagery and deep emotions.

They have the power to transport the reader to another world, a world of wonder and beauty.

It's a shame that more people may not have the opportunity to discover the magic of Roethke's poetry in the classroom.

Perhaps we should all take it upon ourselves to share his work with others and keep his literary legacy alive.