In poetry, there are many ways a writer approaches the style of his or her work. Some poets are known for a skill with rhyme scheme or alliteration, while other poets may be defined by their use of syntax or metaphor. However, the poetry of Thom Gunn deviates from other poets of his time due to his Elizabethan-style writing set in the modern world.
Gunn began publishing poetry in the early 1950s, and now, the newest collection “Thom Gunn: Selected Poems” has been published five years after his death. The collection, edited by August Kleinzahler, contains poetry from almost every book that Gunn published. Kleinzahler also gives readers an in-depth introduction of Gunn and his work.
At age 25, Gunn published his first poetry collection, “Fighting Terms.” Within that same year, Gunn became part of The Movement. The Movement, comprised of poets such as Elizabeth Jennings, Donald Davie and Philip Larkin, were all revolutionizing poetry by forging a classic English style of writing in a contemporary timeframe.
Though “Fighting Terms” is often considered Gunn’s most popular book of poetry, “My Sad Captains” also establishes his intellect as a wordsmith. Kleinzahler included nine poems from the original collection. “Flying above California,” “Considering the Snail” and “My Sad Captains” are three poems that all manage to touch upon our introspection in the world and how both people and nature influence that understanding.
“Considering the Snail” discusses how a snail journeys to continue on “through a green night.” Meanwhile, the narrator comes to the realization after seeing the trail of white left behind, that he “would never have imagined the slow passion to the deliberate progress.” A poem such as this leaves readers not only enraptured in Gunn’s style of writing, but also pondering the image he presents.
Kleinzahler was also sure to include many poems from Gunn’s 1992 poetry collection, “The Man with Night Sweats.” The poems “Nasturtium” and “Death’s Door” are two memorable and must-read pieces. “Death’s Door” exemplifies a witty, dark humor as Gunn writes: “the dead sit down in groups and watch TV” finding life “black and white, repetitive as situation comedies.”
One of the reasons Gunn achieved popularity early on in his life and continues to be is because his poetry, like most writing, can be interpreted to find multiple meanings. What separates Gunn from contemporary poets, however, is his ability to write with a unique cadence all the while, being mindful of structure and meaning. His poetry is beautifully written and leaves readers contemplating life from something as minute as a blade of grass to a flooding meadow.
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