Walter de la Mare (1873-1956) witnessed a world transformed, from horse-drawn carriages to space exploration, from Tennyson’s laureateship to the rise of modernism. This rapid evolution, unfortunately, overshadowed his exquisitely crafted classical verse, leading to its undeserved neglect. This article delves into de la Mare’s unique poetic vision, exploring his masterful use of language, metaphor, and the enduring themes of dreams, imagination, and the search for beauty.
Contents
- The Life and Times of a Forgotten Poet
- De la Mare’s Poetic Philosophy: The Childlike and the Boyish Imagination
- Arabia: A Vision of Idealized Beauty
- Dust to Dust: The Persistence of Hope
- The Spirit of Air: The Uniquely Human Capacity for Love
- Tarbury Steep: Eternal Beauty in a Fleeting World
- De la Mare’s Enduring Legacy
The Life and Times of a Forgotten Poet
Born in South East London, de la Mare’s journey into poetry began unexpectedly with a translation of The Iliad. Despite a conventional career as a bookkeeper, his literary aspirations persisted, leading to the publication of short stories and his first poetry collection in 1902. A civil pension in 1908 allowed him to dedicate himself fully to writing, producing novels, short stories, children’s literature, and a prolific body of poetry. Though recognized during his lifetime, his work faded from public view after World War II, eclipsed by the rising tide of modernism.
Walter de la Mare, a portrait
De la Mare’s Poetic Philosophy: The Childlike and the Boyish Imagination
De la Mare’s 1919 lecture on Rupert Brooke offers valuable insight into his own poetic philosophy. He divided poets into two categories: the “childlike” and the “boyish.” The childlike poet, characterized by intuition and a dreamlike vision, perceives a world where “facts are the liveliest of chameleons.” The boyish poet, driven by logic and analysis, seeks to explore and dissect the external world. De la Mare himself clearly aligned with the childlike vision, finding inspiration in the inner world of dreams and imagination.
Arabia: A Vision of Idealized Beauty
“Arabia,” from his 1914 collection The Listeners, exemplifies de la Mare’s exploration of the imaginative realm. The poem depicts not a geographical location, but a fantastical dreamscape, a symbol of the poetic ideal. The lush imagery of the first two stanzas contrasts with the final stanza, where the poetic voice is criticized for being “crazed” by this vision. This criticism highlights the disconnect between the imaginative and the mundane, the poet’s pursuit of beauty versus the world’s indifference.
An image evoking the mystique of Arabia
Dust to Dust: The Persistence of Hope
“Dust to Dust,” from his 1919 collection Motley, reflects on aging and mortality. Addressing the “Heavenly Archer,” a symbol of time’s passage, the poet acknowledges the fading of youth but clings to the hope of a “bliss foregone.” The image of the “immortal harps” ringing by Babylon’s river suggests the enduring power of art and beauty, even in the face of decline and exile.
The Spirit of Air: The Uniquely Human Capacity for Love
“The Spirit of Air,” from The Veil and Other Poems (1921), presents a haunting depiction of an ethereal being who yearns for the human experience of love. Described through vivid imagery of precious stones, this air-spirit is ultimately a figure of longing and regret, highlighting the unique and precious nature of human love, a capacity denied to even the most beautiful of spirits.
An image representing the spirit of air
Tarbury Steep: Eternal Beauty in a Fleeting World
“Tarbury Steep,” from his final collection O Lovely England and Other Poems (1953), returns to the theme of place, this time focusing on a real location imbued with personal significance. The poem reflects on the transience of human life against the backdrop of enduring natural beauty. The moonlit cliffs of Tarbury become a symbol of eternal beauty, witnessed by generations past and future, a constant in a world of change.
De la Mare’s Enduring Legacy
De la Mare’s poetry, often labeled as “childlike,” possesses a depth and sophistication that transcends simple categorization. His masterful use of metaphor and imagery reveals profound insights into the nature of imagination, beauty, and the human condition. While his work may have been unjustly neglected, it remains a testament to the power of poetry to illuminate the hidden worlds within us and to connect us to the eternal truths that lie beyond the fleeting concerns of the everyday. His poetry deserves rediscovery and a prominent place in the canon of English literature.