{"id":36785,"date":"2019-09-20T22:47:54","date_gmt":"2019-09-21T02:47:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=36785"},"modified":"2019-09-20T22:47:54","modified_gmt":"2019-09-21T02:47:54","slug":"review-of-the-watchman-and-other-poems-by-l-m-montgomery","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=36785","title":{"rendered":"Review of The Watchman and Other Poems, by L. M. Montgomery"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>The Watchman and Other Poems<\/em><\/p>\n

by L. M. Montgomery<\/p>\n

Leopold Classic Library, reproduced from McClelland, Goodchild & Stewart Publishers, 1916. 159 pages.
\nReview written September 20, 2019, from my own copy<\/p>\n

I\u2019m rereading my L. M. Montgomery books in publication order, but never had found a copy of her book of poems, the eighth book she published. I found it in a reprint on Amazon and rectified that omission.<\/p>\n

I am probably not the best audience for poetry. And these are old-fashioned in style, often using archaic language. They all rhyme, and many of the rhymes seem trite.<\/p>\n

The story goes that when Maud Montgomery was a girl, she tried her hand at unrhymed poetry and read an example to her father. He said it didn\u2019t sound like poetry. <\/p>\n

She said, \u201cIt\u2019s blank verse.\u201d
\nHe replied, \u201cVery blank.\u201d<\/p>\n

And she wrote rhymed poetry forever after.<\/p>\n

I wasn\u2019t crazy about the format of the book, because it grouped poems about the sea together, and then poems about the woods together \u2013 and they began to all sound the same.<\/p>\n

The poems I liked best were the poems that tell a story. Perhaps that\u2019s because what L. M. Montgomery is good at is telling stories. The title poem, \u201cThe Watchman,\u201d was about one of the soldiers guarding Jesus\u2019 tomb when he was resurrected. Another poem, \u201cIf Mary Had Known,\u201d told about the very bad and very good things her son would go through.<\/p>\n

L. M. Montgomery likely suffered from bipolar disorder, so that gave a little extra light on \u201cThe Choice\u201d \u2013 where she tells Life that she would rather \u201csound thy deeps and reach thy highest passion, With thy delight and with thy suffering rife\u201d than have a boring life. \u201cWan peace, uncolored days, were a poor favor; To lack great pain and love were to lack savor.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another one I liked was \u201cTo My Enemy.\u201d In it, she thanks not her friend, but her enemy for spurring her to do great things.<\/p>\n

I had not scaled such weary heights
\nBut that I held thy scorn in fear,
\nAnd never keenest lure might match
\nThe subtle goading of thy sneer.<\/p>\n

Thine anger struck from me a fire
\nThat purged all dull content away,
\nOur mortal strife to me has been
\nUnflagging spur from day to day.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

It\u2019s possible that I will appreciate the poems about the woods and the sea more after I have actually visited Prince Edward Island. I think I\u2019d better go find out!<\/p>\n

Buy from Amazon.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Find this review on Sonderbooks<\/a> at: www.sonderbooks.com\/Nonfiction\/watchman.html<\/a><\/p>\n

Disclosure: I am an Amazon Affiliate, and will earn a small percentage if you order a book on Amazon after clicking through from my site.<\/p>\n

Source: This review is based on a library book from Fairfax County Public Library.<\/p>\n

Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but I maintain my website and blogs on my own time. The views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.<\/p>\n

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