Amy Lowell was a modernist American poet, who was part of a new generation of poets. She wrote 10 books of poetry, a collection of Chinese translations, 3 books of literary essays, and a 2-volume biography of John Keats. With this essential collection of Amy Lowell's poems from Library of America, the passion and energy of her works emerge.
Although her first poem was written at the age of nine, she didn't pursue her writing until much later in life. Amy Lowell finally realized her passion for poetry after reading Leigh Hunt's "Imagination and Fancy," and seeing Eleanora Duse act in a play. That night, after the play, she poured out her passion in words, and made her first real steps toward becoming the Pulitzer-prize-winning imagist poet.
Controversy & Amy Lowell
Lowell was an unforgettable figure as a large woman, who preferred to wear men's shirts and smoke Manilas. With her wealth and connections, she was able to publish her first collection of poetry, A Dome of Many-Coloured Glass; continue to hone her poetry skills; and support and develop new poetry.
Her curiosity and appreciation for the Imagist movement, which involved clear images and free verse, first began when she read a poem by Hilda Doolittle. The ideas for Imagism had first been conceived by T.E. Hume, but Ezra Pound often receives the credit as the inventor of the movement because of his leadership and influence.
Controversy & Amy Lowell
Lowell was an unforgettable figure as a large woman, who preferred to wear men's shirts and smoke Manilas. With her wealth and connections, she was able to publish her first collection of poetry, A Dome of Many-Coloured Glass; continue to hone her poetry skills; and support and develop new poetry.
Her curiosity and appreciation for the Imagist movement, which involved clear images and free verse, first began when she read a poem by Hilda Doolittle. The ideas for Imagism had first been conceived by T.E. Hume, but Ezra Pound often receives the credit as the inventor of the movement because of his leadership and influence.
With her growing fascination with Imagism, she went to meet Ezra Pound and was invited by him to contribute poems to his Imagism anthology. But, Lowell was soon intent upon bringing Imagism to the US and developing her own version of Imagism. The relationship between Pound and Lowell, which had been founded on mutual admiration, soon turned to mutual dislike and hatred.
A New Poetry
But, what was her poetry about? We know that much of her poetry was inspired by her love of two women: Eleonora Duse and Ada Russell. Longing and fulfillment--they are elements of life and love. It's so easy to underappreciate or underestimate her words. Flowers are everywhere, butterflies are captured, trees glitter, and birds soar over all.
But we also read about sleepless nights, rain falling all around, and walking through trees laden after an icy storm. We touch fir and ice, becoming familiar with another life as we realize that every artifact is haunted. Lowell's poems are filled with descriptive images, which draws us into her experience. We want to learn her meaning, find out where she is going, what she is doing. And, there we are--reading on through war and peace, through love and loss.
A New Poetry
But, what was her poetry about? We know that much of her poetry was inspired by her love of two women: Eleonora Duse and Ada Russell. Longing and fulfillment--they are elements of life and love. It's so easy to underappreciate or underestimate her words. Flowers are everywhere, butterflies are captured, trees glitter, and birds soar over all.
But we also read about sleepless nights, rain falling all around, and walking through trees laden after an icy storm. We touch fir and ice, becoming familiar with another life as we realize that every artifact is haunted. Lowell's poems are filled with descriptive images, which draws us into her experience. We want to learn her meaning, find out where she is going, what she is doing. And, there we are--reading on through war and peace, through love and loss.
With the final lines of "September, 1918," she writes, "For I have time for nothing / But the endeavour to balance myself / Upon a broken world."
A Never-ending Legacy
Upon Lowell's death in 1925, Henry Seidel Canby, editor of "The Saturday Review" wrote, "She, as well as her poetry, will take a place in American literature... a tribute few can expect."
In "Penumbra," Lowell writes: "And I shall whisper my thoughts and fancies / As always, / From the pages of my books." Under the glow of the moon or even in the bright daylight, her words live on, reaching up from the pages to grasp the thin, ghostly tendrils. Never forgotten, Lowell's work is beautiful, haunting, and sincere.
Upon Lowell's death in 1925, Henry Seidel Canby, editor of "The Saturday Review" wrote, "She, as well as her poetry, will take a place in American literature... a tribute few can expect."
In "Penumbra," Lowell writes: "And I shall whisper my thoughts and fancies / As always, / From the pages of my books." Under the glow of the moon or even in the bright daylight, her words live on, reaching up from the pages to grasp the thin, ghostly tendrils. Never forgotten, Lowell's work is beautiful, haunting, and sincere.
