
Miriam Waddington's career as a writer began in the 1940s. In the years since, she has produced a body of work that has made her one of the most widely read poets in Canada. Her ninth collection-the first since Driving Home in 1972-is about light and silence, about places, and, most importantly, about solitude without loneliness, space without emptiness, death without fear. Her verbal discipline, imagery, warmth, toughness, and humour; her multicultural sympathies; her optimism and honesty-all are qualities that make her poetry fresh and intimate.
This collection explores the intersection of human solitude and the natural world through a series of reflective, lyrical observations. Waddington navigates the complexities of existence by examining the quiet spaces between light and silence. Her poems function as a meditation on the human condition, balancing the inevitability of death with a persistent, grounded optimism. The narrative framework relies on imagery and verbal discipline to construct a sense of place that is both intimate and expansive.
Readers and critics frequently note the balance of warmth and toughness that defines Waddington's poetic voice. Discussion often centers on her ability to transform abstract concepts like solitude and death into accessible, grounded imagery. The collection is recognized for its departure from the themes of her earlier work while maintaining her signature clarity. Critics highlight her optimism as a defining feature that prevents the poems from becoming overly melancholic or detached. This work is often cited as a significant contribution to Canadian poetry for its intimate and honest engagement with the human experience.
Page Count:
116
Publication Date:
1976-01-01
Publisher:
Oxford University Press Canada
ISBN-10:
0195402650
ISBN-13:
9780195402650
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