Subject
English poetry -- Scottish authors Books
Best books
Thomas Grierson Gracie
Songs and rhymes of a lead miner
"Songs and rhymes of a lead miner" by Thomas Grierson Gracie is a collection of poems and songs written in the early 20th century. The volume evokes the work, landscape, and community life of Wanlockhead and the Lowther Hills, told in Scots dialect and plainspoken English. It mingles nature sketches, mining-life vignettes, village customs, and music-making with elegies and patriotic verses shaped by the Great War. Expect intimate local color, moral reflections, and occasional humor from a miner-musician’s point of view. The opening of the collection begins with a candid preface in which the author recounts a hard childhood in Wanlockhead, years as a lead and coal miner, his love of the fiddle, and his turn to rhyming during wartime, stressing that he writes for ordinary folk and thanking local editors and friends. It then moves through descriptive pieces: moonlit winter vistas over the Lowthers that prompt a prayer for peace, comic and lively accounts of fishing trips and a grouse meet, a breathless otter hunt, a graveside procession, and lyrical walks along Mennock Burn and the Heights of Glendyne. Village life and memory follow—an old-time wedding, affection for a family wall clock amid modern inventions, a satire of a sour “Curmudgeon,” praise of local rivers and a memorial seat—before a series of in memoriam poems for townsfolk and soldiers, tributes to volunteers, and a tender lament for a pit pony. The Songs section mixes nostalgia and courtship with mining humor (“Level No. 6,” an emergency pump), recruiting and morale numbers, and local portraits, while the Miscellaneous pieces turn to social critique (“Scunner’t”), a toast to an absent friend, and a closing, unfinished portrait of the miner’s steadfastness.
Thomas Campbell
The Poetical Works of Thomas Campbell
"The Poetical Works of Thomas Campbell" by Thomas Campbell is a collection of poetry written in the early 19th century. This work features a variety of poems, notable among them "The Pleasures of Hope," "Gertrude of Wyoming," and other lyrical pieces, reflecting on themes of love, nature, human experience, and social commentary. The collection highlights Campbell's concern for humanity, hope, and the human condition, often expressed through vivid imagery and emotive language. At the start of the collection, the prefatory memoir provides insight into Campbell's early life, education, and the influences that shaped his poetic career. It outlines his beginnings in Glasgow, his formative experiences with nature, and his introduction to literature. The opening poem, "The Pleasures of Hope," establishes the central theme of the importance of hope in navigating life's hardships. It juxtaposes the beauty of distant landscapes with the promise of love and humanity's potential for growth, addressing personal and political struggles while celebrating the enduring power of aspiration. Through poignant reflections, the early verses set the tone for the collection, evoking a sense of nostalgia and yearning for connection in both love and life.
Unknown
Scottish Poetry of the Sixteenth Century
"Scottish Poetry of the Sixteenth Century" by George Eyre-Todd is a collection of Scottish poetry written in the late 19th century. The work showcases various poets from the sixteenth century, including Sir David Lyndsay, John Bellenden, and King James V, offering a rich exploration of the themes and socio-political milieu of that period. The anthology aims to revive interest in this era's poetic contributions, emphasizing their historical significance and the challenges the poets faced. At the start of the anthology, the author sets the stage by reflecting on the impact of significant historical events, such as the Battle of Flodden Field and the onset of the Reformation, on Scottish poetry and society. The introduction provides context for why this period marks a pivotal shift in the literary landscape, discussing the decline of feudalism, the change in the Scottish language, and how these elements influenced the poetry produced. The reader is then introduced to a variety of poets whose works illustrate the complexities of their time, balancing social commentary with literary artistry, while highlighting Lyndsay's prominence as both a poet and a reformer.
Violet Jacob
Two new poems : $b Rohallion; the little dragon
"Two new poems : Rohallion; the little dragon by Violet Jacob" is a slim poetry collection published in the early 20th century. The book contains two poems, both of which explore themes of longing, memory, and the interplay between duty and desire, set against evocative Scottish and spiritual landscapes. The collection fits within the broader tradition of lyric poetry, drawing on both regional Scottish dialect and more universal themes of inner conflict and yearning. The first poem, "Rohallion," follows a narrator reflecting with deep nostalgia on his rural Scottish home, Rohallion, as he journeys away. Through vivid descriptions of family life, familiar landscapes, and the irresistible pull of home, the poem builds a sense of belonging, loss, and the magnetic call of one's origins. The second poem, "The Little Dragon," shifts to the spiritual setting of a convent where a nun, constrained by religious life, is captivated by a passing knight. The encounter kindles a forbidden passion within her, blending the sacred with the earthly. Her ensuing ecstasy and detachment from the world are misinterpreted as sainthood by the religious community, even as her true inspiration remains undisclosed. The imagery of the laughing little dragon at the poem's close hints at the enduring spark of unconfessed desire, adding irony to the tale of her sanctification.
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