L. M. Montgomery is not known
today for her poetry, though she published approximately 500 poems during
her lifetime1. The
majority of these poems are devoted to nature; in particular, they capture
the landscape of Prince Edward Island and rural life on the sea shore. Her
contributions as a Canadian poet were noted in Canadian
Poets, edited by Garvin, John William, in 1916 (available online)2.
Montgomery's respect for poetry as a literary form is clearly noted in her
early literary ambitions and in the literary ambitions of her created characters. For
instance, Captain Jim may speak for Montgomery as he says:
"There are times in spring when I sorter feel that I might have been a poet if I'd been caught young,"...."I catch myself conning over old lines and verses I heard the schoolmaster reciting sixty years ago. They don't trouble me at other times. Now I feel as if I had to get out on the rocks or the fields or the water and spout them." 3
Furthermore, the references to
poetry in Montgomery's works of fiction are substantial. In the Anne
series alone, there are numbers of poems that are quoted and referred to,
many of which are documented at the Montgomery
Digital Library.4
L.M. Montgomery's 1902 poem "Indian
Summer" was republished in The Avonlea Traditions Chronicle,
and her poem "The Way to Slumbertown" was published in
September 2005 as an illustrated book.
References:
1 Genevieve
Wiggins, L.M. Montgomery. New York: Twayne Publishers. 1992.
163.
2 "L.
M. Montgomery" (1874-1942) by John Garvin, (1872-1934)
Garvin, John William, ed. Canadian
Poets. Toronto, Canada: McClelland, Goodchild & Stewart, Publishers,
1916. pp. 353-358.
3 Montgomery,
L. M. Anne's House of Dreams. Toronto: McClelland, 1917.
4 "Montgomery
Digital Library" by Yuka Matsumoto. http://homepage3.nifty.com/office-matsumoto/mel01e.htm
(accessed 01.08.05).
(external links will open in a new page).
Last Updated 11.21.05
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