Famous poet /1912-1984

Douglas Gibson

Douglas Gibson was a poet whose work, while published in the mid-20th century, continues to resonate with readers today for its exploration of universal themes. His poems offer a contemplative look at nature, loss, and the human condition, often through the lens of rural life.

Gibson's poetry is characterized by its directness and simplicity of language. He favored a free verse style, eschewing strict rhyme schemes or formal structures. His work focused on capturing the essence of his subjects through clear, evocative imagery and an economy of words.

His style shares similarities with other poets of his era who embraced a more accessible and less ornate approach to language, such as Robert Frost and William Carlos Williams. While Gibson may not be a household name, his poetry offers a valuable window into the mid-20th century literary landscape, reflecting the shift towards more direct and unadorned poetic expression.

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Ambulance At Night

After the ambulance that shakes
The urgent bell that comes and goes
Along the street, the silence wakes
within my heart a million woes.

Outside the silence of my room
I hear the whimper of a leaf
Expanding to the enormous doom
And the whole world engulfed in grief.

The distant dragging of a train
Is a sharp spear within my side;
To-night I carry all the pain
Of mankind once more crucified.
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Analysis (ai): "Ambulance At Night" depicts the profound emotional impact of an ambulance's passing, highlighting the theme of human suffering. The poem's concise language evokes a sense of urgency and isolation as the speaker witnesses the ambulance fade into the night. The subsequent silence emphasizes the stark contrast between the chaos of the ambulance and the stillness of the speaker's room. The sensory details, such as the whimpering leaf and the dragging train, serve as symbols of the speaker's own anguish and empathy for the world's pain.

The poem draws parallels to the author's other works, such as "The Fallen" and "Last Night I Heard," by exploring the themes of mortality and compassion. It also reflects the time period's preoccupation with human suffering, particularly in the aftermath of the First World War, which influenced Gibson's writing. The poem's brevity and directness capture the raw emotions experienced in the face of life's challenges.
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Autumn Casualties

It is not that my heart grieves
For these burnt-out Autumn leaves,
But for the green,
Taken before their time,
Touched by the young sublime
Hope for unopened days
Now never to be seen.

The Autumn ones have had their day
And fall gently to decay,
But torn young lives bleed
Green grief upon the world's need.
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Analysis (ai): "Autumn Casualties" expresses sorrow for the loss of potential, symbolized by prematurely fallen leaves. It conveys a sense of regret for unfulfilled hopes and aspirations.

The poem's brevity and simple language create a direct and poignant message. The contrast between the fallen autumn leaves and the "green" leaves cut short evokes a feeling of injustice and loss.

Compared to the author's other works, this poem is more somber and reflective. It lacks the playful imagery and optimism found in some of his other pieces. However, it shares his concern for the fragility of life and the importance of cherishing opportunities.

In the context of its time, the poem reflects the heightened sense of mortality and loss during the First World War. The "autumn casualties" can be interpreted as a metaphor for the young soldiers who died prematurely. The poem expresses the collective grief and sense of waste felt by society during that period.
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A Memory

This I remember
I saw from a train:
A shaggy wild pony
That stood in the rain.

Where I was going,
And where was the train,
I cannot remember,
I cannot explain.

All these years after
It comes back again:
A shaggy wild pony
That stood in the rain.
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Analysis (ai): "A Memory" by Douglas Gibson is a concise and evocative poem that captures a fleeting moment in time. The poem's simple language and unad adorned imagery create a sense of mystery and nostalgia. The reader is left with a lingering impression of a wild pony standing in the rain, a memory that has stayed with the speaker for years.

The poem's brevity and lack of specific detail allow the reader to fill in the blanks with their own memories and associations. This gives the poem a personal and relatable quality, as each reader may find their own meaning in the image of the pony.

"A Memory" is similar to Gibson's other works in its focus on the beauty and fragility of the natural world. The poem also reflects the time period in which it was written, a time of great social and cultural change. The poem's nostalgia for a simpler time may have resonated with readers who were experiencing a sense of loss and displacement during that era.
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