Seasons

The poem The Seasons is a tour de force by poet James Thomson, published as a complete poem cycle in 1730. It's a brilliant exploration of the cycles of life and nature as we pass through a year. I had studied "pastoral" literature and poetry in a British literature class, but I didn't really unders......more

I liked this when he's talking about nature or describing man's interaction with it (farming, shepherding), but when he starts telling stories about particular characters he tends to lose me. Some unnamed guy stumbling around and dying in the wilderness does not enhance my appreciation of nature. OT......more

too much anastrophe, really pompous for me. sure some of the personification and metaphors are interesting but as a modern reader trying to be entertain I derailed and ended up chatting with my friends on several occasions. passable I suppose.......more

Full transparency: I only read Winter. It was good. Definitely fits the pre-Romantic. It's a prospect poem written with the elitist use of Miltonic blank verse to support Thomson's hierarchical political agenda but it nonetheless was a good read which flowed more than a tightly controlled poem with......more

I'm a fan of nature poetry, and I get it Thomson wants to adapt the epic genre conventions and uses nature for this purpose. At times I feel Thomson reaching wonderful heights of natural/poetic reverie: untasted fields pensive and wet hanging over the enlivening blaze Just a few lines to whet your appet......more