The Weather for Poetry

Donald Hall's The Weather for Poetry compiles essays examining American poetry and its practitioners from the 1950s through 1970s. Hall draws from his work as a critic, editor and poet to analyze figures like Robert Bly, James Wright, and Denise Levertov. The collection moves between focused studies of individual poets and broader discussions of poetic movements and cultural shifts in mid-century America. Through these pieces, Hall charts the evolution of American verse during a transformative period, including the emergence of Deep Image poetry and changing academic attitudes toward poetry. The essays balance personal observation with scholarly analysis, informed by Hall's direct involvement with many of the era's key developments as both participant and observer. His dual perspective as both practitioner and critic provides context around pivotal debates, publications, and poetry gatherings of the time. By examining these decades of change in American poetry, Hall illuminates ongoing questions about the interplay between tradition and innovation, academic and public verse, and poetry's role in society. The book stands as both a chronicle and an interpretation of a crucial period in American letters.

There are not enough internet reviews to create a summary of this book. Instead, here is a summary of reviews of Donald Hall's overall work: Readers appreciate Hall's unflinching honesty about grief, aging, and loss, particularly in works like "Without" and "The One Day." His poetry resonates with those who have experienced bereavement, with many citing his elegies to his late wife Jane Kenyon as deeply moving. Readers value his clarity and accessibility compared to other contemporary poets. His essays about rural life and baseball connect with those seeking reflection on American culture and tradition. Common criticisms include his later works becoming repetitive in theme and his occasional tendency toward sentimentality. Some find his focus on mortality and declining health in later collections overwhelming. Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: - "Without": 4.2/5 (500+ ratings) - "String Too Short to Be Saved": 4.1/5 (200+ ratings) - "Life Work": 4.0/5 (300+ ratings) Amazon: - Average 4.3/5 across major works - Highest rated: "Essays After Eighty" (4.6/5) Several reader reviews note his work is "honest to the point of discomfort" but "necessary reading for understanding loss."

Without by Donald Hall A collection of poems exploring grief and loss through the lens of rural New England life after the death of his wife, poet Jane Kenyon.

The Art of Drowning by Billy Collins These poems examine everyday moments through a blend of humor and contemplation while reflecting on mortality and time's passage.

Time and Materials by Robert Hass The collection weaves personal history with natural observations and meditations on craft, creating connections between domestic life and broader human experience.

Given Sugar, Given Salt by Jane Hirshfield The poems map the intersections of ordinary life with philosophical inquiry through observations of nature and domestic spaces.

Native Guard by Natasha Trethewey Personal and historical narratives intertwine through poems that connect family history to broader themes of memory and loss in the American South.

🌟 Donald Hall served as U.S. Poet Laureate from 2006 to 2007, bringing decades of poetic expertise to this collection of essays about poetry and writing. 📚 The book's title comes from T.S. Eliot's statement that April is "the cruelest month," suggesting both literary weather and the climate for creating poetry. ✍️ Hall wrote this collection while living at Eagle Pond Farm in New Hampshire, his ancestral home that frequently appeared in his poetry and prose works. 🎓 The essays draw from Hall's extensive experience teaching at the University of Michigan, where he helped shape a generation of American poets. 📖 This collection explores the intersection of poetry and mortality—a theme Hall returned to throughout his career, especially after the death of his wife, poet Jane Kenyon, in 1995.