Things of This World

Things of This World is Richard Wilbur's Pulitzer Prize-winning collection of poems published in 1956. The volume contains some of Wilbur's most well-known works, including "Love Calls Us to the Things of This World" and "A World Without Objects is a Sensible Emptiness." The poems move between observations of nature, domestic life, and metaphysical questions about existence. Many pieces begin with concrete, physical details before expanding into broader meditations. The collection showcases Wilbur's formal craftsmanship through his use of rhyme, meter, and traditional poetic structures. His background as a translator of French poetry influences his precise language choices and attention to sound. The work explores tensions between the physical and spiritual realms, examining how everyday objects and experiences connect to larger truths. Through these poems, Wilbur considers the relationship between the tangible world and human consciousness.

Readers note the accessibility and precision of Wilbur's poetry, with several highlighting his ability to find profound meaning in everyday objects and experiences. On Goodreads, multiple reviews mention the memorable opening poem "Love Calls Us to the Things of This World" and its meditation on laundry lines. Readers appreciate: - Clear language and structured forms - Balance of humor and contemplation - Nature imagery and domestic scenes - Technical skill with rhyme and meter Common criticisms: - Some poems feel too formal or rigid - Collection is uneven in quality - A few readers find the style dated Ratings: Goodreads: 4.19/5 (89 ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (6 reviews) One reader on Amazon writes: "Wilbur makes the ordinary extraordinary without being pretentious." A Goodreads reviewer notes: "His command of form is impressive but occasionally gets in the way of emotional connection."

The Complete Poems by Robert Frost Nature and rural New England life interweave with deeper philosophical meditations on existence through structured, traditional verse forms.

A Witness Tree by Robert Lowell Traditional meter and rhyme schemes frame observations of American landscapes and personal experiences with a focus on clarity and precision.

Collected Poems by Elizabeth Bishop Geographic descriptions and detailed observations of the physical world combine with formal poetic structures to explore themes of loss and belonging.

Selected Poems by Howard Nemerov Academic precision meets natural world observations through carefully constructed formal verse that balances intellect with imagery.

The Dance Most of All by Jack Gilbert Simple objects and everyday moments transform into contemplations of existence through controlled, measured verse.

🌟 "Things of This World" won both the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award in 1957, making it one of the rare poetry collections to achieve this double honor. 🎨 Richard Wilbur wrote many of the poems in this collection while living in Italy on a Guggenheim Fellowship, drawing inspiration from the European landscape and artistic heritage. 📝 The title comes from a line in George Herbert's poem "Church Monuments": "Dear flesh, while I do pray, learn here thy stem / And true descent; that when thou shalt grow fat, / And wanton in thy cravings, thou mayst know / That flesh is but the glass, which holds the dust / That measures all our time; which also shall / Be crumbled into dust." 🎭 Wilbur was not only a celebrated poet but also a talented translator, particularly known for his translations of Molière's plays, and this multilingual expertise influences the precision of language throughout the collection. 🌿 The book's signature poem "Love Calls Us to the Things of This World" was inspired by watching laundry hanging on clotheslines in Rome, transforming an ordinary morning scene into a meditation on spirituality and daily life.