From May Sarton's Well: Writings of May Sarton

How can we discover a poet? No recipe. We just go through the readings, the reflections. We are touched. We are not. In a way, this selection of writings from May Sarton shows us the personal discoveries that photographer Edith Royce Schade made. May Sarton had a rather eventful life. The daughter of Belgian immigrants, a woman with many dalliances, a demanding lover to her lesbian loves. But she also was an American, a long time resident of New England, a no-nonsense woman. And her poetry speaks to all of us, to the travels and trials of our lives. The choices of Ms. Royce Schade are excellent. The pictures that she took and selected to accompany the anthology are delicate, artistic, feminine, intimate. Her portraits of the aging Sarton show the strong woman that she was, fighting age but accepting it. Ms. Royce Schade divided her choices in 6 sections that reflect how as a photographer she was influenced by the writings. Light for the light of the image. Solitude for the solitude of the photographer behind her lens. The Natural World that the photographer observes. The Love for its subjects. The Time to observe them. And the Creation Itself. My favorite section, the one that moved me most was Solitude, the Solitude of the individual when all is said and done. It includes the wonderful poem on aging, "Gestalt at Sixty" and powerful photographs of the harsh New England winter landscapes. Rarely you will find such a personal and telling anthology, such a tender tribute. Simply superb.

From May Sarton's Well is beyond doubt one of my most favorite books. I keep it on my coffee table at all times and I have given it as a gift many times over. It is always gratefully received and treasured. One can look at the photos and read the words over and over and always find something new in them. Thank you Ms Schade.

I have read practically all May Sarton's books and really appreciated the beautiful selection of poems and prose linked with photographs that made her come alive in this book. I also am a photographer and the way photos were used was especially well done. I enjoyed this book a lot, perhaps a lot more than I thought I would. Can be dipped into time and time again.