Old and New Poems

Donald Hall, who has recently been named poet laureate of the United States, has been compared to New England poet, Robert Frost. Much of his poetry has a "familiar" feel to it, though not derivative. He speaks as a child when describing the Sleeping Giant, a small mountain in Hamden, CT, where, if one is in the right spot, the head, chest and feet of the "giant" can be imagined. He grew up in Hamden, CT, but his grandfather's home in the New Hampshire mountains helped shape his view of life, as well. In "Old and New Poems" his changing viewes of life over the years are seen. In the poem "1934" he reminds the reader of life during the Great Depression, and the fears it engendered. His poetry reminds readers of ordinary day to day activities. He writes of his father and grandfather reminiscing "In the Kitchen of the Old House", where "his early death grew inside him, like snow piling on the grass". "Old and New Poems" is very readable, and often autobiographical. I loved reading it. Nancy Green