The Collected Poems

Some time around Christmas 1962, she gathered most of what are now known as the ‘Ariel’ poems in a black spring binder, and arranged them in a careful sequence. (At the time, she pointed out that it began with the word ‘Love’ and ended with the word ‘Spring’. From quite early she began to assemble her poems into a prospective collection, which at various times she presented—always hopeful—to publishers and to the judging committees of contests. Where are the eye-stones, yellow and valuable, And the tongue, sapphire of ash. (4) A wedding-cake face in a paper frill. The problem, then, is a nearly impossible one: How can the poet make himself sacred?