Reading James Thomson's poem Winter 1726

A quick look at the style and form of "Winter" (1726) by James Thomson, who was born on this day September 11, 1700.
______________
Support my channel here and get access to exclusive opportunities to study poetry with me: / closereadingpoetry
Learn how to close-read poetry through my lecture series, “Close Reading Poetry” here: • How to Read Poetry
Find me teaching at the Antrim Literature Project: www.AntrimLite...

[@robertgainer2783]

Brilliant! A poet I have never read and know nothing about, and I enjoy new discoveries!

[@sukhjitsandhu82]

A delightful introduction to a forgotten poet

[@authorgreene]

Adding The Seasons to my reading list. Thank you!

[@saturdayafternoonbeer4720]

Thank you! Greetings from China.

[@maryfilippou6667]

No, I'd not heard of him; tho' The Seasons, yes: unless there' s more than one si- titled. Thank you for the introduction!

[@alanbash2921]

Cerulean 🔵......one of Wordsworth’s favorite words...it’s peppered throughout his vast array of approximately 2000 Poems .

[@closereadingpoetry]

Yes! Appearing mostly in his mature poetry. The word may have been too fancy for his earlier ideals. It appears twice in the 1850 Prelude and a couple of times in The Excursion, but never at all in the 1805 version of The Prelude or in any of his poetry before 1814 (that I know of). Certainly not the Lyrical Ballads. Spring returns,- I saw the Spring return, and could rejoice, In common with the children of her love, Piping on boughs, or sporting on fresh fields, 35 Or boldly seeking pleasure nearer heaven On wings that navigate cerulean skies. (The 1850 Prelude, Bk. XII, 32-37)

[@julie6956]

I love this! I am doing a quarter long study of Thomson in my grad studies and I’d love to know your sources!

[@closereadingpoetry]

I learned about the story of Coleridge and Hazlitt from Jonathan Bate's John Clare biography! I have a very old edition of The Seasons. Haven't been able to find much of his in recent publications apart from anthologies.