Gwen Harwood is a poet who appeals to me in many ways. She has written a great variety of works, all of which I find equally intriguing. Her more recent poetry is much more moving and is directly personal. Her older poetry depends much more on the use of rhyme and uses more classical verse form (her recent poems using verse forms with more flexibility.) Gwen Harwood has created a multitude of poems, which, while being quite philosophical, are still very emotionally powerful. The two aspects of her poetry which I find most appealing are; her subject matter and themes, dealing a lot with women's issues, and also the mood and atmosphere which she effectively creates. Her use of language in creating wonderfully luminous images is amazing.
I am enthralled by the amount of insight Harwood seems to have into the mind of the human being, especially when it comes to women. So many of her poems deal with and talk about the minds and lives of women, a topic that I find particularly interesting. She handles these topics masterfully, with ease and a tremendous amount of insight - which just seems to come out naturally through many of her works.
Firstly, her themes and subject matter. I find Harwood's poems particularly fascinating, and this is one aspect that that really attracts me to her poetry. One of her poems, "In the Park", being a traditional sonnet, is a perfect example of her subject matter, dealing with the life and feelings of a woman.
She sits in the Park. Her clothes are out of date.
Two children bicker and whine, tug her skirt.
A third draws aimless patterns in the dirt.
Someone she loved once passes by - too late.
to feign indifference to that casual nod.
"How nice," et cetera. "Time holds great surprises.".
From his neat head unquestionably rises.
a small balloon "but for the grace of God-.
They stand a while in flicking light, rehearsing.
the children's name and birthdays. "It's so sweet.
