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Robinson Jeffers (10 January 1887 – 20 January 1962 / Allegheny, Pennsylvania)
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John Robinson Jeffers was an American poet, known for his work about the central California coast. Most of Jeffers' poetry was written in classic narrative and epic form, but today he is also known for his short verse, and considered an icon of the environmental movement.
Life
Jeffers was born in Allegheny, Pennsylvania (now part of Pittsburgh), the son of a Presbyterian minister and biblical scholar, Reverend Dr. William Hamilton Jeffers, and Annie Robinson Tuttle. His brother was Hamilton Jeffers, who became a well-known astronomer, working at Lick Observatory. His family was supportive of his interest in poetry. He traveled through Europe during his youth and ... more »
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Popular Poems
- A Little Scraping
- A Redeemer
- All The Little Hoofprints
- An Artist
- Ante Mortem
- Antrim
- Apology For Bad Dreams
- Ascent To The Sierras
- Ave Caesar
- Be Angry At The Sun
- Birds
- Birth-Dues
- Bixby's Landing
- Boats In A Fog
Quotations
more quotations »-
''If civilization goes down, that
Robinson Jeffers (1887-1962), U.S. poet. May—June, 1940 (l. 22-25). . . Modern American Poetry. Louis Untermeyer, ed. (8th rev. ed., 1962) Ha...
Would be an event to contemplate.
It will not be in our time, alas, my dear,
It will not be in our time.''
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It would be better for men
Robinson Jeffers (1887-1962), U.S. poet. May—June, 1940 (l. 5-7). . . Modern American Poetry. Louis Untermeyer, ed. (8th rev. ed., 1962) Harc...
To be few and live far apart, where none could infect another; then
slowly the sanity of field and mountain
And the cold ocean and glittering stars migh...
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''the dive-bomber's screaming orgasm
Robinson Jeffers (1887-1962), U.S. poet. May—June, 1940 (l. 12-13). . . Modern American Poetry. Louis Untermeyer, ed. (8th rev. ed., 1962) Ha...
As beautiful as other passions;''
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''And why do you cry, my dear, why do you cry?
Robinson Jeffers (1887-1962), U.S. poet. May—June, 1940 (l. 16-18). . . Modern American Poetry. Louis Untermeyer, ed. (8th rev. ed., 1962) Ha...
It is all in the whirling circles of time.
If millions are born millions must die,''
In a strange way, his lack of popularity is probably a testimony to his insight; people are shy of hearing what disagrees with the common view. His ability to look beyond the tepid matters of today reminds me of the work of David Jones, someone else maturing gently in obscurity.
Robinson Jeffers is a criminally underrated poet, easily the equal of Eliot and Frost (and in my view a better poet than either) . 'Hurt Hawks' and 'Vulture' are among the best animals poems I have read in the language. He's a formidable epic poet, and is generally more successful than the other major English poets at long narratives.