
THE LITTLE SALAMANDER
THE LINNET
THE SUNKEN GARDEN
THE RIDDLERS
MOONLIGHT
THE BLIND BOY
THE QUARRY
MRS. GRUNDY
THE TRYST
ALONE
A gently varied tapestry of verse opens this collection, inviting listeners into quiet gardens, moon‑lit evenings, and the secret lives of birds. The poet’s eye moves from the delicate flutter of a linnet on a thorny branch to the deeper shadows of a sunken garden where herbs whisper forgotten sorrows. Each piece balances vivid natural imagery with a subtle, often wistful, human reflection, offering moments of both bright observation and lingering melancholy. The language is lyrical yet accessible, allowing the cadence of each line to resonate clearly when heard aloud.
In the later poems, the tone shifts toward intimate storytelling, as seen in the plaintive voice of a blind beggar and the quiet resilience of a solitary nightingale. These works explore themes of longing, loss, and the quiet strength found in simple beauty. Listeners will feel the gentle pull of each stanza, as the verses unfold like soft murmurs in a still night, encouraging contemplation without ever demanding a resolution.
Language
en
Duration
~36 minutes (34K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Original publisher
United Kingdom: Constable and Company Ltd., 1918.
Credits
Al Haines
Release date
2022-07-04
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1873–1956
Best known for eerie, dreamlike writing that lingers in the mind, this English poet and storyteller moved easily between children’s literature, ghostly tales, and deeply musical verse. His work is especially remembered for “The Listeners” and for its strange, delicate sense of wonder.
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