The Poetry of Sara Teasdale - Flame and Shadow

By: Sara Teasdale

Narrated by: Susie Berneis

Sara Teasdale - winner of a Pulitzer Prize, the Poetry Society of America prize, and other awards - lived for love and beauty and died by her own hand. Her poetry shows vividly what an intensely passionate woman she was, so much so that in some of her poetry she speaks of the impact of beauty in terms of physical pain, and the impact of love in terms of birth and death. She knew the world of her time; her poetry reacts to New York, to Chicago, to Paris; she knew the poets of her time, including a long and painful relationship with the poet Vachel Lindsay. Her poetry shows no interest in politics; it is the world of beauty and the world of the heart that draw her mind. Her poetry is technically simple, as is that of another great American poet, Robert Frost. Like him, she expresses herself directly, yet in rhythm and rhyme:

I have loved much and been loved deeply -
Oh when my spirit's fire burns low,
Leave me the darkness and the stillness
I shall be tired and glad to go.

Like many of America's women poets, she is rather on the back shelf these days, but she deserves better. Enjoy this reading of her poetry!

Public Domain (P)2011 Robert Bethune and Susie Berneis

Well produced and well intoned.

This is one of three titles by freshwater seas currently in my library. I find them to be extremely clear and thoughtfully performed. I have long cherished Sara Teasdale's works and am glad to have an elegant vocal dramatization of her timeless collection.

No variations

I love Teasdale’s poetry. However, the way it is read here ,sounds as if it is coming from a Dr. Seuss book.

I started it while in the shower I wasn’t able to stop it until I stepped out. Was the most annoying shower I’ve ever had.