E. L. Mayo was an associate professor of English at Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa. He taught also at Amherst College, the University of Minnesota, Phillips Academy, North Dakota State College, and the U.S. Military Academy Preparatory School.
Some alive and arresting poems.
—
New York Times
An unpretentious writer, Mr. Mayo is daring and successful precisely because he does not overburden his language.
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Poetry
table of contents
PART I • PLACES
THE HOUSE ON PLEASANT STREET
GRANITE CITY
LONDONERS
POSTWAR LANDSCAPE
TWINKLING
HOMETOWN
OCCUPIED TERRITORY
PART II • LETTERS AND ENCOUNTERS
APPARITION
TAPESTRY
TO A FRIEND TEACHING IN THE PROVINCES
THE RETURN OF PROSPERO
LETTER TO TOO MANY PEOPLE
HOMAGE TO VINCENT
THE SLEEPING BEAUTY
POEM FOR GERARD
THE PRINCE OF ODD AND ANGER
TO THE ARCHPOET
LETTER TO MY GRANDFATHER'S PICTURE
PART III • MYTHS AND ENACTMENTS
THE MONITOR REPORTS
THE GENTLE PEOPLE
THE GRACIOUS ONES
PTYX
THE COMING OF THE TOADS
MAKING YOUR POEM
ONE
THE MYTH AND THE MAKERS
THE RINGING
PART IV • MODES
THE DIAL AND THE MOLE
THE POET WHO TALKS TO HIMSELF
THE MATCH
THE SHAPERS
DO NOT FEED THE ELEPHANT
SPRING IS COMING
SWIM
SUMMER UNBOUND
HANDBAG
PART V ' CONSIDERATIONS
THE SWIMMERS
FALLABSTRACT
DEITY
THE LOSS
THREE LADIES
PRAISE FOR THE EARTHKEEPERS
MOVING
SNOW SCENE
JOY OF MAN'S DESIRING