Lyrics of the Earth

Archibald Lampman (1861-1899) was a Canadian poet born in what was then known as Upper Canada, and is counted amongst a group of early Canadian poets identified as the "poets of the Confederation" as a result of their close temporal proximity to the foundation of Canada as a country.

In addition to writing pieces for the Toronto Globe newspaper, Lampan wrote nearly three hundred poems later in his life, only some of which were published before his death. The majority of his poems were published in periodicals, but Lyrics of the Earth is one of three volumes of poetry which he published. He was best known for short poems on natural themes, and there were to be his poetic stock-and-trade, despite unsuccessful attempts at longer, narrative poems of an epic bent.

This volume of Lyrics of the Earth was published by The Musson Book Company Ltd. of Toronto in 1925, and includes and introduction by fellow "poet of the Confederation" Duncan Campbell Scott. He writes in the introduction that the motivation behind the volume was to "make a book some day that would contain the best of the poet's works...." Scott has organised the book into sections. "Lyrics of the earth" includes strictly nature poems; "Poems and ballads" includes those that mix nature and some other element of human existence; and "Sonnets" include those works that Lampman wrote in that poetic form.

This volume is in good condition. There is some minor wear to the edges of the covers, and the cloth on the spine is discoloured. There is slight crack to the front and back hinges, but otherwise the internal structure of the book is sound.