Four Quartets: A Poem

Somehow, in our recent move to the retirement community, my hardback copy of Eliot's collected poems (purchased nearly 50 years ago) went "missing" - not exactly "lost" but not yet "found" either. So I finally broke down and ordered this paperback copy - till my old friend shows up.Yes, you can read it on the web. But I like to hold it in my hands. As I ponder. And am swept away - yet again - by its magnificence. Certain phrases are now simply part of me. And so often I find that Eliot has dealt with topics and issues that resurface, like leitmotifs, during episodes of my life - both large and small. And this move has certainly been filled with episodes of both types. As is this twilight time - of life.I really don't understand, however, WHY there is no Kindle version of this poem! Hint... Hint... It would be such a comfort in the middle of the night... sometimes. Or maybe while waiting in a waiting room.I've been pondering Four Quartets for decades: Trying to wrap my mind around some of it. Appreciating it more and more with each reading. I read it slowly - almost whispering the words. Enjoying the cadence of the language, the brilliance of the poetry. I actually have the recorded words of Eliot I could listen to. But somehow seeing the words, for me, is more enjoyable. More time to ponder - in leisure.It's a hard poem to get into - the first time. Later it's impossible to get out of - or the poem captures you. In a good way. If you give it time. Attention. Let go of self. And give in to the rhythm, the murmuring, like waves on a beach, ceaseless movement which is also timeless. All of life is in this poem!

These late poems of Eliot, modeled on Beethoven's late quartets, are among the masterpieces of world literature. Concerned with time, memory, the process of the soul through the dark night, they transcend place and time though insist that we cannot speak from anything else but a place and a time. They are among the most quoted lines in poetry and should one ever memorize them, or portions of them, one would find a redemption from time as one's traveling companion. For God's sake read the poems aloud to your friends, mentors, lovers. They still stop and listen, and it will do them good, hearing this. We shall not cease from exploration. And the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time. And all shall be well and all manner of thing shall be well........ It doesn't get better than this.

Pristine copy of a wonderful classic! In perfect condition and it arrived quickly. Highly recommend this seller.

This copy of T.S. Eliot's "Four Quartets" arrived in a very efficient and timely manner. It was clear that it had been handled and the cover was worn from use, however, I did not expect a brand new book. I thought that the product information matched the product that I received. Although I would not display it in a case, the book fit my practical needs quite nicely. The seller was honest, and set a low, fair price. I had a positive experience with this product. I found the collection of these four poems by Eliot to be quite intruiging, though a bit elusive. It was fascinating to read them sequentially, since I had only read selected sections of each poem in literary anthologies. There was more than enough content to analyze both for personal and academic purposes. His allusions and use of biblical symbolism were of great interest to me.

T S is a classic Poet whom is difficult not to appreciate.

I'm not a poetry person, at all. So when my teacher assigned this book, I was skeptical to say the least. I picked it up and became so engrossed that I finished it in one sitting (which was easy to do because it was not very long). There were so many parts of the book that I simply couldn't quite understand. I had an inkling of what it meant but I felt that there were so many points left be discovered. However, this did not bother me in the least. Even though I felt slightly confused and befuddled, I still loved it. The more I read, discussed and studied certain parts, the more I loved it.What is the book about? It is about time, love, the ever-changing world, and a God who is the still point.My favorite part is the end, "We shall never cease from exploration..."

Wow! How does one even begin to review something like this? This deserves five stars simply for the ambition.. the scope of it.. And another five for the craftsmanship.This work came to my attention because Jeremy Irons mentioned it in an interview. Its something he returns to often, and I think I will too. Thank you Uncle Scar for this gem!

Not the best poems, as a whole which Eliot ever wrote, but within the poems they contain some of the most brilliant languageand insights found in any day's English. They deserve to be read many times. The parts in the poems which elude us are simplysmall pebbles on a broader road where flashes of light feed us even as our sun feeds the plants.