On Margate Beach: A Collection of Poems

This collection of mostly formal poems is quite lovely. The moods vary from playful to contemplative, and there is a forcefulness in their simplicity of form and language, which is direct, pure, and clean.

This is formal poetry for the modern world, stripped almost entirely of floweriness to show us fragments of the poet's heart in ways that speak to our common humanity.

Even the essays into free verse, like “Grey Thoughts” are well done, and the title poem, “On Margate Beach” deserves its pride of place.

I've not given it five stars because then what would I give Tennyson or Elliot or Frost? But it really is an excellent collection of work, and I look forward to more from Margaret Mundy.