The second volume of Walter de la Mare's Collected Poems 1901-1918 is a collection of poetry that explores a range of subjects, such as the paranormal, nature, love, memory, and death. The author's poetry is renowned for its melody and use of symbolic language. Some of the notable poems in this collection, which were written between 1913 and 1918, are Mistletoe, which depicts the Christmas custom of kissing under the mistletoe, and Winter, which captures the gloom and desolation of the season. While Napoleon explores the life and legacy of the French military leader, The Moons describes the various lunar phases. The song All That's Past emphasizes how ephemeral life is and how it must change. The notions of concealed knowledge and a desolate garden are explored in other outstanding poems in the book including The Veil and The Sunken Garden. Both the spooky poems The Witch and The Traveller explore terror and mystery. Overall, this collection of poems demonstrates de la Mare's distinctive literary voice and style, which are renowned for their ability to captivate and haunt readers.
