Gillian Clarke Poems

Gillian Clarke is a Welsh poet who served as the National Poet of Wales from 2008 to 2016. Her work often features on GCSE syllabuses. She is also a playwright, editor, and has even worked translating Welsh to English. Clarke gives poetry readings throughout the United Kingdom and her work has been translated into other languages, like Chinese. 

Death of a Young Woman

by Gillian Clarke

Explore ‘Death of a Young Woman,’ where Clarke depicts how a loved one’s death lets a person free from their inward, endless suffering.

Published in Gillian Clarke's second book of poetry, The Sundial (1978), 'Death of a Young Woman' explores the themes of loss, death, and love.

Sunday

by Gillian Clarke

 ‘Sunday’ by Gillian Clarke was inspired by the poet’s personal experience of attempting to enjoy a Sunday morning but then being reminded of all the suffering that’s going on in the world. 

The poem is typical of Clarke, insofar as it is deeply personal and situated in her native Wales.

Advent

by Gillian Clarke

Gillian Clarke’s free-verse poem ‘Advent’ depicts a lifeless winter landscape where everything is frozen to a state that instills despair and hopelessness in the speaker’s heart.

Babysitting

by Gillian Clarke

‘Babysitting’ by Gillian Clarke is a two stanza free verse poem about a babysitter who is having a hard time babysitting a child because of her own fears.

Blaen Cwrt

by Gillian Clarke

‘Blaen Cwrt,’ a poem by Welsh poet Gillian Clarke depicts the pleasant dwelling of the speaker in rural Ceredigion, West Wales.

Buzzard

by Gillian Clarke

‘Buzzard’ by Gillian Clarke is a poem about lost hopes, dreams, and opportunities revisited, using the metaphor of a buzzard and its skeleton.

Clocks

by Gillian Clarke

‘Clocks’ by Gillian Clarke is a unique and deep poem that reflects the passage of time and the wonders of growing older.

February

by Gillian Clarke

‘February’ depicts a stunning and figurative encounter with Clarke’s familiar Welsh landscape on a snowy February day.

Friesian Bull

by Gillian Clarke

‘Friesian Bull’ by Gillian Clarke is a tale of a bull that is angry at his current state of being locked in his “brick and concrete stall”.

Heron at Port Talbot

by Gillian Clarke

‘Heron at Port Talbot’ describes the relationship between the industrial world and the natural and how the two collide on a snowy road at night.

Journey

by Gillian Clarke

‘Journey’ by Gillian Clarke is a poem of three stanzas that focuses on a road trip and all the things that are witnessed by the couple in the car.

Lament

by Gillian Clarke

‘Lament’ is Gillian Clarke’s war-inspired perspective on taking the time to remember the devastation and destruction that humanity is capable of today.

Miracle on St. David’s Day

by Gillian Clarke

‘Miracle on St. David’s Day’, as has been stated by Clarke herself, is based on her own personal experience about a man who had not “spoken” for years.

Musician

by Gillian Clarke

‘Musician’ by Gillian Clarke is a poem about her son learning to play the piano, where the imagery around the home aids to describe the creativity of music.

My Box

by Gillian Clarke

‘My Box’, by Gillian Clarke, explores the themes of relationships, strength, love and eternity in this poem with the metaphor of the box.

Pipistrelle

by Gillian Clarke

‘Pipistrelle’ by Gillian Clarke is a short poem about hidden messages of a relationship that has gone cold and does not have a future.

Seal

by Gillian Clarke

‘Seal’ by Gillian Clarke depicts motherhood. Specifically, the poet chose to describe the experience through the relationship between a mother and a baby seal.

White Roses

by Gillian Clarke

‘White Roses’ by Gillian Clarke is a heart-wrenching poem and true story about a sick child who bravely contends with pain during his short life. 

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