Dream Poems

Manuscript and typescript drafts, [1951]-[1969], of poetry by Clifford Dyment, consisting mostly of drafts of twenty-six of the twenty-eight dream poems first published in section VI of his Collected Poems (London, 1970), pp. 89-106 (ff. 2 verso, 5 verso, 6 verso, 9-94, 96-104, 106-109).
Also included are a few additional poems, most apparently unpublished; these comprise 'The Found Postman' (f. 46 verso), 'The Trap' (f. 95), 'The Thames' (ff. 105, 108), 'The Crow' (f. 108; published in Fur, Feather and Fin (London, [1968]), p. 71), 'Crucifixus' (f. 109; published in Poems 1935-1948 (London, 1949), p. 22), 'The Worm is near its Victory' (f. 109), 'Strict Life Takes Toll' (f. 109), 'The Shadow in the Corn' (f. 110), 'Harvest' (f. 111), 'The Dumble' (f. 112), 'Landscape' (f. 113) and 'The Off-beat' / 'The Tramp' (ff. 114-115). The presence of a draft foreword (ff. 4-7), notes (f. 8) and title page, 'Poems in the Night' (f. 20 verso), gives an indication of Dyment's intention to publish the dream poems as a separate volume. Most of the poems are listed, in Dyment's hand, on ff. 1-2. Some of the poems are written on the backs of old letters and circulars, as well as fragments of a typescript for his autobiography The Railway Game (London, 1962) (ff. 33-35, 45, 55, 73, 75-76, 81, 92, 96, 99-101, 104, 114-115, versos only) and the beginning of his introduction to the first edition of Robert Greacen's autobiography, Even Without Irene (Dublin, 1969) (f. 4 verso, 12 verso).

Arranged at NLW mostly following Dyment's list on f. 1.

Title based on contents.

Previously in card folder bearing the titles 'Dream Poems' (pencil on front) and 'General papers' (pencil on back).

For further drafts of some of the poems see also NLW MS 23955E.

Published