Jane Tyson Clement (1917–2000)

Jane Tyson Clements was one of the more interesting under-publicized women poets of the twentieth century. Her poems, many of which were "blank verse" with occasional rhyme, were published in magazines and collected in books, but although most of the poems were not overtly religious the books seem to have been stuck in one denominational "ghetto" or another. Clements' first book was published by Quakers and her next book by the Bruderhof, who also published "The Heart's Necessities." Most of the poems explore landscapes and nature in ways that leave room for theological interpretations, but without overtly mentioning Christianity. Clements was, literally, a pacifist first and a Christian second; she joined the Quaker congregation because they were pacifists, didn't fit into their social group, and joined a Bruderhof mission. Her social consciousness hardly fits into a denominational ghetto.

"The Heart's Necessities" is really a collaborative book, in which young musician Becca Stevens, who has set some of Clements' poems to music, and editor Veery Huleatt have patched together a biography of Clements' life in poetry to accompany Stevens' music recordings. It's not yet fully hybridized; readers still have to listen to the musical settings of the poems at a separate website. It reads as if it's being shaped in the direction of a true electronic hybrid work, as if, when it's finished, you'll be able to hear the poems sung alternately with reading them in the usual way if you read the book online. In the e-book I have, short essays about Clements' and Stevens' lives, and photos of the landscapes Clements wrote about, appear in between poems to create a fascinating overview of this important minor poet.… (more)

The Heart's Necessities is a three-part book. First, it is a selected collection of poems by Jane Tyson Clement. Clement, a Smith College graduate, became a poet, playwright, and author. Although from a privileged background, she became involved in social justice and she and her husband joined the Bruderhof community. Her poetry, in this collection, centers on nature and its beauty. There is an underlining spirituality in writing complimenting the natural world. The poetry is simple yet beautiful in its form and message reminiscent of Romanticism.

Secondly, the book is a biography of the poet. Written by Becca Stevens, she centers on the life and accomplishments of Clement. Clement's work with the Bruderhof community is documented as well as the stages of her life. Clement seems to be one of the rare people whose devotion could be felt with her presence rather than her words. The third part consists of notes by Stevens describing the poems or putting them context. These are easily separated from the rest of the text because of the color of the ink used. The collection is also illustrated with photos of nature, Stevens, and Clement.

The book has the appearance of a modern devotional from the cover photo to the tint of the pages. The color photographs support the messages of the poetry and the grandeur of nature. The impression of a devotional not only describes the poet's work but also her influence. She inspired the music of the author Becca Stevens which made this book possible and opened the poetry of Clement to a new and younger audience.… (more)