The Star-Treader, and other poems

"The Star-Treader, and other poems" by Clark Ashton Smith is a collection of poetry written during the early 20th century. The book explores themes of beauty, death, and the cosmic experiences of humanity, revealing a rich tapestry of metaphysical musings and vivid imagery. Smith, a prominent figure in the weird fiction movement, uses his lyrical style to delve into existential queries and the nature of existence, all while engaging with the themes of myth and the sublime. Within this collection, readers will find poems that traverse a variety of landscapes, both earthly and celestial, invoking a sense of wonder and contemplation. Poems such as "The Star-Treader" illustrate a journey through dreams and memory, while "Nero" reflects on power and the fragility of life. The poems are infused with an ethereal quality, capturing moments of beauty intertwined with philosophical reflections on the cosmos and humanity’s place within it. From the haunting lament of lost beauty in "Song to Oblivion" to the vibrant imagery of nature in "The Butterfly," Smith’s works invite readers into a world where beauty and terror coexist, leaving them to ponder the deeper meanings embedded in each stanza. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Clark Ashton Smith was an American writer and artist. He achieved early local recognition, largely through the enthusiasm of George Sterling, for traditional verse in the vein of Swinburne. As a poet, Smith is grouped with the West Coast Romantics alongside Joaquin Miller, Sterling, and Nora May French and remembered as "The Last of the Great Romantics" and "The Bard of Auburn". Smith's work was praised by his contemporaries. H. P. Lovecraft stated that "in sheer daemonic strangeness and fertility of conception, Clark Ashton Smith is perhaps unexcelled", and Ray Bradbury said that Smith "filled my mind with incredible worlds, impossibly beautiful cities, and still more fantastic creatures".