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The Collected Poetry of Robert E. Howard Volume One

REH Foundation Press

2022
Material type
HardcoverPaperbackPoetry collection
Publication categories
Poetry

Publication date: October 2022

Series / set

Three-volume-set

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Introduction

By Paul Herman *Robert E. Howard wrote poetry. He wrote it first in life, last in life, and throughout life. Howard completed around 300 stories for commercial sale and worked on 300 more. But he wrote over 700 poems, virtually none of them meant for commercial markets. His first publication outside of school was his poem "The Sea", published in a local paper. His famous "All fled, all done..." couplet, borrowed from Viola Garvin, was allegedly the last words he typed. And in between, poetry gushed from him.
“I know his [REH’s] stories will be read and forgotten, but I do know also that if his poems were in book form . . . they would live on and on and not be forgotten. Somebody would be reading them for many years to come.” ― Dr. Isaac Mordecai Howard, father of REH
Howard poured himself into his poetry, undisguised. What amazed him, what drew him, what scared him, what sickened him. He wasn't worried about what we the eventual readers would think of him as an author. And perhaps this is true of any real poet, the fearlessness of saying what one really wants to say.This three-volume set, The Collected Poems of Robert E. Howard includes all of Howard's poetry that has been found, including all the earlier draft versions, where such exist. This is indeed the Ultimate collection of Robert E. Howard's poetry.This is the "Ultimate Edition" which just means that it's printed on demand. Each volume is printed in hardback with a dust jacket.  The cover design and artwork are by Mark Wheatley. The first edition can be seen here.* Text edited and shortened by webmaster.With regard to editing the texts, I have chosen first and foremost to go back to what REH actually wrote. Poetry by its very nature involves an author using grammar, layout, and punctuation differently than would be appropriate in a prose work. REH certainly was not shy about being creative in such details. Some may consider such things as lack of proper punctuation unacceptable, but it was REH’s work and his choice. Therefore I have attempted, as much as possible, to restore all the texts to his original words and forms.Multiple drafts exist of some poems. Sometimes there is little difference between drafts, sometimes significant differences. In the case of multiple drafts, I have included either notes regarding, or the complete text of, the earlier drafts, depending on how different they are.Typically we do not have a copy of the “final form” of a poem that REH sent off to a magazine, like Weird Tales. Thus, we really have no idea if any differences that show up between the published version and a draft typescript version were created by REH (in a later draft for which no copy is available in the known typescripts) or by the editors. In instances where there are significant differences, we have included both versions. And finally, on occasion, there is more than one version of a poem, with it not being evident which came before the other. That is, which is the more “final” of the two. In those cases, I have again just picked one and referred to the “alternate” version in either the footnotes or included it, if significantly different. One will also occasionally encounter a “variant” version, a poem that is significantly similar to another, but with a completely different title, and likely meant to be a different poem, one used as raw material for the other.With regard to the arrangement of the works in this collection, REH had poetry that he thought was good enough and ready to publish. He also had what appeared to be works in progress, and silly things he just did in letters to friends. Because I wanted to let REH set out what he thought was his best, and reserve the silly stuff for those readers that really want to see it, I have decided to sort the works broadly into six sections:
  • Finished and Professional
  • Titled Drafts
  • Untitled Drafts
  • No Known Drafts
  • Youthful Writings
  • Poetry for Friends
It is recognized that some works may fit in multiple sections, and I have made choices as best I think. Sequentially, starting with the “Titled Drafts” section in Volume One, each section is broken down into six subsections:
  • Introductory Sampling (some of the best in a section)
  • Seeking Adventure and Freedom
  • Fantastical
  • Historical and Observational
  • Humor
  • Naughty
  • Darker Moods
Again, some poems could fit in multiple subsections, and I have made decisions as I think best. The recently gained access to the entire Glenn Lord Collection of typescripts added several poems, as well as lots of early and alternate drafts. This influx of material (along with the addition of multiple indices) has caused the complete collection to grow larger than is convenient for a single volume. Accordingly, I have broken Collected Poetry into three volumes, comprising the six categories listed above:
  • Volume One: Finished and Professional; Titled Drafts
  • Volume Two: Untitled Drafts; No Known Drafts; Youthful Writings
  • Volume Three: Poetry for Friends
In selecting which section to place poems, the first general rule is, any poetry in letters goes into Poetry for Friends, and all works either handwritten or typed on REH’s first typewriter, go into Youthful Writings. After those were sorted, then the remaining poetry was sorted as needed into Finished and Professional, Titled Drafts, Untitled Drafts, and No Known Draft.If there is more than one draft, all drafts of a poem are presented together one after the other. In each instance I have either included all the drafts together, or at least added notes on earlier drafts, if the differences are few. I have used the most “final” version to help decide into which section of the collection the bundle of drafts will appear. So for instance, if for a particular poem there is a final draft, an earlier titled draft, and an untitled draft, all three will appear together in Finished and Professional. If the best version is merely titled but not in final form, then the Titled Drafts section gets the set. If only untitled drafts are known, then they will appear in the Untitled Drafts section. And finally, for those without drafts, they are placed in the No Known Draft Section. Published versions which are significantly different from any draft have generally been included after the known drafts.Also included at the back of each volume is a full alphabetical list of all poems with volume and page number, alternate title list, first line index, and sources used for texts and titles.Finally, with regard to titles, it is unfortunate that the typescripts we have access to include only about 300 titles for the 700+ poems. Some might prefer to have all these poems with no provable title to just be called “Untitled”, or just use the first line, but that tends to make it difficult to discuss the poems with others, or to reference. A short simple title for each is desirable, and that appears to be the thought of virtually all previous editors who published the vast majority of these poems. And it may be that in some instances, the first published title actually was a title REH meant for that work, who knows.In general, I have used the title provided by REH in a typescript, if one is available. Those are easy. If a work was published during REH’s lifetime, or just after, I’ll presume the title came from REH, and use that title (though of course there is no real proof that that is true). Everything else, and there is a lot of everything else, is really a question. For most of this remaining verse, I have simply used whatever title the work was published with previously, for simplicity and continuity, recognizing the high likelihood that there is not, and never was, a titled draft, and that the title was attached by whomever. Much of the more recently discovered poetry that is untitled is here titled with the first line, or a portion of the first line. In a very few instances, I have found the previous title (or lack thereof) a real problem, and have added a title of my own creation. I have tried to keep these to a minimum. The source list at the end of this volume will include both the source of the text used, as well as the source of the title, if known, for those interested in such details.It is hoped that all this minutiae and detail does not detract from the entire point of this three volume set: to provide all of REH’s poetic works, those brilliant and those not quite so, for the reader’s enjoyment and thoughtful perusement.
  • xi • Introduction - The Poetry of Robert E. Howard by Paul Herman
  • xv • Foreword by Paul Herman
  • xix • Acknowledgements

Collections - Singers in the Shadows

Notes

  • Edited by Paul Herman
  • Print on demand "Ultimate Edition"

The other volumes

The first edition

  

Edition and production details

Language
English
Format details
Hardcover; Trade paperback
Edition
2nd edition, version 1
Format
hardcover
Publication date
October 2022
Identifiers
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1955446067 ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1955446068
Pages
452
Publisher / imprint
REH Foundation Press
Cover art
Mark Wheatley
Illustrations
None
Edition
2nd edition, version 1
Format
paperback
Publication date
October 2022
Identifiers
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1955446067 ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1955446068
Pages
452
Publisher / imprint
REH Foundation Press
Cover art
Mark Wheatley
Illustrations
None

216 linked Howard works

191 contents entries

  1. "The Poetry of Robert E. Howard" by Paul Herman (Introduction)
  2. "Foreword" by Paul Herman
  3. Acknowledgements
  4. SECTION ONE: FINISHED AND PROFESSIONAL
  5. Collections – Singers in the Shadows
  6. " Zukala’s Hour " (poem)
  7. " Zukala’s Hour " (poem, first published version, no known draft )
  8. " Night Mood " (poem)
  9. " The Sea-Woman " (poem)
  10. " The Bride of Cuchulain " (poem)
  11. " The Stranger " (poem)
  12. " Shadows " (2, poem)
  13. " Rebel " (poem)
  14. " Rebel " (poem , an earlier untitled draft )
  15. " White Thunder " (poem)
  16. " The Men That Walk with Satan " (poem)
  17. " The Men That Walk with Satan " (poem, a shorter, untitled version included in a letter)
  18. " Thus Spake Sven the Fool " (poem)
  19. " Sacrifice " (poem)
  20. " The Witch " (poem)
  21. " The Lost Galley " (poem)
  22. " Hadrian’s Wall " (poem)
  23. " Attila Rides No More " (poem)
  24. " The Fear That Follows " (poem)
  25. " Destination " (poem)
  26. " The Tavern " (poem)
  27. " The Twin Gates " (poem)
  28. Collections – Images Out of the Sky
  29. " Reuben’s Brethren " (poem)
  30. " A Riding Song " (poem)
  31. " Reuben’s Birthright " (poem)
  32. " The Skull in the Clouds " (poem, a published alternate version of “Reuben’s Birthright”, no known draft )
  33. " Heritage " (1, poem)
  34. " An Echo from the Iron Harp " (poem)
  35. " An Echo from the Iron Harp " (poem, an earlier untitled draft )
  36. " Castaway " (poem)
  37. " The Road to Rest " (poem)
  38. " Surrender " (1, poem , a variant version of "The Road to Rest")
  39. " To a Modern Young Lady " (poem)
  40. " To a Woman " (poem , the second draft of "To a Modern Young Lady" )
  41. " To a Woman " (poem , the first draft of "To a Modern Young Lady")
  42. " Love’s Young Dream " (poem)
  43. " Black Michael’s Story " (poem)
  44. " Black Michael’s Story " (poem, an earlier untitled draft )
  45. " A Son of Spartacus " (poem)
  46. " Hate’s Dawn " (poem , an earlier shorter version of "A Son of Spartacus" )
  47. " Man, the Master " (poem)
  48. " For Man Was Given the Earth to Rule " (poem)
  49. " For Man Was Given the Earth to Rule " (poem , an earlier untitled draft )
  50. " Shadows on the Road " (poem)
  51. " Forbidden Magic " (poem)
  52. " The Gates of Nineveh " (poem)
  53. Cycles – Sonnets out of Bedlam
  54. " The Singer in the Mist " (poem)
  55. " The Singer in the Mist " (poem, an earlier untitled draft)
  56. " The Dream and the Shadow " (poem)
  57. " The Dream and the Shadow " (poem , an earlier untitled draft )
  58. " The Soul-Eater " (poem)
  59. " Haunting Columns " (poem)
  60. " The Last Hour " (poem)
  61. Cycles – The Voices in the Night aka The Iron Harp (1)
  62. " The Voices Waken Memory " (poem)
  63. " Babel " (poem)
  64. " Laughter in the Gulfs " (poem)
  65. " Moon Shame " (poem)
  66. " A Crown for a King " (poem)
  67. " A Crown for a King " (poem , an alternate version )
  68. Cycles – Black Dawn
  69. " Shadows " (1, poem)
  70. " Clouds " (poem)
  71. " Shrines " (poem)
  72. " The Iron Harp " (2, poem)
  73. " Invocation " (poem)
  74. Cycles – Poetry Journals, etc.
  75. " A Lady’s Chamber " (poem)
  76. " Skulls and Dust " (poem)
  77. " Tides " (poem)
  78. " Red Thunder " (poem)
  79. " Dreaming on Downs " (poem)
  80. " Dreaming on Downs " (poem, an earlier draft )
  81. " Empire’s Destiny " (poem)
  82. " Empire’s Destiny " (poem, an alternate version )
  83. " Flaming Marble " (1, poem)
  84. " Rebellion " (poem)
  85. " Shadow of Dreams " (poem)
  86. " To a Woman " (2, poem)
  87. " One Who Comes at Eventide " (poem)
  88. " Always Comes Evening " (poem)
  89. Poetry in the Pulps
  90. " Kid Lavigne is Dead " (poem)
  91. " The Song of the Bats " (poem)
  92. " The Song of the Bats " (poem, the rhyming pattern)
  93. " The Ride of Falume " (poem)
  94. " The Riders of Babylon " (poem)
  95. " Remembrance " (poem)
  96. " An Open Window " (poem)
  97. " The Harp of Alfred " (poem)
  98. " Easter Island " (poem)
  99. " Crete " (poem)
  100. " Moon Mockery " (poem)
  101. " The Moor Ghost " (poem)
  102. " Dead Man’s Hate " (poem)
  103. " Sang the King of Midian " (poem)
  104. " Black Chant Imperial " (poem)
  105. " The Song of a Mad Minstrel " (poem)
  106. " Arkham " (poem)
  107. " The Last Day " (poem)
  108. " A Dream of Autumn " (poem)
  109. " Moonlight on a Skull " (poem)
  110. Poetry in Pulp Stories
  111. " The Phoenix on the Sword " (poem , chapter headings )
  112. " The Scarlet Citadel " (poem, chapter headings )
  113. " Queen of the Black Coast " (poem , chapter headings )
  114. " The Pool of the Black One " (poem , story heading )
  115. " Rogues in the House " (poem , story heading )
  116. " The Blood of Belshazzar " (poem, story heading )
  117. " The Lion of Tiberias " (poem , story heading )
  118. " Red Blades of Black Cathay " (poem, story heading )
  119. " The Fearsome Touch of Death " (poem, story heading )
  120. " The Thing on the Roof " (poem , story heading )
  121. " Kings of the Night " (poem, story heading)
  122. " The Black Stone " (poem , story heading )
  123. " Oh, the Road to Glory Lay " (poem, contained in "The Pit of the Serpent" )
  124. " I Call the Muster of Iron Men " (poem , contained in "Crowd-Horror" )
  125. Ready to send drafts
  126. " The Adventurer " (poem)
  127. " Up John Kane! " (poem)
  128. " The King and the Oak " (poem)
  129. " Recompense " (poem)
  130. " The Tower of Zukala " (poem)
  131. " The Tower of Zukala " (poem, an alternate published version, no known draft )
  132. " Zukala’s Jest " (poem)
  133. " Ghost Dancers " (poem)
  134. " The Adventurer’s Mistress " (1, poem)
  135. " The Adventurer’s Mistress " (1, poem , an earlier untitled draft )
  136. " The Sea Girl " (poem)
  137. " Romance " (1, poem)
  138. " Romance " (poem , an earlier untitled draft )
  139. " A Moment " (poem)
  140. " Skulls Over Judah " (poem)
  141. " Buccaneer Treasure " (poem)
  142. " Buccaneer Treasure " (poem , an earlier untitled draft )
  143. " Viking’s Trail " (poem)
  144. " The Poets " (poem)
  145. " The Poets " (poem, an alternate version )
  146. " A Pirate Remembers " (poem)
  147. " The Hills of Kandahar " (poem)
  148. " Hy-Brasil " (poem)
  149. " Hy-Brasil " (poem, the untitled second draft )
  150. " The Isle of Hy-Brasil " (poem , the titled first draft of "Hy-Brasil" )
  151. " The Sign of the Sickle " (poem)
  152. " To All Sophisticates " (poem)
  153. " To All Sophisticates " (poem , an alternate version )
  154. " Age Comes to Rabelais " (poem)
  155. " To a Woman " (3, poem)
  156. " Youth Spoke – Not in Anger " (poem , a variant version of "Youth Spoke – Not in Anger" )
  157. " Life " (2, poem)
  158. " Lilith " (poem)
  159. " Today " (poem)
  160. " The Road to Yesterday " (poem)
  161. Ready to send poetry in pulp stories
  162. " The Hour of the Dragon " (poem , story heading )
  163. " Men of the Shadows " (poem , story heading )
  164. " Chant of the White Beard " (poem , an untitled poem in "Men of the Shadows" )
  165. " Rune " (poem, an untitled poem in "Men of the Shadows" )
  166. " Rune " (poem , an earlier handwritten draft )
  167. " The Race Without Name " (poem , an untitled poem in "Men of the Shadows" )
  168. " Song of the Pict " (poem , an untitled poem in "Men of the Shadows" )
  169. " The Road of Azrael " (poem, chapter headings )
  170. " The Screaming Skull of Silence " (poem, story heading )
  171. " Sword Woman " (poem , chapter headings )
  172. " Kelly the Conjure-Man " (poem, story heading )
  173. Finished and Professional
  174. Titled Drafts
  175. Untitled Drafts
  176. No Known Drafts
  177. Youthful Writings
  178. Poetry for Friends
  179. Introductory Sampling (some of the best in a section)
  180. Seeking Adventure and Freedom
  181. Fantastical
  182. Historical and Observational
  183. Humor
  184. Naughty
  185. Darker Moods
  186. Volume One: Finished and Professional; Titled Drafts
  187. Volume Two: Untitled Drafts; No Known Drafts; Youthful Writings
  188. Volume Three: Poetry for Friends
  189. Introduction - The Poetry of Robert E. Howard by Paul Herman xi · introduction
  190. Edited by Paul Herman
  191. Print on demand "Ultimate Edition"

Contributors

Mark Wheatley
Cover artist

Additional related terms

Preserved from the former REH World tagging system; these terms have not yet been assigned as contributors, characters or subjects.

PoemsRobert E. Howard
Source provenance

This public record has been reviewed and combined by REH World. The preserved Howard Works source and earlier editorial layers remain stored internally for reference and future correction.