"Overtures to Death", as might be suggested by the title, is not a collection of joyful poems. Even those poems using beautiful nature imagery do so to reflect upon mortality. There is much of war, obliquely and directly, in particular the war against fascism in Spain, and of social injustice. Particularly powerful is the exposure of judicial and cultural hypocrisy in "Sex-Crime", which is still too relevant.

Day-Lewis's descriptions of and reflections upon depression would seem to indicate a personal experience, although I don't know enough about his life to be sure of that.

Looking up references was educational. ( )