Hilda (H.D.) Doolittle

Biography

Hilda Doolittle (1886–1961), who published under the name of “H.D.,” is now recognized as one of the most important Imagist poets of the twentieth century. Her books include Collected Poems 1912-1944. The American Academy of Arts and Letters awarded her the Award of Merit Medal in 1960. In addition to poetry, she published fiction, essays, and reviews.

See Work

VQR VAULT / Summer 2016

Hilda “H.D.” Doolittle’s Manuscript of “Archer,” 1952

By Hilda (H.D.) Doolittle

In our Spring 1952 issue, we published three H.D. poems—“Sigil,” “Archer,” and “Scribe”—all of which were later included in her Selected Poems (1957).
POETRY / Spring 1952

Scribe

By Hilda (H.D.) Doolittle

Wildly dissimilar
yet actuated by the same fear,
the hippopotamus and the wild-deer
hide by the same river.

POETRY / Spring 1952

Sigil

By Hilda (H.D.) Doolittle

Now let the cycle sweep us here and there,
we will not struggle;
somewhere,
under a forest-ledge,
a wild white-pear
will blossom;

POETRY / Spring 1952

Archer

By Hilda (H.D.) Doolittle

Fall the deep curtains,
delicate the weave,
fair the thread: