"There Will Come Soft Rains" is one of the pages bookmarked, of course.

"The Collected Poems," over 200 pages in length, is a solid collection of Teasdale's life work. Conveniently, it is indexed both by title and first line, which is a must for real poetry fans. It is laid out beautifully, divided chronologically rather than by subject matter, which lends a little more insight into the periods of her life, as well as a way to watch the progression of her art.

I hemmed and hawed a lot before I purchased my copy. At over thirty dollars, it was more than I normally could rationalize spending for a book of poetry. Much more. But this is one of those books that will have a cherished place on a bookshelf -- or, like me, in your night table drawer -- for a long, long time. This is one of those books that, with a handwritten note on the inside cover, would make a beautiful gift for a poetry aficionado. This is one of those books that you could share with your children or grandchildren on a chilly winter afternoon.

Most importantly, this is a book you will fall in love with, and isn't that what timeless poetry should really be about?