The Poetry of Anthony Thwaite: An Archaeology of Belief

The defining characteristic of the poetry of Anthony Thwaite is the poet's profound interest in archaeology. This essay explores how the archaeologist's scientific method is used to explore not merely the historical and material but also the personal and the spiritual. Throughout his poetry Thwaite sustains a steady exploration of religious practice and belief through archaeological metaphor, but his most striking archeological motif lies in the poetic impulse to turn the archaeological excavation on the self. In surprising ways, he uses his archaeological experience and knowledge to explore his own spiritual and religious impulses, and discovers the vibrancy of belief not only among past cultures but also in the present. Thwaite's serious curiosity about religious faith allows him to unearth an expected desire for belief within himself.