The surface values of Raymond Souster's poetry are easily discernible and have been pointed out many times. He is gentle and humane. He frequently writes about small events and common people. He observes with affection the streets and characters of his native Toronto. He seems to like cats, baseball players, and newspaper vendors. His poems are simple and direct.

The Years … supports and reinforces this view of Souster, perhaps with something of a vengeance….

Souster has [the capacity to feel others' misfortunes deeply], and it could make his poetry grotesquely sentimental and ultimately very bad. It is hard to say why it doesn't, but it is probably for two reasons. First, he means it. Second, he is a poet and not a pretender. (p. 35)

The Years includes a well-known poem ["Death Chant for Mr. Johnson's America"] which, to my mind, represents Souster at his didactic worst…. [While] he...