Poetry Collection: The Selected Writings of Juan Ramon Jimenez

Introduction
"The Selected Writings of Juan Ramon Jimenez" is a collection of poems composed by the Spanish poet and Nobel laureate Juan Ramon Jimenez (1881-1958). Published in 1957, the collection includes a selection of his most representative works from various phases of his literary career, covering over 5 years. Jimenez is considered among the best Spanish poets of the 20th century, and his poetry is defined by its lyricism, spirituality, and the search for appeal, purity, and inner peace.

Early Works
The collection begins with Jimenez's early works, which were mainly composed in the late 19th century and early 20th century. Throughout this duration, his poetry was greatly influenced by the Spanish modernist motion, concentrating on themes of mysticism, nature, and the search for appeal. The poems in this area of the collection are identified by their musicality and rich, sensory images, permitting readers to experience the world through the poet's senses.

One of the most notable poems in this section is "El Jardin" (The Garden), in which Jimenez beautifully describes the experiences of walking through a garden in spring, with its aromatic flowers, birdsong, and dappled sunlight. Other poems, such as "La Canción de la Noche" (The Song of the Night), capture the strange and sensuous nature of the nighttime world.

Spiritual Development
As the collection progresses, we see Jimenez's poetry progress and deepen as he faces questions of spirituality and the nature of the human soul. In his early works, Jimenez mainly checks out the idea of charm in nature and art as a way of transcending the everyday world. However, in later poems, Jimenez increasingly turns his attention to the spiritual world and the idea of finding inner peace.

In much of these poems, Jimenez struggles to fix up the dual aspects of his identity: the sensual and worldly side, represented by the body, and the more spiritual, transcendent side, represented by the soul. Poems such as "Yo No Soy Yo" (I Am Not I) exemplify this struggle, with lines like, "I am not I,/ I am this one/ strolling beside me whom I do not see,/ whom sometimes I manage to check out,/ and whom at other times I forget". These poems show his mission for spiritual knowledge and connection with a higher power.

Simplicity and Purity
In his later works, Jimenez progressively concentrates on the suitables of simpleness and pureness in both his poetry and his life. This is reflected in his choice of language and images, which become more disrobed and concise as he moves even more along in his spiritual journey. A number of his later poems are characterized by a sense of stillness, silence, and contemplation, enabling readers to assess their own spiritual courses and find a deeper connection with the world around them.

Among the most well-known poems from this later duration is "Espacio" (Space), in which Jimenez composes, "Oh space, silence, and purity! In you I live, in that immensity/ where the fruit dies to end up being a star". In lines like these, we see the poet's powerful connection in between the natural world, spirituality, and the eternal cycle of life and death.

Conclusion
"The Selected Writings of Juan Ramon Jimenez" supplies a remarkable look into the mind and soul of among the best Spanish poets of the 20th century. Through his poetry, Jimenez invites readers to start their own spiritual journeys, checking out themes of appeal, transcendence, and the eternal search for meaning in life. Whether coming to grips with questions of identity and spirituality or capturing the beauty of the natural world, Jimenez's words continue to resonate with readers more than 6 years after their initial publication.