"The Given World", undated

This series consists predominantly of Middleton's poems and associated drafts, along with copies of correspondence, proofs, contracts, clippings, and other materials related to publishing. The early files also contain some materials relating to Middleton's college life in the 1960s and 1970s, including music, politics, and current events. Poems are arranged by era, by title, or by collection in which they were printed or published. Published collections include Under the Linden Tree, The Burning Fields, As Far As Light Remains, Bonfires on the Levee, Beyond the Chandeleurs, The Language of the Heart, The Habitual Peacefulness of Gruchy, and The Fiddler of Driskell Hill. The subseries Other Writings includes reviews, essays, prose, interviews with other authors, lectures, eulogies, and materials included in anthologies.