Category: Poem of the Week

I Come from There by Mahmoud Darwish

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Poet: Mahmoud Darwish Palestinian 1941 – 2008 Mahmoud Darwish was a poet and author and is regarded as the Palestinian national poet. His work, which often used Palestine as a metaphor for the downfall of Eden, resurrection and birth amid the anguish of dispossession and exile, has received numerous awards.

A Presentiment by William Cullen Bryant

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William Cullen Bryant was a poet, journalist and editor of the New York Evening Post. His family genealogy can be traced to passengers on The Mayflower. His poetry is thoughtful and meditative in character and he is considered one of the leading American poets of the Romantic era.

Fairy Song by Louisa May Alcott

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Louisa May Alcott was an American novelist and poet. Her first critical success in writing came in the 1860s. Early in her career she used the pen name A M Bernard, under which she wrote novels involving espionage, revenge and cross-dressing for teens and young adults. An abolitionist and feminist she remained unmarried. She died from a stroke two days after her father’s death.

Last Love by Fyodor Ivanovich Tyutchev

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Fyodor Ivanovich Tyutchev was a poet and statesman. He loved to travel and would volunteer for diplomatic courier work thus combining business with pleasure. He was particularly drawn to the Swiss lakes and mountains which inspired much of his work. A Pan-Slavist he would often berate the Western powers with no particular reason, including the Vatican and Ottoman empire. Tyutchev died in Tsarskoye Selo following a series of strokes.

Octopus by Arthur Clement Hilton

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Poet: Arthur Clement Hilton English 1851 – 1877 Arthur Clement Hilton was educated at Marlborough College and St. John’s College, Cambridge. He was responsible for the burlesque magazine, The Light Green, which appeared at Cambridge in 1872. Hilton was ordained in 1874 and became curate at Sandwich, where he died in 1877.

An Old Picture by John Boyle O’Reilly

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Poem of the Week Poet: John Boyle O'Reilly was a poet, journalist, author and activist. As a youth he was a member of the Fenians which led to him being transported to Australia. He escaped to the USA and became a prominent speaker for the Irish community and culture as editor of The Pilot.

Leave the River Full of Lotuses by Narsinh Mehta

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Unable to speak until he was 8 years old Narsinh Mehta, also known as Narsi Mehta or Narsi Bhagat was a saint poet and bhakta. He was an exponent of Vaishnava poetry. He is revered in Gujarati literature as an Adi Kavi and was a favourite of Muhatma Ghandi. He lost his parents when he was 5 years old and was raised by his grandmother.

Dear Chains by Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin

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Rose-maiden, no, I do not quarrel With these dear chains, they don't demean. The nightingale embushed in laurel, The sylvan singers' feathered queen, Does she not bear the same sweet plight? Near the proud rose's beauty dwelling, And with her tender anthems thrilling The dusk of a voluptuous night Poet: Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin Romantic Era … Continue reading Dear Chains by Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin

A Summer Evening Churchyard, Lechlade, Gloucestershire by Percy Bysshe Shelley

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The wind has swept from the wide atmosphere Each vapour that obscured the sunset's ray, And pallid Evening twines its beaming hair In duskier braids around the languid eyes of Day: Silence and Twilight, unbeloved of men, Creep hand in hand from yon obscurest glen. They breathe their spells towards the departing day, Encompassing the … Continue reading A Summer Evening Churchyard, Lechlade, Gloucestershire by Percy Bysshe Shelley

A Wink from Hesper by William Ernest Henley

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A wink from Hesper, falling Fast in the wintry sky, Comes through the even blue, Dear, like a word from you… Is it good-bye? Across the miles between us I send you sigh for sigh. Good-Night, sweet friend, good-night: Till life and all take flight, Never good-bye Poet: William Ernest Henley English 1849 – 1903