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Much of Bessie Rayner Parkes' poetry was written early in her creative life, and is consequently that of a young writer experimenting with forms and subjects, and attempting to find her poetic voice. The poems in this selection are very varied: some are simple and ballad-like (Death of Evan Lloyd and My old house), some are personal, dedicated to friends such as Elizabeth Browning, Elizabeth Blackwell and Adelaide Proctor. Others are resounding apostrophes to Music, Death the encircler or The world of Art. The moors and London from Hampstead Heath have strong echoes of the Romantic poets, while The cloud-face is a strange and eerie little poem, and The reply of the fairies seems to be written for children.
Sometimes the simplest ideas and language produce the best effect. The last home is a touching poem in which the poet chooses her ideal grave:
Where shall ye lay me? far far away,
Where freshly in the early spring the dancing leaflets play.
Tall poplars by my grave long watch shall keep;
There, by those I loved in life, lay me to sleep.
A selection from Poems is available on this website.
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Page created 10 December 2002 and last
updated 10 December 2002
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