Ernest Christopher Dowson was born on August 2, 1867 in Lee (now part of Lewisham), in the Kent region of the UK. Throughout his life he suffered from poor health, and he died from tuberculosis and neglect on February 23, 1900, aged 32. He was buried in Ladywell Cemetary. Here is an old picture of his grave, scanned from The Letters of Ernest Dowson (Desmond Flower & Henry Maas, editors): CONTINUE READING / CONTINUER LA LECTURE…
Author: Christian
Author for Pigtails in Paint since September 2014; associate editor since November 2015. Administrator of the late Agapeta on WordPress (2015/01/09 - 2019/03/01), and now of Poets and Lovers.
No other girl, by Michael Field
I present here my second selection from the collection Long Ago published in 1889 by Katharine Bradley and Edith Cooper under the pen name Michael Field. Addressed to a young man, the poem praises his future bride, a most lovely girl, there could not be a better choice. CONTINUE READING / CONTINUER LA LECTURE…
To Monica: After Nine Years, by Francis Thompson
Another poem of Francis Thompson published posthumously. Addressed to Monica Meynell, it alludes to an earlier poem dedicated to her, “The Poppy,” which was probably written in 1891 when the girl was 11 years old. Hence this one can be dated around 1900, written for a 20 years old Monica. CONTINUE READING / CONTINUER LA LECTURE…
Lison et le petit cœur de Jeanne, par Émile Blémont
Chansons des champs, la deuxième partie du recueil Les pommiers en fleur : idylles de France et de Normandie (1891) d’Émile Blémont, comprend de nombreux poèmes d’amour, écrits dans un style léger et joyeux. Par exemple le 6e, « La douce chanson », a pour refrain : « — Mon amie, embrassons-nous, / Tout doux, tout doux ! / — Embrassons-nous, mon amant, / Tout doucement ! » CONTINUE READING / CONTINUER LA LECTURE…
Fille des étoiles
L’amour véritable réunit les extrêmes, notamment dans l’espace, aussi les recoins opposés de la Galaxie se rejoignent en un long baiser… CONTINUE READING / CONTINUER LA LECTURE…
A Little Love-Letter, by Joseph Ashby-Sterry
As I have explained before, Ashby-Sterry loved girls of various ages, but his preference went to 16-year-old ones, while he often called younger ones ‘pet.’
I present here one of the most beautiful poems from Boudoir Ballads. He calls the girl ‘pet’ twice, so she must be very young. CONTINUE READING / CONTINUER LA LECTURE…
Sonnets of a Little Girl, I, by Ernest Dowson
Ernest Dowson wrote around 1885 a series of 7 “Sonnets of a Little Girl,” followed by an 8th called “Epilogue.” In his lifetime, only two were published: the 4th in November 1886 and a modified version of the 8th in November 1896; the latter with the title “A Last Word” is the last poem in verse in his final collection Decorations: in Verse and Prose(1899). CONTINUE READING / CONTINUER LA LECTURE…
Françoise et Nicole, par Émile Blémont
Dans des articles précédents, j’ai présenté le poète Émile Blémont (1839–1927) et son recueil Les pommiers en fleur : idylles de France et de Normandie, publié en 1891, avec des poèmes sentimentaux sur les jeunes filles et l’amour choisis dans la première partie de celui-ci, Les matins d’or et les nuits bleues. La deuxième partie du recueil, Chansons des champs, traite également de l’amour, mais sur un ton plus sensuel : il y est question de jolis seins et de baisers. Voici deux poèmes de celle-ci, typiques de cette veine. CONTINUE READING / CONTINUER LA LECTURE…
The Poppy, by Francis Thompson
This well-known poem appeared in Thompson’s first volume Poems in 1893. It is dedicated to Monica, the eldest of the four Meynell daughters. It was probably written in 1891 when she was 11 years old. CONTINUE READING / CONTINUER LA LECTURE…
Adieu to Mabel, by Joseph Ashby-Sterry
The poet gives his farewell to a lively girl aged ten. Why does she need to grow, why can’t she remain a child? He will never forget her as she looks now. But she will grow into a lovely teenager. CONTINUE READING / CONTINUER LA LECTURE…