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Charlotte Brontë, 1816-1855
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Best known for her novels (most notably Jane Eyre, first published under the pseudonym Currer Bell); Charlotte Brontë was also a published poet who, along with her sisters Anne and Emily, contributed to two collections. All three young women achieved significant literary success before dying in their thirties, Emily and Anne of tuberculosis in 1848 and '49, respectively; Charlotte and her unborn child of typhus in 1855. In both poetry and fiction, Brontë was most successful when she broke new ground by presenting a distinctly female first-person perspective to a public readership.
LIFE
LIFE, believe, is not a dream
So dark as sages say;
Oft a little morning rain
Foretells a pleasant day.
Sometimes there are clouds of gloom,
But these are transient all;
If the shower will make the roses bloom,
O why lament its fall?
Rapidly, merrily,
Life's sunny hours flit by,
Gratefully, cheerily,
Enjoy them as they fly!
What though Death at times steps in
And calls our Best away?
What though sorrow seems to win,
O'er hope, a heavy sway?
Yet hope again elastic springs,
Unconquered, though she fell;
Still buoyant are her golden wings,
Still strong to bear us well.
Manfully, fearlessly,
The day of trial bear,
For gloriously, victoriously,
Can courage quell despair!
So dark as sages say;
Oft a little morning rain
Foretells a pleasant day.
Sometimes there are clouds of gloom,
But these are transient all;
If the shower will make the roses bloom,
O why lament its fall?
Rapidly, merrily,
Life's sunny hours flit by,
Gratefully, cheerily,
Enjoy them as they fly!
What though Death at times steps in
And calls our Best away?
What though sorrow seems to win,
O'er hope, a heavy sway?
Yet hope again elastic springs,
Unconquered, though she fell;
Still buoyant are her golden wings,
Still strong to bear us well.
Manfully, fearlessly,
The day of trial bear,
For gloriously, victoriously,
Can courage quell despair!
Awesome.
ReplyDeletecourage over despair, true for absolutely everything.in life, how wonderful Bronte is.
ReplyDeletethanks for sharing. :)
ReplyDeleteOh, I have loved the Bronte sisters forever. Thank you for this.
ReplyDeleteGlad I stopped by today. Enjoyed reading this.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the visits, all. Enamored with the Bronte sisters lately, I felt compelled to share. Happy Saturday fro L.A. !
ReplyDeleteOh Kim, one can never go wrong with the Brontes........I must immerse myself in some of those old favorites again........
ReplyDeleteI was really interested to see that all of the Brontes died in their 30's. I would never have guessed that! I enjoyed the poem you shared. Always amazing to see how these 'earlier' poets were able to rhyme, when I am sure there was no such thing as a rhyming dictionary.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know this! Thank you for sharing the poetic roots. I love seeing how poetry has grown, changed and shifted! Thank you~
ReplyDeleteThank-you for sharing this poem and a little history i did not know!
ReplyDeleteLove thank you:)
ReplyDelete