Amy Levy
 

I bet some of the better read Sphere members are long familiar with her work. It's new to me and it was a bit of a jar to read this one. It's exciting to read.

https://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poem/threshold

I published one of her poems in Lavender Review and like her work very much. Was happy to see her at Poem a Day. Here's the one in Lavender:

A Wall Flower
Amy Levy (1861-1889)

I lounge in the doorway and languish in vain
While Tom, Dick and Harry are dancing with Jane

My spirit rises to the music’s beat;
There is a leaden fiend lurks in my feet!
To move unto your motion, Love, were sweet.

Somewhere, I think, some other where, not here,
In other ages, on another sphere,
I danced with you, and you with me, my dear.

In perfect motion did our bodies sway,
To perfect music that was heard alway;
Woe's me, that am so dull of foot to-day!

To move unto your motion, Love, were sweet;
My spirit rises to the music’s beat--
But, ah, the leaden demon in my feet!

Her life was a tragedy caused by other people. It's heartbreaking to see the pictures of her young face and know she will be dead soon.

Thanks for sharing her poetry, John and Mary. Good stuff in there.

Cheers,
John

Sonnet

Most wonderful and strange it seems, that I
Who but a little time ago was tost
High on the waves of passion and of pain,
With aching heart and wildly throbbing brain,
Who peered into the darkness, deeming vain
All things there found if but One thing were lost,
Thus calm and still and silent here should lie,
Watching and waiting,—waiting passively.

The dark has faded, and before mine eyes
Have long, grey flats expanded, dim and bare ;
And through the changing guises all things wear
Inevitable Law I recognise :
Yet in my heart a hint of feeling lies
Which half a hope and half is a despair.

***
Interesting rhyme scheme with this one. I found an online collection of her work at

http://webapp1.dlib.indiana.edu/vwwp....view=0;query=