[Jim Hayes]

I know nothing of this poet -1867-1924- but am quite taken with this.

The Nun

One glance and I had lost her in the riot
BANNED POSTBANNED POSTBANNED POSTBANNED POSTOf tangled cries.
She trod the clamor with a cloistral quiet
BANNED POSTBANNED POSTBANNED POSTBANNED POSTDeep in her eyes
As though she heard the muted music only
BANNED POSTBANNED POSTBANNED POSTBANNED POSTThat silence makes
Among dim mountain summits and on lonely
BANNED POSTBANNED POSTBANNED POSTBANNED POSTDeserted lakes.

There is some broken song her heart remembers
BANNED POSTBANNED POSTBANNED POSTBANNED POSTFrom long ago,
Some love lies buried deep, some passion's embers
BANNED POSTBANNED POSTBANNED POSTBANNED POSTSmothered in snow,
Far voices of a joy that sought and missed her
BANNED POSTBANNED POSTBANNED POSTFail now, and cease . . .
And this has given the deep eyes of God's sister
BANNED POSTBANNED POSTBANNED POSTBANNED POSTTheir dreadful peace.


She's most likely a one-poem poet, at least I can't find another poem by her. Does anyone else know of other one-poem poets and care to post a work that may be still remembered even if the poet is not?

Jim

[oliver murray]

Jim,
this is the only known poem by Lady Catherine Dyer, and it is a stunner.

Epitaph on the Monument of Sir William Dyer
at Colmworth, 1641.

My dearest dust, could not thy hasty day
Afford they drowzy patience leave to stay
One hower longer: so that we might either
Sate up, or gone to bedd together?
But since thy finisht labor hath possest
Thy weary limbs with early rest,
Enjoy it sweetly: and thy widdowe bride
Shall soone repose her by thy slumbring side.
Whose business,now, is only to prepare
My nightly dress, and call to prayre:
Mine eyes wax heavy and ye day growes cold.
Draw, draw ye closed curtaynes: and make room:
My deare, my dearest dust; I come, I come.


It is in 101 Sonnets, edited by Don Paterson. Interestingly it has only 13 lines.

Regards,

Oliver.

[Hugh Clary]

Must have been a misprint?

My dearest dust, could not thy hasty day
Afford they drowzy patience leave to stay
One bower longer: so that we might either
Sate up, or gone to bedd together?
But since thy finisht labor hath possest
Thy weary limbs with early rest,
Enjoy it sweetly: and thy widdowe bride
Shall soone repose her by thy slumbering side.
Whose business, now, is only to prepare
My nightly dress, and call to prayre:
Mine eyes wax heavy and ye day growes old.

The dew falls thick, my beloved growes cold.

Draw, draw ye closed curtaynes: and make room:
My dear, my dearest dust; I come, I come.

[oliver murray]

Interesting, Hugh, as Paterson particularly refers to the fact that Catherine Dyer's poem only has thirteen lines
( in spite of the fact that having fourteen lines was his only absolute qualification for inclusion as a sonnet in the anthology) I think that additional line actually weakens it. I wonder could it be a later editorial addition?

Regards,

Oliver.

[Golias]

Hi JIm, Oliver,

Two very affecting only poems. Does anyone know whether William Fuller, Bishop of Lincoln, left any verses other than these which Purcell set to magnificent organ music?

An Evening Hymn on a Ground

Now that the sun hath veiled his light
And bid the world good night,
To the soft bed my body I dispose.
But where shall my soul repose?
Dear God, only in thy arms, and can there be
Any so sweet security?
Then to thy rest, O my soul and, singing, praise
The mercy that prolongs thy days.


G/W

[Marnanel Thurman]

I've been away from the Sphere for far too long, and now I'm here resurrecting a dead thread. But I was wondering about this very question myself today, and I think I have an answer.

You can go and see the tomb yourself in Colmworth. Someone did, and took a photograph here, and you can clearly see that the sonnet does have fourteen lines! I also have a copy of Paterson's book, and he does specifically state that the poem is thirteen lines long. I'll be looking further into the mystery and I'll let you know what I find.

(Oh, and the line in question says "my BLOVD grows cold", i.e. "blood", not "beloved". It changes the meaning rather a lot.)