In the grand tapestry of American literature, the threads of the famous are often woven with the brightest gold, their names—Whitman, Dickinson, Poe—echoing through the ages. But the strength and beauty of the cloth also depend on the countless subtle, sturdy threads that provide its foundation, its texture, and its often overlooked complexity. Phoebe Cary was one such thread. A poet of sharp wit, profound empathy, a…
“It seems to me that a cord stretches from Alice’s heart to mine; nothing can hurt her that does not hurt me.”
Neighbourhood:
American Poets, Hymn Writers, Victorian Poets, Women Poets
Emotional landscape: Sorrow, Longing, Tenderness
Josephine Preston Peabody, later Josephine Preston Peabody Marks, was born in New York City on 30 May 1874 and died on 4 December 1922. During her comparatively short life she became one of the most admired American poets and verse dramatists of the early twentieth century. She was praised for a voice at once musical, delicate, morally serious, and theatrically ambitious. Her poetry moved easily among childhood, myth…
“Oh, why was I born with a thousand wings of the spirit and a ball and chain on every hand and foot of me?”
Neighbourhood:
American Poets, Dramatic Poets, Edwardian Poets, Love Poets, Victorian Poets, Women Poets
Emotional landscape: Longing, Wonder, Spirituality