Devilish, Daring, and Demure: Meet the Hottest Women in Poetry
May 7, 2008 · Written by Melissa Donovan
Poetry month came and went. I never had a chance to reveal my favorite poets and poems. That’s because every time I sat down to review my poetry collections and choose a few faves, it looked like I was going to write something that resembled a book rather than a blog post. Finally, I narrowed it down to a manageable number. We’re going to start by taking a look at three poetry queens and in a couple of weeks I will reveal the kings.
Aphra Behn
She lived during the 1600s so you might assume she was a prim and proper lady who did whatever her husband or the king told her. You would be wrong. Aphra broke all the rules and her ability to shock and surprise lives on pretty vividly in her poetry.
During a time when the few women who wrote poetry were upper class and did so as a hobby, Aphra established herself as Britain’s first professional woman writer. Ladies, take note, because Virginia Woolf said, “All women together ought to let flowers fall upon the tomb of Aphra Behn, for it was she who earned them the right to speak their minds.”
I can’t say I agree with Virginia one hundred percent (isn’t that a natural right rather than an earned one?), but Aphra, even after over 300 years, definitely stands out in the crowd of historical writers. Not only because she was a spy, a playwright, and the first paid female writer, she was also deliciously dirty and wrote poems that were blatantly erotic and peppered with humor. Of her, Anne Finch said, “a little too loosely she writ.” We like that in a seventeenth century chick.
Selected reading (i.e. my favorites): The Willing Mistress, The Disappointment, The Libertine
If you don’t crack a sly grin at the end of each of these poems… well… read them again!
Emily Dickinson
Who hasn’t heard of Emily Dickinson? Before J.K. Rowling wowed the world with Harry Potter, Miss Dickinson was the most famous woman writer to have ever lived. And not just because she wrote great poetry.
Emily bucked the social expectations of her time by never marrying and becoming an eccentric agoraphobic who always dressed in white. Despite her odd ways, she was much beloved and known around town as the Amherst Myth.
Emily was born and raised in Amherst, Massachusetts during the 1800s and it was clear by the time Emily became an adult that she was marching to the beat of a different drum, which is why many people are surprised to learn she had an extremely normal childhood and grew up in a happy, affluent family. In fact, her father was a lawyer and politician. Yet Emily gave up a life of normalcy to pursue her one and only love: poetry.
She locked herself away from the Victorian world whose expectations she rebuffed and threw herself into books and writing. Not much is known about her love life or whether she had one but one thing is certain: Emily Dickinson was wracked with unparalleled literary intensity.
The majority of her poems were found after her death, untitled but neatly written and bound. They are usually numbered or indicated by their first lines. Emily Dickinson is also a poet whose biography and poetry play well off each other, building a special mystery that will draw you in wondering who this enigmatic woman really was.
Selected reading: (271) A solemn thing, (288) I’m Nobody!, (384) No Rack can torture me, (441) This is my letter to the World, (569) I reckon — when I count at all, (712) Because I could not stop for Death
There’s a lot of Dickinson poems to explore. This is a very small portion of what she left us. Most of these are short, quick reads.
Dorothy Parker
Dorothy Parker is probably the writer most loved by dress-wearing feminists. She was cool, dry, and witty beyond measure. She put her own flaws under a magnifying glass and wrote about them, letting the world laugh at her but there’s a sense that somewhere inside, Dorothy Parker was not laughing.
She is the woman who smiles and nods niceties while whispering obscene comic insults against all of society under her breath. I imagine when she cast her eyes over a person, she saw beyond the visible and I’d bet she could give a look that made anyone on the receiving end feel uncomfortably naked.
Dorothy catapulted to fame during the 1920s and 1930s after she coined “Brevity is the soul of lingerie” for an ad. Her job? To write photograph captions for Vogue. After that, she went to work for Vanity Fair. She was also a prominent member of the Algonquin Hotel’s Round Table, which means she was in with the in crowd. She also helped shape the New Yorker, which is no small accomplishment and doesn’t look too bad on anyone’s resume, even these days.
Like many writers, Dorothy experienced turbulence in life. She married bisexual writer, Alan Campbell, with whom she had several breakups and reconciliations. After an abortion in 1923, she attempted suicide (the first attempt of many). She and Campbell earned over $5000 a week in Hollywood at one time (that was a lot of money in those days) and were later blacklisted as communists during the McCarthy era.
Her poetry is delightfully wit-tickling and her quotes are unforgettable (men seldom make passes at girls who wear glasses). Though much of her work expresses a particular sense of self-dissatisfaction, it’s clear that Dorothy Parker’s dissatisfaction went beyond self and extended to all of humanity, especially the gents. However, she delivered it with language that smirks and smarts and satisfies.
Selected Reading: Comment, Interview, Resumé
* * *
Now it’s your turn. Who are your favorite ladies of poetry? What attracts you to a poem or poet? Obviously, I’m drawn to the rebels, the rule-breakers, and the eccentrics. Do you prefer women writers over male writers or does it matter? Take a look at your book or poetry collection and see if it’s gender balanced.
Sources: The Norton Anthology of Literature by Women: The Traditions in English
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I will never look at poetry the same way again.
O_o
Dave Navarros last blog post..How To Start Getting Balanced When You’re Too Damned Busy
Okay, maybe I live under a rock. I have never heard of Aphra Behn; I will have to fix that even if I decide I don’t love her style of poetry.
Dorothy Parker’s name makes me smile (secret grin) because one of my great aunts was named Dorothy Parker; and trust me if great granddaddy had known the reputation of this Dorothy Parker he would have insisted on another name. Ours ended up being the family peace broker.
Then there is Emily Dickinson. I have always been hot and cold in regards to her poetry. I think I am starting to see why that might be a given after reading Sewall’s (The Life of Emily Dickinson) discussion of how he went through the process of discovering more than is “casually” known about Dickinson when he did the biography. This is in “Extraordinary Lives: the art and craft of American biography” (Zinsser, ed). What and how she wrote closely reflects her life (and maybe state of mind) at various stages and some of it wasn’t stuff to write home about.
@Dave, After I discovered Aphra Behn, I never looked at poetry the same way either.
When I first read “The Disappointment,” (or maybe it was “The Willing Mistress”), I actually thought it was written by a man and was shocked that anyone, let alone a woman, was writing such erotic material back in those days.
Kind of makes you think about how history is written to give us a particular perception that may not be quite accurate.
@Deb (gscottage), I just love Aphra Behn. The first professional woman writer! That’s pretty cool if you ask me.
I have a growing fascination with Emily Dickinson. She’s so mysterious. Was she happy locked away with her poetry or was she suffering in her isolation? Who was “Master?” Why wear white every day? So many unanswered questions! All of this makes her poetry far more intriguing for me.
Yes, some of her poems fall short of excellent, but I try to keep in mind that it’s unlikely she intended (or would have wanted) all of them to be published. I know I would be appalled if someone published every single poem out of my journals! That would be horrific!
Thanks for all the links. I’d never heard of Aphra Behn either- holy smokes!
Recently I’ve come to admire Anna Akhmatova. Edward Hirsch discusses a few of her poems in his ‘How To Read A Poem…’ book and then I found a selection of her work. To me, her poems are very emotional and dramatic but the language is simple, even sparse, and I love that.
Your last question is a lot of food for thought. I don’t think I prefer women writers to men but maybe I do think that there are certain aspects of women’s experience that are best described by other women. Does that make any sense?? What about you?
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Oh, no, I wasn’t saying some of Dickinson’s poems weren’t excellent at all. I was referring to the tone and so forth. Some are…dour isn’t the word but a deep minor key maybe. And minor key has a role in life experience and music and even poetry; however taken to an extreme it can become a burden. One thing I didn’t realize in previous readings was the degree of reclusivity to which she restricted herself. If she adhered to such a rigid lifestyle perhaps one of her issues was introvert personality and introverts are very burdened individuals often feeling responsible for the whole world.
I noticed in the library today a juvenile volume title “My Letter to the World” (Winter) about some of her verses set in clever artwork.
@Greer, Aphra is a hottie for sure. Amazing what a pivotal role she played in history and yet is largely unknown. I checked out Anna Akhmatova on Wikipedia and they are featuring selections of her work there.
I have to say… I am wondering if I shouldn’t have a poetry blog. Writing Forward allows me to talk about many different areas of writing but my confession is that when we start talking poetry, I get very stirred. In a good way.
@Deb (gscottage), That’s what I love about Emily’s poems. One minute she’s laughing at the world, the next she’s sobbing, and a moment later she’s dancing in reverie. Eccentricity and madness are no strangers to creative genius
I’ve only read short bios about her life and I am definitely going to add a longer one to my wish list. I will look at Sewall’s for sure.
“This is my letter to the world…” is definitely one of my favorite poems by her and by anyone. Those first two lines never fail to capture my heart!
I’m sure it was hard especially for women to write poetry back then. When you shared your deep thoughts or had different ideas from the norm, alot of people would judge you unfairly. Alot of great inventions and ideas that we use today were thought of by very special people in history, they were called crazy back then by the everyday people that were too scared to be different. That’s my take on it anyway.
If anyone can run 3 blogs plus her own business, I imagine it’s you! I’d love it if you did a poetry blog, or made it a regular feature here.
I checked out the Akhmatova page on wikipedia- the translations are not quite the same, not as spare. The first stanza of Song of the Last Meeting that I have reads like this:
I was helpless, my breasts were freezing.
I walked one foot on tiptoe,
I put my left glove on
my right hand, like an idiot.
And then the last stanza of that same poem reads like this:
This is the song of our last meeting.
I looked back at the shape of the dark house.
Candles guttered in the bedroom window,
indifferent, yellow.
Small changes but big difference, no? It loses the rhyme but to me it is much more powerful. Sorry to clog your blog but I love her and I wanted you to get a good impression :-).
Greers last blog post..Contrast Podcast
@Coby, It does take a great deal of courage to go against the grain.
Yes, women have had their struggles over the years. I don’t want to get all feminist here, but I did take a class on women writers. Even though it was a literature course, we learned a lot about history because we looked at the works in context of history. Much of it was sad and frustrating, what women had to go through just be able to do what they loved.
I am very grateful to the women who fought for equal rights but I don’t think they should have had to wage that war in the first place.
@Greer, You flatter me! But I only have two blogs at the moment…
The difference in those translations is fascinating. I actually like the rhyming versions better, but I wonder which version is more true to the original. It would be interesting to learn more about the translators and how they choose which words to use, how well they knew Russian and English, etc.
You’re not clogging my blog! Poetry in the comments is always welcome
Have you read Rainer Rilke? I haven’t read his work in a long time but I just peeked at Wikipedia and here’s something funny — until just now I always though Rilke was a woman!
Oh, I love this! You are such a good writer Melissa. Just when I was missing my university English classes, now I know where to go.
Aphra Behn was a spy? Interesting. I will have to do some more research because I’m writing a novel within that time period, the Elizabethan Renaissance, and I’ll see if I can make some connections. I had never heard of her before. Have you heard of Amelia Lanier? She might have been Shakespeare’s “dark lady,” and is touted as a proto-feminist. I love that word - proto. Sounds like organic bean sprouts.
Emily Dickinson has always attracted me because I knew exactly what she was talking about.
I like Alan Ginsbery. Yeah, I know he was a guy, but I am also attracted to the eccentric rebels also.
Ellen Wilsons last blog post..Splatted with a Meme Tomatoe
Melissa,
Now it’s *my* turn to be late for the party.
Oh, and Aphra Behn’s work? Really hot. If you read between the lines…
good stuff.
Brett Legrees last blog post..eight random facts about me. no kleenex required.
I never knew who Aphra Benn even was. But she was a pretty gutsy lady, to write stuff like that in th 1600’s.
Considering how open-minded society was at the time.
(She’s a witch..BURN HER!)
Friars last blog post..8 Random Friar Facts
@Ellen, Thank you! Yes, I have heard of Amelia Lanier but I probably need to brush up on my Shakespeare. I give you hats off for writing a period piece. That’s something I considered once a few years back (it would have been set in the roaring 20s) and quickly decided it was way too much research for where I was in my writing at that point.
Emily Dickinson is a fascinating person for sure.
Alan Ginsbery? Do you mean Alan Ginsberg? I have read just a little of his work. He’s one of those writers whose work I’d like to read more!
@Brett, I don’t think we even need to read between the lines with Aphra. She puts it right out there! Racy lady, that one
@Friar, Don’t get me started on the witch burnings unless you want a big old long rant
@Melissa
Why, are you a witch?
I think we should put you on a big scale, and see if you weigh more than a duck.
Friars last blog post..8 Random Friar Facts
@Friar, Am I a witch? Me? *looks around* Whatever gave you that idea?
I don’t actually consider myself a witch but… I have been accused of practicing magic. People are crazy.
I do have a pretty good intuition though.
Yes, yes, sorry. I meant Ginsberg. Yeah, your right, it is a lot of research.
I think the roaring ’20’s would be interesting.
Ellen Wilsons last blog post..Splatted with a Meme Tomato
Ellen,
I’d live in the roaring ’20’s for sure. People just looked so distinguished, polished, proud then.
And the music was really cool (bet that sounds weird coming from a Viking metal dude, eh?)
Brett Legrees last blog post..viking fridays - the coward. no kleenex required.
@Brett - The 20s remind me of F. Scott Fitzgerald and Hemingway in his Paris cafe.
The skirts got shorter!
Ellen Wilsons last blog post..Splatted with a Meme Tomato
Ellen,
Oh yeah… folks today like to think nothing was risque back then…
Brett Legrees last blog post..viking fridays - the coward. no kleenex required.
@Ellen.
Yeah, in the 20’s the skirts were shorter. But the ladies hair was cut short and the clothing styles squished their chests really flat. The Flapper look was not very curvy.
@Melissa
Seriously, people accused you of magic? No way!
(Have you considered Freelance Sorcery?)
Friars last blog post..8 Random Friar Facts
I hadn’t heard of Aphra Behn, which really quite amazes me. I love both Dickinson and Parker. I also have a great affection for Nikki Giovanni.
Sue Londons last blog post..It’s a Dog’s Life
Friar,
You start burning magical women and our blogging group is going to get small pretty quick.
And then we would have to start on the men because I know who all of you are too.
I can tell those sort of things….
Melissa, You went straight to my top three pile.
I saw a play about Emily Dickenson Last year. It was amazing.
She was a fascinating woman.
Wendi Kellys last blog post..A Mother’s Gratitude
@Ellen and Brett, I love the roaring twenties too — the styles, the way they talked, those cool cars, and the music! Ah, what a time.
@Friar, Yes, I’ve been “accused.” It’s pretty funny, actually. I had been doing a lot of research on the burning times and witchcraft and apparently that meant I was actively practicing. As for freelance sorcery, I already do that!
@Sue, I hadn’t heard of Nikki Giovanni. Thanks for sharing a new poet for us to explore!
@Wendi, I don’t know what a top three pile is but I like the sound of it
A play about Emily Dickinson? That reminds me, there isn’t a movie about her, is there? It seems like there should be. After all, there are films about Hemingway, Dorothy Parker, Virginia Woolf, and many others… I think Emily should have one too.
@Friar (& Wendi & Melissa by association),
We certainly can’t burn the magical women - they are exactly the ones we have to invite to our pagan bonfires! You know, the cool ones who get it
Brett Legrees last blog post..canada 2, greece 0. a story about running.
@Brett, Long live magical women. And men too
Melissa,
I meant that you picked my top threre favorite women poets.
Wendi Kellys last blog post..Balancing Balloons
@Wendi, Ah, gotcha
Hey that’s quite a coincidence!
I suppose it would be but after 30 years in theater you get an appreciation for the women who came before us and plowed the fields.
My apreciation isn’t just for the poets but for strong indepenent women in general in many fields.
For example I have always also really like Amelia Earhart.
I think she was so cool.
Wendi Kellys last blog post..Balancing Balloons
I dunno…
After all this discussion about witches and pagans, I have an unexplained desire to set up a May-pole in my back yard.
Mabye a bunch of “Magical women” will come and dance around it.
I bet you Emily Dickinson never did that.
Friars last blog post..Standing-Room-Only’s
@Wendi, Oh yes, I like Amelia Earhart. Another woman of history whom I admire is Marie Curie. There are so many! Joan of Arc is another. All of these women really broke the mold and I’m grateful to them but at the same time I always feel like the mold they broke never should have existed in the first place!
@Friar, If you build it, we will come and dance around it! I bet Emily Dickinson would have liked to do that!
Totally agree, Melissa. I find it silly we have to have “women’s studies” courses when we make up half the population. It’s condescending and patronizing.
I wonder what Emily was doing in her room all day long. I can understand though, I get bitchy and cranky if I’m around people too long. In fact, I find alone time essential so I can create. The computer to me is THE GREAT distraction. I haven’t figured out how to tame it yet.
Ellen Wilsons last blog post..Bring Your Daughter to Work Day
@Melissa,
Now *that* got my attention… you do realize that the proper attire for May Day looks like this:
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/images/2005/05/310790.jpg
(No, I’m not one of the guys in the picture. I could be so lucky…)
Brett Legrees last blog post..canada 2, greece 0. a story about running.
Well, that DOES it!
I’m gettin’ out my hammer and saw.
Gonna build me a Maypole.
Make sure it’s portable so you can bring it down here. And don’t forget the orange paint.
Back to my articles.
Ellen Wilsons last blog post..Bring Your Daughter to Work Day
@Friar,
(*pssst* I bought up all of the orange paint in Splat Creek… you get the pole)
Brett Legrees last blog post..canada 2, greece 0. a story about running.
@Friar, Well I for one cannot wait to dance around the Maypole. I just LOVE to dance!
@Ellen, Good point. He’s going to need to haul that thing around so it should definitely be portable
@Brett, I bet you also bought all the red body paint that the people in your picture smeared all over their bodies. Am I right?
@Ellen I’ll make a telecoping pole..so I can fit it in the back of my car.
Poles and dancing women
….ALWAYS a winning combination in my books!
Friars last blog post..Friar Versus the Gray Heads Part III
Man oh man,
they sure have changed May Poles since I was a little girl.
What happened to the little girls and pretty ribbons and dainty maidens dancing?
Wendi Kellys last blog post..Inspiring Things that Inquiring Minds Want to Know
@Friar - What the hell is telecoping? Is it like a telescopic lens?
Sorry Melissa, I think we are WAY off topic! But maybe not, seeing it all has to do with women doing what they want. We can write a poem about it.
Ellen Wilsons last blog post..Bring Your Daughter to Work Day
@Ellen
Typo. I was thinking of a telescoping pole (like they have with fishing rods).
Yeah,we have gone WAY OFF topic. Poor Melissa. She’s trying to enlighten us about indepdendent women and poetry, and we’re talking about pagans and maypoles.
Oh well. …you never know how these discussions are going to end up.
I blame Brett.
That’s it. It’s Brett’s fault.
Friars last blog post..Friar Versus the Gray Heads Part III
I admit. It’s my fault. As usual. My new business is “Pagan Parties R Us”
I bought *all* of the paint in Splat Creek, just in case anyone wanted a different colour. I don’t mind if people want to be orange, red, green, blue, just bring on the nakedness
And next to some of the girls up here, these ladies *are* maidens!!!
Brett Legrees last blog post..canada 2, greece 0. a story about running.
Wow! I went out to give my dogs a bath and come back to a raging pole party. You guys can hijack my blog anytime!
@Friar, I’ve never considered the connection between the modern pole and the maypole but I like the way your mind is working on this one!
@Wendi, Those little girls grew up, got themselves some fishnets and stilettos and well, here we are.
@Ellen, Yes, we’re close enough to the topic, definitely. Wonder what Aphra, Emily, and Dorothy would think about pole dancing?
@Friar, Thanks but I am doing just fine. I didn’t realize you all were such party people and it is good news indeed. I’m going to skip the beer, pass up the wine and go straight for a vodka tonic.
@Brett, I wonder if I can mix the red and blue to make purple
@Melissa,
Now purple would be pretty cool, the colour can (amongst other things) represent sensuality, spirituality, creativity… appropriate, perhaps
Brett Legrees last blog post..canada 2, greece 0. a story about running.
Somewhere amid all this dancing and body paint, we need to roast a large animal on a spit.
(Excuse me, but I havent’ had supper now, so I’m thinking about food).
Still, it’ a good pagan thing to do.
Friars last blog post..Friar Versus the Gray Heads Part III
@Friar - I have not heard of these telecoping poles. But I am ready to roast an editor on the spit.
What a great pagan thing to do!
We need to watch The Wicker Man. That’ll do ya in. The original.
Ellen Wilsons last blog post..Bring Your Daughter to Work Day
@Brett, And purple was the color of rain back in the 80s
@Friar, I’m going veg on this one
@Ellen, Is The Wicker Man any good? I’ve almost watched it a dozen times but then always think it doesn’t look that great and choose something else instead. Lately I’m on a huge Sex and the City kick, which kind of explains my current fascination with pole dancing and also shows how far behind the crowd I really am
Peace to my Pagan pals!
The May Pole Dance
Purple paint, dipped in wine,
Brushed upon flesh of mine
Fire lit, burning bright
Maypole dancers
Dance tonight
Twisting, swaying
Skin on skin
Fire burning
Hot within
Pole sisters, eye to eye
Pole brothers, reach the sky
Thunder rumbles, fire enflames
Pick a partner,
End the games.
~Wendi Kelly
Wendi Kellys last blog post..Inspiring Things that Inquiring Minds Want to Know
Oh my!
Even though I’m getting old
Time to take a shower cold!
Brett Legrees last blog post..canada 2, greece 0. a story about running.
Which one of you Pole sisters wants to take “Pole Position”/
Heh heh heh.
Friars last blog post..Friar Versus the Gray Heads Part III
@Melissa - Watch the original British version, not the remake with Nicholas Cage. It’s a cult classic over in the UK.
I think it was very good for its time.
Ellen Wilsons last blog post..Bring Your Daughter to Work Day
@Wendi, WOW! I love your poem and you have just officially made my day.
@Brett, Better bring lots of soap so you lather off all that body paint
@Friar, Oh my. Words escape me.
@Ellen, Oh, I was going to watch the new one. I’ll see if I can find the original. Thanks for the tip!
Glad you liked it. It was all Brett’s fault. He called us Pole sisters and then said wine and purple all at the same time and then I spilled a poem.
Ooops.
Wendi Kellys last blog post..Inspiring Things that Inquiring Minds Want to Know
@Melissa
I was enjoying images of pagan pole-sisters dancing around at the solstice festival.
But then you had to mention Brett lathering off his body paint.
ARRRGHHH!
(Trying to shake that scary image from my head..trying to shake that scary image from my head…)
Friars last blog post..Friar Versus the Gray Heads Part III
Brett Legrees last blog post..how to make 6 weeks work for you.
(*pssst* Friar, maybe the body paint was on the pagan women…)
Brett Legrees last blog post..how to make 6 weeks work for you.
I’m not going to any pole party unless the guys chuck their clothes also. Fifty-Fifty!
@Melissa - It might be hard to find here. I have a copy I can send to you if you want. I had to watch it on my computer, because my TV isn’t programmed for movies outside the US.
Ellen Wilsons last blog post..Writing the Wild Within: Part 3 - Squirrel Away Your Energy
@Ellen,
I think we’ll have a good pole party then…
(our back garden is completely enclosed and no one can see in without stretching to peek over the fence - I’d be lying if I said I’d never “walked on the wild side” out there… LOL)
Brett Legrees last blog post..how to make 6 weeks work for you.
Brett, you just got me calmed down enough, with your suggestion of naked pagan women. But then
I get another naked Brett reference.
AUGH!
I should never have read this just before bed.
Friars last blog post..Tapping into your Subconscious
@Brett, What I wanna know is… who corrupted YOU?
@Ellen, That’s right! Equal pole dancing opportunities for everyone! You’re so sweet to offer your copy of the movie. I actually found it on Netflix and added it to my queue. If the one you’re talking about is the 1973 version starring Edward Woodward and Christopher Lee then I’m all taken care of. It will have to wait until I get through the Sex and the City series though. I’m working to finish that before the movie comes out.
@Friar, Sweet dreams, eh?
@Melissa - That’s the movie! Let me know what you think. I may have to get a Netflix account again. My Hollywood Video store never has any good stuff, foreign flix and such. I get tired of Hollywood!
Ellen Wilsons last blog post..Writing the Wild Within: Part 3 - Squirrel Away Your Energy
@Melissa,
I wouldn’t kiss and tell, even if it were only on my secret confessional blog, she is a nice and yet very wicked lady…
Brett Legrees last blog post..viking fridays - axe and sword.
@Ellen, I will let you know! Yep, I find Netflix has a much better selection that other video stores.
@Brett, Ooh, she must have been a doozy!
@Melissa,
Oh yes… the worst kind
Brett Legrees last blog post..the forever people.
Melissa,
It’s September …only now logging onto Writing Forward! love it. I’m a poet /blogger/writer/who love the all time greats…Emily Dickinson, Sylvia Plath,Gwendolyn Brooks…It’s Sylvia Plath’s life as a woman poet who intrigues me..
I have letters written by Emily Dickinson found in one of her books during an antique book store outing!
Come visit: http://wwwclara54.wordpress.com any time.
Clara
Hi Clara, and welcome! Sylvia Plath’s life is intriguing indeed! And those Emily Dickinson letters are definitely something to treasure! Thank you for visiting and commenting. I look forward to visiting your site too!