Elizabeth Barrett Browning

by

Joyce Hemsley

Series od famous British names:

ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING

English Poet, born eighteen-0-six
Coxhoe Hall, Durham, England.
Eldest of twelve children.
She died eighteen sixty-one.

Elizabeth was well read in literature
and philosophy; educated at home
because of ill-health...the family
stately home was in Herefordshire,
but many setbacks led to the end
of rich prosperous times, and they
moved to 50 Wimpole Street, London.
Elizabeth was thirty-two. Years
after her death, the popular drama -
"The Barretts of Wimpole Street"
made the stage and was enjoyed
around the world.

She wrote many poems; at age thirteen
her father arranged publication of her
first poem. I list a few of her
publications :
The Battle of Marathon (age twelve)
The Rose and the Zephyr
The Cry of the Children
Casa Guidi Windows
Aurora Leigh.

The English Poet, Robert Browning read
her "Poems 1844" - was so in awe of them,
he wrote to her arranging a secret
meeting; they were in love, and married
in 1846. Hence the name Elizabeth Barrett
"Browning", she was forty years old, and
he was thirty-four years old. Together,
they moved to Italy, where her health
improved, and within five years, a baby
son, Robert Wiedeman was born.

Lord Tennyson was poet laureate from
eighteen forty-three, but Elizabeth was
a strong contender. She was highly
thought of, not only for her lyrical
poetry but for her "voice" on the
abolition of slavery, and women's rights.

At age fifty-five, Elizabeth Barratt
Browning died - her body buried in a
Florence Cemetery. Her house in Florence
is a Memorial. Robert and son moved back
to England.

I quote one of her well-loved poems:

"How Do I Love Thee"

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight,
For the ends of Being and Ideal Grace,
I love thee to the level of everyday's
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for right,
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise,
I love thee with a passion put to use,
In my old griefs and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my Saints - I love thee with the breath
Smiles, tears, all of my life! and if God choose
I shall but love thee better after death.
~~~~Written by Elizabeth Barrett Browning~~~~

Her name will live forever.

NEXT?
Why don't you look at Mundo caníbal
by: Arnaldo Sejas
from: Necochea, Buenos Aires, Argentina

To visit all of Joyce Hemsley's poems, click HERE

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