The Fairy Changeling and Other Poems E-Book

Dora Sigerson Shorter

• Herausgeber: Booksell-Verlag
• Kategorie: Poesie und Drama
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2019

Beschreibung

In "The Fairy Changeling and Other Poems," Dora Sigerson Shorter weaves a tapestry of lyrical verse that captivates with its rich imagery and ethereal themes. This collection, emblematic of the late Victorian era'Äôs fascination with the supernatural and the feminine mystique, explores the intersections of reality and fantasy. Shorter's poems evoke a delicate interplay of nature and myth, often centering around themes of transformation and the otherworldly, akin to the symbolism found in the works of contemporaries like Swinburne and Rossetti. Her adept use of meter and rhyme enhances the enchanting quality of her verses, inviting readers into a dreamlike realm filled with a sense of wonder and introspection. As an Irish poetess, Dora Sigerson Shorter's heritage deeply influenced her literary voice. Born into a family with artistic inclinations, she honed her craft amidst the blossoming Irish literary revival. Her engagement with folklore and mythology speaks to her affinity for the spirit of her native land, nurturing an enduring connection to its rich narrative traditions. Sigerson Shorter'Äôs unique perspective as a woman poet in a male-dominated literary world permeates her work, allowing her to express both vulnerability and strength. "The Fairy Changeling and Other Poems" is a compelling addition to the canon of Victorian literature, appealing to readers who cherish lyrical poetry deeply rooted in emotion and mythology. Whether you are an aficionado of verse or a newcomer seeking an enchanting literary experience, this collection invites you to experience the power of imagination and the beauty of language.

Leseprobe

Dora Sigerson Shorter

The Fairy Changeling and Other Poems

Published by Good Press, 2022

[email protected]

EAN 4057664581549

Table of Contents

A BALLAD OF MARJORIE

THE PRIEST’S BROTHER

THE BALLAD OF THE LITTLE BLACK HOUND

THE RAPE OF THE BARON’S WINE

CEAN DUV DEELISH

BANAGHER RHUE

THE FAIR LITTLE MAIDEN

AT CHRISTMAS TIME

A WEEPING CUPID

THE LOVER

A BIRD FROM THE WEST

ALL SOULS’ EVE

AN IMPERFECT REVOLUTION

LOVE

WISHES

CUPID SLAIN

WHAT WILL YOU GIVE?

A MEADOW TRAGEDY

AN ECLIPSE

THE SCALLOP SHELL

WITH A ROSE

FOR EVER

THE BLOW RETURNED

VALE

THE SKELETON IN THE CUPBOARD

YOU WILL NOT COME AGAIN

THE WRECKAGE

I AM THE WORLD

A NEW YEAR

THE KINE OF MY FATHER

SANCTUARY

AN EASTERN GOD

A FRIEND IN NEED

IN A WOOD

A VAGRANT HEART

WHEN YOU ARE ON THE SEA

MY NEIGHBOUR’S GARDEN

AN IRISH BLACKBIRD

DEATH OF GORMLAITH

UNKNOWN IDEAL

BEWARE

THE OLD MAID

WIRASTRUA

QUESTIONS

A LITTLE DOG

“I PRAYED SO EAGERLY”

“WHEN THE DARK COMES”

DISTANT VOICES

THE BALLAD OF THE FAIRY THORN-TREE

THE SUICIDE’S GRAVE

Dermod O’Byrne of Omah town In his garden strode up and down; He pulled his beard, and he beat his breast; And this is his trouble and woe confessed:

“The good-folk came in the night, and they Have stolen my bonny wean away; Have put in his place a changeling, A weashy, weakly, wizen thing!

“From the speckled hen nine eggs I stole, And lighting a fire of a glowing coal, I fried the shells, and I spilt the yolk; But never a word the stranger spoke:

“A bar of metal I heated red To frighten the fairy from its bed, To put in the place of this fretting wean My own bright beautiful boy again.

“But my wife had hidden it in her arms, And cried ‘For shame!’ on my fairy charms; She sobs, with the strange child on her breast: ‘I love the weak, wee babe the best!’”

To Dermod O’Byrne’s, the tale to hear, The neighbours came from far and near: Outside his gate, in the long boreen, They crossed themselves, and said between

Their muttered prayers, “He has no luck! For sure the woman is fairy-struck, To leave her child a fairy guest, And love the weak, wee wean the best!”

A BALLAD OF MARJORIE

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“What ails you that you look so pale, O fisher of the sea?” “’Tis for a mournful tale I own, Fair maiden Marjorie.”

“What is the dreary tale to tell, O toiler of the sea?” “I cast my net into the waves, Sweet maiden Marjorie.

“I cast my net into the tide, Before I made for home; Too heavy for my hands to raise, I drew it through the foam.”

“What saw you that you look so pale, Sad searcher of the sea?” “A dead man’s body from the deep My haul had brought to me!”

“And was he young, and was he fair?” “Oh, cruel to behold! In his white face the joy of life Not yet was grown a-cold.”

“Oh, pale you are, and full of prayer For one who sails the sea.” “Because the dead looked up and spoke, Poor maiden Marjorie.”

“What said he, that you seem so sad, O fisher of the sea? (Alack! I know it was my love, Who fain would speak to me!)”

“He said, ‘Beware a woman’s mouth— A rose that bears a thorn.’” “Ah, me! these lips shall smile no more That gave my lover scorn.”

“He said, ‘Beware a woman’s eyes. They pierce you with their death.’” “Then falling tears shall make them blind That robbed my dear of breath.”

“He said, ‘Beware a woman’s hair— A serpent’s coil of gold.’” “Then will I shear the cruel locks That crushed him in their fold.”

“He said, ‘Beware a woman’s heart As you would shun the reef.’” “So let it break within my breast, And perish of my grief.”

“He raised his hands; a woman’s name Thrice bitterly he cried: My net had parted with the strain; He vanished in the tide.”

“A woman’s name! What name but mine, O fisher of the sea?” “A woman’s name, but not your name, Poor maiden Marjorie.”

THE PRIEST’S BROTHER

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Thrice in the night the priest arose From broken sleep to kneel and pray. “Hush, poor ghost, till the red cock crows, And I a Mass for your soul may say.”

Thrice he went to the chamber cold, Where, stiff and still uncoffinèd, His brother lay, his beads he told, And “Rest, poor spirit, rest,” he said.