“God's gifts put man's best dreams to shame.”

Yes, Ms. Ly's favorite poet, Elizabeth Barrett Browning. She was one of the most prominent poets of the Victorian era. Her poetry was widely popular in both England and the United States during her lifetime. A collection of her last poems was published by her husband,Robert Browning, shortly after her death.

Even if I do not know much about her, I like to read her poems and I would like to read more from her.

This piece is called 'Sonnet number Forty three'

this sonnet is always used in Quizzes, that's why I will give it as an example~

"Sonnet No. 43"

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 candlelight.

I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;

I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.

I love thee with the 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 lost saints,—I love thee with the breath,

Smiles, tears, of all my life!—and, if God choose,

I shall but love thee better after death.—

"There is no place for grief in a house which serves the Muse."

The woman on the picture is named Sappho. She's one of the best women poets in Greek. Her poems are all about Love and how beautiful women are. When Shanda and I were assigned to report the life of Sappho, we were really shocked because it was our first time to hear about a female poet that's famous. When we were studying about Sappho, we learned that she was a lesbian and she committed suicide because lesbians are not allowed during that time. I was disappointed that she didn't fight for their relationship but her poems are beautifully made and I think it was made for her lover.

This is one of Sappho's Masterpiece. It's title is "The Hymn to Aphrodite"

We have read this before in English and at first I didn't understand it but after repeatedly reading it 3-4 times, I understand it a little bit.

THRONED in splendor, immortal Aphrodite!

Child of Zeus, Enchantress, I implore thee

Slay me not in this distress and anguish,

Lady of beauty.

 

Hither come as once before thou camest,

When from afar thou heard'st my voice lamenting,

Heard'st and camest, leaving thy glorious father's Palace golden,

 

Yoking thy chariot. Fair the doves that bore thee;

Swift to the darksome earth their course directing,

Waving their thick wings from the highest heaven

Down through the ether.

 

Quickly they came. Then thou, O blessed goddess,

All in smiling wreathed thy face immortal,

Bade me tell thee the cause of all my suffering,

Why now I called thee;

 

What for my maddened heart I most was longing.

"Whom," thou criest, "dost wish that sweet Persuasion

Now win over and lead to thy love, my Sappho?

Who is it wrongs thee?

 

"For, though now he flies, he soon shall follow,

Soon shall be giving gifts who now rejects them.

Even though now he love not, soon shall he love thee

Even though thou wouldst not."

 

Come then now, dear goddess, and release me

From my anguish. All my heart's desiring

Grant thou now. Now too again as aforetime,

Be thou my ally.

What a very beautiful poem made by Sappho~!

I was very lucky to read some of her poems because her poems are very beautiful~

Let us dance in lieu of her Brilliance~

First ever post~ :D

hey~ If you are wondering why i'm writing in English and not in Tagalog it's because this blog is dedicated to English Literature. Starting tonight, I will be posting various poems, stories and lessons that I have learned/read the whole school year. I will only start tonight/The day before the deadline of this blog because I was busy procrastinating these past few weeks because of Prom, Intrams and teacher's day. No, this is not my personal blog and I will not tell my personal blog >:) ~ Sorry.

This blog is for miss Ly and my love for her subject~