Tag Archives: Robert Browning

“I do not write for the public.” — poet Gerard Manley Hopkins

“I shall shortly have some sonnets to send you, five or more. Four of these came like inspirations unbidden and against my will. And in the life I lead now, which is one of a continually jaded and harassed mind, … Continue reading

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“Best be yourself, imperial, plain, and true.” – Robert Browning

“Ah, but a man’s reach should exceed his grasp, Or what’s a heaven for?” — Robert Browning “Andrea del Sarto” It’s Robert Browning’s birthday today. “Imperial”. Spoken like a true Victorian. We had to read Robert Browning’s poem “Meeting at … Continue reading

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Understanding

“Well, I hope they understand one another – nobody else would.” — Wordsworth, 1846 – musing on the marriage of Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning

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Browning’s PJs

I love this letter! The tone of it – it’s obviously written in a casual off the cuff way, probably scrawled off quickly – in order to catch up with his correspondence – but I love every word! (and his … Continue reading

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“the simple truth is”

The simple truth is that she was the poet, and I the clever person by comparison. — Robert Browning on his wife, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, 1871

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“love you, love you”

If it will satisfy you that I should know you, love you, love you – why then indeed … You should have my soul to stand on if it could make you stand higher. — Elizabeth Barrett to Robert Browning, … Continue reading

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National Poetry Month: Robert Browning

We had to read this poem in 11th grade Humanities, and I remember that this was the time I started getting into poetry – I mean, stuff I was discovering on my own, not just the Irish stuff I always … Continue reading

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Famous Last Words

John Adams – died July 4, 1826: “Thomas Jefferson–still survives…” (or perhaps … “Thomas Jefferson … lives…” There are enough eyewitness accounts to believe that he said something along those lines.) On the exact same day, Thomas Jefferson died. He … Continue reading

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LM Montgomery on Robert Browning

“I love best the poets who hurt me. When in reading a poem I come across some line that thrusts itself into my heart — then is my soul knit unto the soul of that poet forevermore. Browning hurts me … Continue reading

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Famous Epitaphs/Last Words

Famous Epitaphs A reader sent me a bit of trivia she thought I might be interested in (she was right!) John Keats, great poet, who died in 1821, wrote his own epitaph, which is as follows: “Here lies one whose … Continue reading

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