{"id":2218,"date":"2021-02-12T09:30:59","date_gmt":"2021-02-12T09:30:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk\/dorset-history-centre-blog\/?p=2218"},"modified":"2021-02-04T08:42:13","modified_gmt":"2021-02-04T08:42:13","slug":"poems-for-your-love","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk\/dorset-history-centre-blog\/2021\/02\/12\/poems-for-your-love\/","title":{"rendered":"Poems for Your Love"},"content":{"rendered":"

With Valentine\u2019s Day fast approaching we wanted to look at declarations of love in our collections, in particular love letters and poems. There are some lovely pieces celebrating love, and the angst that goes along with it!<\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

Firstly, from the Dorset County Museum King Collection archive is this very fragile 19th<\/sup> century example of an intricately folded love poem, with numbered verses, decorated inside with pink and yellow hearts. It is unsigned, author unknown, and not clear to whom it was intended.<\/p>\n

\"\"
D1-PC\/2\/001<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Its outward appearance is that of a box to be opened with the stark warning of loves wounding nature and fragility;<\/p>\n

Here is a heart that is set under<\/p>\n

Oppress with pain and grief<\/p>\n

And it will break asunder<\/p>\n

If you unfold the leaf<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"\"
D1-PC\/2\/003<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Once inside, the reader must unfold and rotate to continue reading the numbered verses<\/p>\n

So here\u2019s two hearts apart you see<\/p>\n

Why should not in one agree<\/p>\n

Why should fools talk such strife in gender<\/p>\n

Seeing tis vain those hearts to hinder<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

For if true love hearts have smote<\/p>\n

No eyes shall keep them long remote<\/p>\n

But they shall approach more near<\/p>\n

As in the next fold doth appear<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

There appears to be 21 verses in total. Fully unfolded it resembles a flat piece of origami, it\u2019s unravelling echoing the complex twisting and turning journey of love.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

From the Bankes archive is the poem, The Spider that drops from the Blossom<\/em>:<\/p>\n

\"\"
D-BKL\/H\/Q\/48<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The spider that drops from the blossom<\/p>\n

Can find his way easily back<\/p>\n

Since the Clue he spins from his bosom;<\/p>\n

Shall guide him again in his track<\/p>\n

As he hangs on that thread without ceasing<\/p>\n

Still it lengthens, and still he holds on,<\/p>\n

While the void that is within him is increasing,<\/p>\n

Soon reminds him how far he has gone:<\/p>\n

Yes that clue was made fast to the Floweret<\/p>\n

With the kiss he parting impressed.-<\/p>\n

Reascending , his lips shall devour it,<\/p>\n

And shall wind it anew in his breast.<\/p>\n

Those hopes of return, shall we lose \u2019em? –<\/p>\n

Oh be steady sweet bough, for his sake.<\/p>\n

Let no breath swerve or flutter that blossom<\/p>\n

Lest a tie, that so tender waver should break<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

It is thought the piece was written by William John Bankes, and though there are four copies in the archive with variations and corrections, it is not dated. William John Bankes is thought to be the most artistic and creative member of the Bankes family, having an avid appreciation for art, poetry and theatre, he studied at Trinity College Cambridge alongside fellow contemporary the poet, Lord Byron, and lifelong friend. This poem is part of an autograph album compiled, we think, by Daphne Bankes in the 1910s\/1920s – one of four scrapbooks of letters from various dignitaries, famous people and politicians.<\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

The love letter and poem These Wounded Hearts<\/em>\u00a0from The Miller family archive of Plush in Dorset is beautifully illustrated by hand with water colours, the letter to Mary appearing almost like a watermark through the illustration.<\/p>\n

\"\"
D-295\/5<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Mary<\/p>\n

Come Gentle let us prove<\/p>\n

By Yonder limpid stream<\/p>\n

Let pride and Scorn be banished far<\/p>\n

And let your pity beam<\/p>\n

O banish anger from those lips<\/p>\n

That smile on all but me:<\/p>\n

Remember I\u2019m your faithful swain,<\/p>\n

Reward my constancy<\/p>\n

When will the happy morn arrive, That I shall call you mine;<\/p>\n

Till then pray let me sign myself<\/p>\n

Your faithful Valentine<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Signed by Michael Miller it is thought to be dated circa 1803. The second declaration to Mary, again beautifully illustrated with flaming hearts, although short, poignantly captures the impassioned feelings of the Valentine:<\/p>\n

\"\"
D-295\/5<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

These wounded hearts, these flames and darts<\/p>\n

The emblem of my pains,<\/p>\n

For you I sigh, For you I die.<\/p>\n

For you I wear loves chains;<\/p>\n

Be generous, to my love incline,<\/p>\n

And let me call thee, Mary mine,<\/p>\n

Your fond adoring valentine<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

—<\/p>\n

For a closer look at these heartfelt declarations, or to see what other material we hold about Valentines Day, why not search our online catalogue<\/a>!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

With Valentine\u2019s Day fast approaching we wanted to look at declarations of love in our collections, in particular love letters and poems. There are some lovely pieces celebrating love, and the angst that goes along with it! — Firstly, from the Dorset County Museum King Collection archive is this very fragile 19th century example of… Read more Poems for Your Love<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1892,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[10],"tags":[82,275,274,277,276,109,73],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk\/dorset-history-centre-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2218"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk\/dorset-history-centre-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk\/dorset-history-centre-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk\/dorset-history-centre-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1892"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk\/dorset-history-centre-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2218"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/news.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk\/dorset-history-centre-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2218\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2227,"href":"https:\/\/news.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk\/dorset-history-centre-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2218\/revisions\/2227"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk\/dorset-history-centre-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2218"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk\/dorset-history-centre-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2218"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk\/dorset-history-centre-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2218"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}