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The Brontes: Selected Poems
Come hither, child--who gifted thee
With power to touch that string so well?
--From "Come Hither, Child" by Emily Brontë
Though best known for their novels, Charlotte and Emily Brontë, and siblings Anne and Patrick Branwell, also wrote remarkable poetry. The finest examples from each of the four appear here, and they present fascinating images of nature, character portraits, dark musings, and deeply emotional reflections. From Charlotte comes “The Teacher’s Monologue;” Patrick’s work includes “Death Triumphant;” Emily offers a series of songs, and Anne is represented by “The Captive Dove,” and more.
With power to touch that string so well?
--From "Come Hither, Child" by Emily Brontë
Though best known for their novels, Charlotte and Emily Brontë, and siblings Anne and Patrick Branwell, also wrote remarkable poetry. The finest examples from each of the four appear here, and they present fascinating images of nature, character portraits, dark musings, and deeply emotional reflections. From Charlotte comes “The Teacher’s Monologue;” Patrick’s work includes “Death Triumphant;” Emily offers a series of songs, and Anne is represented by “The Captive Dove,” and more.
115 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 2004
4 people are currently reading
64 people want to read
About the author
Anne Brontë
663 books3,939 followersAnne Brontë was an English novelist and poet, the youngest member of the Brontë literary family. Anne's two novels, written in a sharp and ironic style, are completely different from the romanticism followed by her sisters, Emily Brontë and Charlotte Brontë. She wrote in a realistic, rather than a romantic style. Mainly because the re-publication of The Tenant of Wildfell Hall was prevented by Charlotte Brontë after Anne's death, she is less known than her sisters. However, her novels, like those of her sisters, have become classics of English literature.
The daughter of a poor Irish clergyman in the Church of England, Anne Brontë lived most of her life with her family at the parish of Haworth on the Yorkshire moors. In Elizabeth Gaskell's biography, Anne's father remembered her as precocious, reporting that once, when she was four years old, in reply to his question about what a child most wanted, she answered: "age and experience".
During her life Anne was particularly close to Emily. When Charlotte's friend Ellen Nussey visited Haworth in 1833, she reported that Emily and Anne were "like twins", "inseparable companions". Together they created imaginary world Gondal after they broke up from Charlotte and Branwell who created another imaginary world – Angria.
For a couple of years she went to a boarding school. At the age of 19 she left Haworth and worked as a governess between 1839 and 1845.
After leaving her teaching position, she fulfilled her literary ambitions. She wrote a volume of poetry with her sisters (Poems by Currer, Ellis, and Acton Bell, 1846) and two novels. Agnes Grey, based upon her experiences as a governess, was published in 1847. Her second and last novel, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, which is considered to be one of the first sustained feminist novels, appeared in 1848 and was an instant, phenomenal success; within six weeks it was sold out.
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall is perhaps the most shocking of the Brontës' novels. In seeking to present the truth in literature, Anne's depiction of alcoholism and debauchery was profoundly disturbing to 19th-century sensibilities. Helen Graham, the tenant of the title, intrigues Gilbert Markham and gradually she reveals her past as an artist and wife of the dissipated Arthur Huntingdon. The book's brilliance lies in its revelation of the position of women at the time, and its multi-layered plot.
Her sister Emily's death on 19 December 1848 deeply affected Anne and her grief undermined her physical health. Over Christmas, Anne caught influenza. Her symptoms intensified, and in early January, her father sent for a Leeds physician, who diagnosed her condition as consumption, and intimated that it was quite advanced leaving little hope of recovery. Anne met the news with characteristic determination and self-control.
Unlike Emily, Anne took all the recommended medicines, and responded to the advice she was given. That same month she wrote her last poem, " A dreadful darkness closes in", in which she deals with being terminally ill.
In February 1849, Anne decided to make a return visit to Scarborough in the hope that the change of location and fresh sea air might initiate a recovery. However, it was clear that she had little strength left.
Dying, Anne expressed her love and concern for Ellen and Charlotte, and seeing Charlotte's distress, whispered to her to "take courage". Conscious and calm, Anne died at about two o'clock in the afternoon, Monday, 28 May 1849.
The daughter of a poor Irish clergyman in the Church of England, Anne Brontë lived most of her life with her family at the parish of Haworth on the Yorkshire moors. In Elizabeth Gaskell's biography, Anne's father remembered her as precocious, reporting that once, when she was four years old, in reply to his question about what a child most wanted, she answered: "age and experience".
During her life Anne was particularly close to Emily. When Charlotte's friend Ellen Nussey visited Haworth in 1833, she reported that Emily and Anne were "like twins", "inseparable companions". Together they created imaginary world Gondal after they broke up from Charlotte and Branwell who created another imaginary world – Angria.
For a couple of years she went to a boarding school. At the age of 19 she left Haworth and worked as a governess between 1839 and 1845.
After leaving her teaching position, she fulfilled her literary ambitions. She wrote a volume of poetry with her sisters (Poems by Currer, Ellis, and Acton Bell, 1846) and two novels. Agnes Grey, based upon her experiences as a governess, was published in 1847. Her second and last novel, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, which is considered to be one of the first sustained feminist novels, appeared in 1848 and was an instant, phenomenal success; within six weeks it was sold out.
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall is perhaps the most shocking of the Brontës' novels. In seeking to present the truth in literature, Anne's depiction of alcoholism and debauchery was profoundly disturbing to 19th-century sensibilities. Helen Graham, the tenant of the title, intrigues Gilbert Markham and gradually she reveals her past as an artist and wife of the dissipated Arthur Huntingdon. The book's brilliance lies in its revelation of the position of women at the time, and its multi-layered plot.
Her sister Emily's death on 19 December 1848 deeply affected Anne and her grief undermined her physical health. Over Christmas, Anne caught influenza. Her symptoms intensified, and in early January, her father sent for a Leeds physician, who diagnosed her condition as consumption, and intimated that it was quite advanced leaving little hope of recovery. Anne met the news with characteristic determination and self-control.
Unlike Emily, Anne took all the recommended medicines, and responded to the advice she was given. That same month she wrote her last poem, " A dreadful darkness closes in", in which she deals with being terminally ill.
In February 1849, Anne decided to make a return visit to Scarborough in the hope that the change of location and fresh sea air might initiate a recovery. However, it was clear that she had little strength left.
Dying, Anne expressed her love and concern for Ellen and Charlotte, and seeing Charlotte's distress, whispered to her to "take courage". Conscious and calm, Anne died at about two o'clock in the afternoon, Monday, 28 May 1849.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
May 23, 2021
Really interesting to read, and to see the similarities and differences in their poetry. A bit to much religion in them, but some power and expression too. Emily's stand out of course, but these are good too.
March 20, 2025
Anne's poems were my favorite! I think reading this all at once made the style feel repetitive and each poem, even across the different Brontës, felt pretty much the same. Reading it bit by bit over a much longer time would probably make each poem have more impact. Overall, it was good, not really my cup of tea.
September 4, 2008
Charlote Bronte
LIFE
Life, believe, is not dream
so dark as sages say;
Off a little morning rain
Foretells a pleasant day
Sometimes there are clouds of gloom
But These are transient all;
If the shower will make the roses bloom,
O why lament it's fall?
Rapidly, merrily
Life's sunny hours flit by
Gratefully, cheerily
Enjoy them as they fly!
......
Patrick Branwell Bronte
PEACEFUL DEATH AND PAINFUL LIFE
Why dost thou sorrow for the happy dead?
For if their life be last, their toils are o'er
And woe and want shall trouble them no more
Nor ever slept they sleep while, dreamless, laid
In the dark chambers of that unknown shore
Where night and silence seal each guarded door
So turn from such as these, thy drooping head
And mourn the 'Dead alive' whose spirit flies-
Whose life departs before his death has come-
who finds no heaven beyond life's gloomy skies
whose sees no hope to brighten up that gloom,
Tis He who feels the worm that neveer dies-
The real death and darkness of the tomb.
Anne Bronte
THE PENITENT
I mourn with thee, and yet rejoice
That thou shouldst sorrow so;
With angel choirs I join my voice
To bless the sinner's woe
Though friends and kindred turn away,
And laugh thy grief to scorn;
I hear the great redeemer say,
Blessed are ye that mourn
Hold on thy course, nor deem it strange
That earthly cords are riven:
Man may lament the won drous change
But 'there is joy in heaven!'
Emily Jane Bronte
'THE BLUE BELL IS THE SWEETEST FLOWER'
The Blue Bell is the sweetest flower
That waves in summer rain
It's blossom have the mightiest power
To soothe my spirit's care
There is a spell in purple heath
to wildly, sadly drear
The violet has fragrance breath
But fragrance will not cheer
The trees are bare, the sun is cold
And seldom, seldom seen-
The heavens have lost their zone of gold
The earth it's robe of green
---------------........----------------
LIFE
Life, believe, is not dream
so dark as sages say;
Off a little morning rain
Foretells a pleasant day
Sometimes there are clouds of gloom
But These are transient all;
If the shower will make the roses bloom,
O why lament it's fall?
Rapidly, merrily
Life's sunny hours flit by
Gratefully, cheerily
Enjoy them as they fly!
......
Patrick Branwell Bronte
PEACEFUL DEATH AND PAINFUL LIFE
Why dost thou sorrow for the happy dead?
For if their life be last, their toils are o'er
And woe and want shall trouble them no more
Nor ever slept they sleep while, dreamless, laid
In the dark chambers of that unknown shore
Where night and silence seal each guarded door
So turn from such as these, thy drooping head
And mourn the 'Dead alive' whose spirit flies-
Whose life departs before his death has come-
who finds no heaven beyond life's gloomy skies
whose sees no hope to brighten up that gloom,
Tis He who feels the worm that neveer dies-
The real death and darkness of the tomb.
Anne Bronte
THE PENITENT
I mourn with thee, and yet rejoice
That thou shouldst sorrow so;
With angel choirs I join my voice
To bless the sinner's woe
Though friends and kindred turn away,
And laugh thy grief to scorn;
I hear the great redeemer say,
Blessed are ye that mourn
Hold on thy course, nor deem it strange
That earthly cords are riven:
Man may lament the won drous change
But 'there is joy in heaven!'
Emily Jane Bronte
'THE BLUE BELL IS THE SWEETEST FLOWER'
The Blue Bell is the sweetest flower
That waves in summer rain
It's blossom have the mightiest power
To soothe my spirit's care
There is a spell in purple heath
to wildly, sadly drear
The violet has fragrance breath
But fragrance will not cheer
The trees are bare, the sun is cold
And seldom, seldom seen-
The heavens have lost their zone of gold
The earth it's robe of green
---------------........----------------
June 10, 2020
The Bronte siblings are better at prose than poetry, especially Charlotte (whose rhythm often wanders). Mainly the poems are filled with sorrow, a bit less with Anne. I think I would appreciate it more if I'd read some more detailed biography of them.
March 7, 2018
Four Brontes—. Emo eons before emo was a thing.
April 14, 2019
I found their poems harpped on the same theme's. I did enjoy some poem's, but if you are not a huge Bronte fan I think you will be disappointed in this book.
July 14, 2022
Wished there had been an equal amount of poems for the four siblings.
July 4, 2016
I read this during the month of March as part of my poetry reading for the year (one volume per month). I'd only read the novels by Charlotte Brontë & Emily Brontë and enjoyed reading their poetic works. I also happened to be reading the latest biography on Charlotte, Charlotte Brontë: A Fiery Heart, at the same time, which gave much insight to the siblings behind the poetry.
July 22, 2014
Accessible, moving, and beautiful Gothic poetry.
February 18, 2013
Poems related to the fantasy kingdoms the Brontes made up as children. I liked them, however.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews