Page 7 - Poetry-Country

Introduction

his particular volume of “Laugh-out-Loud Victorian Poetry”
might not quite be correctly titled. While there are plenty
T
of chuckles to be found in this collection, I’ve also taken the
liberty of including a fair number of charming and sentimental
pieces. Perhaps it’s because the love of the country, and all it
stands for, is as much a part of our make-up today as it was when
these poems were written over 100 years ago.
So you’ll find here a glimpse of a summer afternoon in the
country. There’s that old country road—who travels it, and where
does it lead? Pause for a moment to listen to the murmur of the
wind and the song of a cricket in a New England pasture. Enjoy
memories of grandmother’s house. Take a stroll through the
woods on a rainy day.
Victorian poets were aware, however, that life in the country
wasn’t all sunshine and cricket song. A farmer’s life had its
enviable qualities, but it also had its hardships. Here, gleaned
from Victorian scrap albums, are some delightful glimpses of the
difficulties to be found on the farm, whether one is the farmer or
the farmer’s wife.
Seasons are a big part of country life, so this collection looks
at the turning of the year. And that leads us, finally, to two all-
important seasonal holidays: Thanksgiving and Christmas. Here
you’ll find some classic holiday pieces, and some that are less well-
known, including some examples of the annual Thanksgiving
“hymn” that was published each year in the Philadelphia
Agricultural Almanack. John Greenleaf Whittier weighs in on the
importance of that autumn staple, the pumpkin, while Lizzie
Hadley explains just how to create the perfect pumpkin pie.
Then it’s Santa’s turn—and you’ll discover that Santa doesn’t
always get everything right. But he’ll do better if you learn, as one
poem explains, just how to send him a letter—and if you stay up
to wait for him, you might get a surprise.
So here is a delightful country and seasonal collection from
Victorian magazines and newspapers from America and Britain, to
brighten your day and liven up your holiday. May your summers
be filled with crickets, and your winters with pumpkin pie and
holiday blessings.

—Moira Allen

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