Poems (1686)

Anne Killigrew (1660 - 1685)

These are the original, tender and thoughtful poems of a young female artist who lived and died in seventeenth century London -- only 70 years after William Shakespeare. Her diction is readily accessible to listeners after almost 350 years and the subjects on her mind we can imagine on the minds of educated young women today. She writes often of love, broken hearts and the beauty of reason and self-control -- as if she knew the Age of Enlightenment was just around the corner. She also opines intelligently and optimistically on death and the soul although she mentions God seldomly. More commonly she betrays her familiarity with Ovid referencing Greek nymphs and heroes while projecting herself in the scene in a charming girlish way. Her poetic prowess was noticed by critics who openly doubted a mere girl could write with such touching originality on her own. Her rejoinder verse in this collection shows admirable restraint and conclusivity. One only wonders what would have followed as she matured and what artistic output of Miss Killigrew the world has done without. She died of smallpox in her twenty-fifth year. - Summary by Arthur Krolman

Genre(s): Single author

Language: English

Section Chapter Reader Time
Play 01 Alexandreis Arthur Krolman
00:06:50
Play 02 To the Queen Arthur Krolman
00:04:36
Play 03 A Pastoral Dialogue Arthur Krolman
00:02:53
Play 04 On Death Arthur Krolman
00:02:57
Play 05 Epigrams: First, Bellinda, Atheist, Galla and Farewell to Worldly Joys Arthur Krolman
00:04:29
Play 06 The Complaint of a Lover Arthur Krolman
00:03:05
Play 07 Love, the Soul of Poetry Arthur Krolman
00:01:37
Play 08 To my Lady Berkeley, Afflicted upon her Son, My Lord Berkeley's Early Engaging in the Sea-Service Arthur Krolman
00:04:32
Play 09 St. John Baptist and Herodias Arthur Krolman
00:02:06
Play 10 Two Nymphs of Diana Arthur Krolman
00:01:43
Play 11 An Invective Against Gold Arthur Krolman
00:02:15
Play 12 The Miseries of Man Arthur Krolman
00:17:45
Play 13 Upon the saying that my Verses were made by another Arthur Krolman
00:04:48
Play 14 On the Birthday of Queen Katherine Arthur Krolman
00:01:52
Play 15 To My Lord Colrane, In Answer to his Complemental Verses sent me under the Name of Cleanor Arthur Krolman
00:02:47
Play 16 The Discontent Arthur Krolman
00:08:11
Play 17 A Pastoral Dialogue Arthur Krolman
00:08:19
Play 18 A Pastoral Dialogue with Meliboeus Arthur Krolman
00:17:39
Play 19 On My Aunt, Mrs. A.K. Arthur Krolman
00:01:55
Play 20 On a Young Lady whose Lord was Traveling Arthur Krolman
00:02:40
Play 21 On the Duchess of Grafton Arthur Krolman
00:01:36
Play 22 Penelope to Ulysses Arthur Krolman
00:02:22
Play 23 An Epitaph on Herself Arthur Krolman
00:01:56
Play 24 Extemporary Counsel given to a Young Gallant in a Frolick Arthur Krolman
00:00:57