The British Library’s Discovering Literature is incredible. Works are divided into historical periods (XXth Century, Romantic and Victorian Periods, Restoration & XVIIIth Century). For each book, there is at least a thorough analysis and related illustrated material. The poem pointed out here is “Goblin Market” by Christina Rosetti, introduced by Dinah Roe’s. I must start by citing John Ruskin, leading English art critic of the Victorian era, who declared that this poem was “the calamity of modern poetry”. The story is about two sisters who are tempted by fruits sold by goblins. One of the sisters, Laura, eats the fruit and then deteriorates, close to death. Her sister will do everything to save her. So many themes in this poem and, to cite the analysis of Roe, the danger of temptation, feminine resistance, lesbian empowerment, anorexia, so on and so forth. I quite liked this poem because it has a dancing and singing rhythm to it. It would be a good song.
She cried “Laura,” up the garden,
“Did you miss me ?
Come and kiss me
Never mind my bruises,
Hug me, kiss me, suck my juices
Squeezed from goblin fruits for you,
Goblin pulp and goblin dew.
Eat me, drink me, love me;
Laura, make much of me:
For your sake I have braved the glen
And had to do with goblin merchant men.”