Weekly Scribblings #20: Undoubtedly Rossetti

Creative Space, Klara Kulikova, Unsplash

“Your red dress,’ she said, and laughed. But I looked at the dress on the floor and it was as if the fire had spread across the room. It was beautiful and it reminded me of something I must do. I will remember I thought. I will remember quite soon now.” ― Jean Rhys, Wide Sargasso Sea 

Hello everyone and welcome to another round of Weekly Scribblings! Poems by Christina Georgina Rossetti have always appealed to me. Born in London on 5th December, 1830, sister of well-known Pre-Raphaelite poet and artist Dante Gabriel Rossetti. Rossetti is best known for her ballads and her mystic religious lyrics.

The Wind Has Such a Rainy Sound
by Christina Rossetti

The wind has such a rainy sound

Moaning through the town,

The sea has such a windy sound, -

Will the ships go down?

The apples in the orchard

Tumble from their tree. -

Oh will the ships go down, go down,

In the windy sea?

I Loved You First: But Afterwards Your Love
by Christina Rossetti

I loved you first: but afterwards your love,

Outsoaring mine, sang such a loftier song

As drowned the friendly cooings of my dove.

Which owes the other most? My love was long,

And yours one moment seemed to wax more strong;

I loved and guessed at you, you construed me

And loved me for what might or might not be—

Nay, weights and measures do us both a wrong.

For verily love knows not ‘mine' or ‘thine';

With separate ‘I' and ‘thou' free love has done,

For one is both and both are one in love:

Rich love knows nought of ‘thine that is not mine';

Both have the strength and both the length thereof,

Both of us, of the love which makes us one.

Rushes in a Watery Place

by Christina Rossetti 

Rushes in a watery place,

And reeds in a hollow;

A soaring skylark in the sky,

A darting swallow;

And where pale blossom used to hang

Ripe fruit to follow.

A Rose has thorns as well as Honey 
by Christina Rossetti 

A rose has thorns as well as honey,

I'll not have her for love or money;

An iris grows so straight and fine,

That she shall be no friend of mine;

Snowdrops like the snow would chill me;

Nightshade would caress and kill me;

Crocus like a spear would fright me;

Dragon's-mouth might bark or bite me;

Convolvulus but blooms to die;

A wind-flower suggests a sigh;

Love-lies-bleeding makes me sad;

And poppy-juice would drive me mad: -

But give me holly, bold and jolly,

Honest, prickly, shining holly;

Pluck me holly leaf and berry

For the day when I make merry.

Your Challenge today is to write while inspired by the works of Rossetti. But wait, there is a twist! You have an option to choose between mesmerizing poems by Christina Georgina Rossetti OR the beautiful paintings by her brother Dante Gabriel Rossetti. Click here to view the list.

Let your muse decide which direction it wants to go into. After all, we at Poets and Storytellers United now offer the chance to share both poetry and prose! You may offer more than one entry. Also, if you opt to write prose then please keep it to 369 words or fewer. The Prompt will remain open until next Wednesday!

Good luck composing your masterpieces. I look forward to what you come up with! Please do visit others and remember to comment on their work. Also, enjoy this music video by Ariana Grande. Have fun! 💘