208 Results in the "Poetry" category


    • Men, Women, and Ghosts Cover
      by LovelyMay Men, Women, and Ghosts by Elizabeth Stuart Phelps is a collection of short stories blending realism with supernatural elements, exploring the lives, emotions, and inner struggles of its characters. Published in 1869, the book delves into themes of love, loss, war, and the human psyche, often with a focus on the impact of the Civil War on individuals and families. Phelps’ stories are known for their psychological depth and moral complexity, as well as their daring exploration of women’s roles and inner lives. With a mix of ghostly encounters and poignant human experiences, *Men, Women, and Ghosts* is celebrated for its sensitive, sometimes haunting portrayal of the spiritual and emotional dimensions of everyday life.
    • Chapter

      Malmaison

      Malmaison Cover
      by LovelyMay In this chapter titled Malmaison, the scene opens with the estate shimmering under the French sun, its roof catching the light as the Seine glides nearby. Within this idyllic setting, Citoyenne Beauharnais pauses by the gates, weary from her walk and filled with a quiet cynicism. She questions whether the famed roses inside can match their reputation or if, in a time so steeped in blood and upheaval, the guillotine would greet her instead. As the iron gates creak open, her thoughts are interrupted by the…
    • Legends and Lyrics – Second Series Cover
      by LovelyMay Legends and Lyrics: Second Series is a collection of poems by Adelaide Anne Procter, published in 1861. It features reflective and lyrical works exploring themes of faith, love, compassion, and social justice, showcasing Procter’s delicate and heartfelt poetic style.
    • Chapter

      Lead Soldiers

      Lead Soldiers Cover
      by LovelyMay In this chapter titled Lead Soldiers, the story begins with the unstoppable advance of a fire devouring a once-grand cathedral, illuminating the sky with its cruel brilliance. Smoke spirals upward while stained-glass windows crack and melt, unable to withstand the blaze’s assault. The flames move like a creature unleashed, curling around doorways and beams, swallowing relics, manuscripts, and lives built over years. Citizens scatter, their panic no match for the fire’s focus, and even the…
    • Ban and Arriere Ban Cover
      by LovelyMay Ban and Arrière-Ban by George Meredith is a historical novel set in the medieval period, blending romance, adventure, and intrigue as it follows the lives of knights and noble families. The story explores themes of loyalty, honor, and personal conflict, focusing on the complex relationships between its characters as they navigate societal expectations and the challenges of chivalric duty. The novel’s title refers to the medieval French legal terms for summoning all able-bodied men to arms, reflecting the novel’s focus on military and familial obligations.
    • A Roxbury Garden Cover
      by LovelyMay In this chapter titled A Roxbury Garden, the story opens with laughter echoing down sunlit paths as sisters Minna and Stella dash side by side, hoops rolling ahead like extensions of their glee. The gravel crackles beneath their shoes, and their sashes ripple behind them like banners in a breeze. Each twist and tumble of the hoops sparks new delight, as if the garden itself plays along, blooming brighter under their joy. With every chant—“Go, go, golden ring!”—the game lifts into something more…
    • A Ballad of Footmen Cover
      by LovelyMay In this chapter titled A Ballad of Footmen, a somber meditation unfolds through poetic cadence and biting irony, pulling readers into the absurdity of war waged at the expense of reason and compassion. Rather than drums and marching orders, the tale begins with an old man clinging to the scent of roses as his city falls—a symbol of peace clashing against the thunder of conquest. The soldiers are not painted as heroes but as men swept into violence by the shallow promises of power and patriotic thrill.…
    • Chapter

      1777

      1777 Cover
      by LovelyMay In this chapter titled 1777, the reader is drawn into a world that pulses with sensory richness and quiet intensity. The story opens beneath a trumpet-vine arbour, where summer’s heat is not only felt but heard through the vivid flare of red blossoms. Their shapes resemble miniature brass instruments, each flaring open as if shouting in color. Amid this blaze, a woman leans forward, quill in hand, focused on the task of writing. The sun presses through the leaves, casting patches of molten light across…
    Note