today's poem
This is from an anthology of women Romantic poets I bought a while back. I hadn't even known there were any women Romantic poets.
To a Lady Who Said It Was Sinful to Read Novels
Christian Milne
To love these books, and harmless tea,
Has always been my foible,
Yet will I ne'er forgetful be
To read my Psalms and Bible.
Travels I like, and history too,
Or entertaining fiction;
Novels and plays I'd have a few,
If sense and proper diction.
I love a natural harmless song,
But cannot sing like Handel;
Deprived of such resource, the tongue
Is sure employed -- in scandal.
To a Lady Who Said It Was Sinful to Read Novels
Christian Milne
To love these books, and harmless tea,
Has always been my foible,
Yet will I ne'er forgetful be
To read my Psalms and Bible.
Travels I like, and history too,
Or entertaining fiction;
Novels and plays I'd have a few,
If sense and proper diction.
I love a natural harmless song,
But cannot sing like Handel;
Deprived of such resource, the tongue
Is sure employed -- in scandal.