Letter to Daphnis by Anne Finch

This is a poem I wrote about my husband. When I met my husband at the court, he instantly fell in love with me. I resisted his affections at first, but then I fell for him just as hard. Ever since, he’s been a main source of inspiration for my poems such as this one. I have a large collection of love poems for my Heneage.

 

A Letter to Daphnis
By  Anne Finch, Countess of Winchilsea  

This to the crown and blessing of my life,

The much loved husband of a happy wife;

To him whose constant passion found the art

To win a stubborn and ungrateful heart,

And to the world by tenderest proof discovers

They err, who say that husbands can’t be lovers.

With such return of passion as is due,

Daphnis I love, Daphnis my thoughts pursue;

Daphnis my hopes and joys are bounded all in you.

Even I, for Daphnis’ and my promise’ sake,

What I in women censure, undertake.

But this from love, not vanity, proceeds;

You know who writes, and I who ’tis that reads.

Judge not my passion by my want of skill:

Many love well, though they express it ill;

And I your censure could with pleasure bear,

Would you but soon return, and speak it here.

Finch, Anne. “A Letter to Daphnis.” Poetry Foundation. Poetry Foundation. n.d. Web.10 Dec. 2015

 



The Spleen, A Pindarique Ode By a Lady

Here is an audio of a man reading one of my poems. This poem is probably one of my most famous. I am very flattered that someone enjoyed my writing enough to display it in this manner. I am quite proud of this piece:  http://ia700402.us.archive.org/6/items/18th_century_poetry_prose_0910_librivox/01spleen_finch_add_64kb.mp3

Finch, Anne.”The Spleen, A Pindarique Ode. By a Lady.” Poetry Foundation. Poetry Foundation. n.d. Web.10 Dec. 2015.