Tillys Shelf | Victober Poetry Challenge 4: Emily Brontë @tillysshelf | Uploaded October 2020 | Updated October 2024, 2 hours ago.
Shall Earth no more inspire thee? by Emily Bronte

Shall earth no more inspire thee,
Thou lonely dreamer now?
Since passion may not fire thee
Shall Nature cease to bow?

Thy mind is ever moving
In regions dark to thee;
Recall its useless roving—
Come back and dwell with me.

I know my mountain breezes
Enchant and soothe thee still—
I know my sunshine pleases
Despite thy wayward will.

When day with evening blending
Sinks from the summer sky,
I’ve seen thy spirit bending
In fond idolatry.

I’ve watched thee every hour;
I know my mighty sway,
I know my magic power
To drive thy griefs away.

Few hearts to mortals given
On earth so wildly pine;
Yet none would ask a heaven
More like this earth than thine.

Then let my winds caress thee;
Thy comrade let me be—
Since nought beside can bless thee,
Return and dwell with me.


My inspiration for this Victorian Poetry Challenge came from Matthew of the channel Mayberry Bookclub and his Norton Anthology readings earlier this year https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list...

The hosts of Victober this year are:
Katy at Books and Things https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vD0-Q...
Kate Howe https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nU5so...
Lucy the Reader https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-Gr-...

And here are the challenges (of which I am successfully achieving precisely none)
1. Katie’s challenge: Read a Victorian book that equates to your favourite modern genre
2. Lucy’s challenge: Read a Victorian diary or collection of letters
3. Kate’s challenge: Read a new to you book and/or short story by a favourite Victorian author
4. Readers’ challenge: Read a Victorian book from a previous Victober TBR that you didn't get to, or one you’ve been meaning to read for ages
5. General challenge: Read a Victorian book while wearing something Victorian/Victorian-esque
Group readalong: Shirley by Charlotte Brontë