A POEM PUBLISHED IN 1867

I bet you are all wondering why I have chosen a poem from 1867? In your shoes, so would I.

Here's the story.

Some time ago I walked into a charity shop looking for some old sci-fi books. Alas, it wasn't my lucky day but tucked away in a corner, I espied something of interest.

First up was An Anthology Of Modern Prose by A.J.J. Ratcliffe published in 1936.

And sitting behind it was a real gem. Once I brushed away the cobwebs, a leather-bound book revealed itself. Embossed on the front was a gold crest. Published in 1867 it was simply named - Poems by Jean Ingelow.

She dedicated her book to her brother - George K. Ingelow

YOUR LOVING SISTER

OFFERS YOU THESE POEMS, PARTLY AS

AN EXPRESSION OF HER AFFECTION, PARTLY FOR THE

PLEASURE OF CONNECTING HER EFFORTS

WITH YOUR NAME

Here is one of the poems from the book all clad in green.

AFTERTHOUGHT

Man dwells apart, though not alone,

He walks among his peers unread;

The best of thoughts which he hath known

For lack of listeners are not said.

Yet dreaming on earth's clustered isles,

He saith, 'They dwell not lone like men,

Forfgetful that their sunflecked smiles

Flash far beyond each other's ken.

He looks on God's eternal suns

That sprinkle the celestial blue,

And saith, Ah! happy shining ones,

I would that men were grouped like you!

Yet this is sure: the loveliest star

That clustered with its peers we see

Only because from us so far

Doth near its fellows seem to be.