When the female poets of Great Britain,
Chronologically arranged: with copious selections
And critical remarks came to town I of course
Went to the parade and the reception afterwards
Hoping to see Stevie Smith or at least a Bronte
But no one was there from after 1849. Julia Berners
Came first and then came Anne Boleyn
Looking sad and pretty but giving no interviews
There wasn’t much food but lots of wine;
Hester Thrale Piozzi gave me her autograph and
Aphra Behn sold me state secrets and
Towards the end of the evening I remember giving
Amelia Opie seventy-five cents for reciting
One of her poems; it was about a man named Henry
Who was dead. She regretted this and when she thought
About the grass growing over his grave it made her
Feel considerably blue.
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