Extract 5: ‘Rosalie’ by Angelina Weld Grimke
This extract is part of our Series 1 Topic 2 Podcast on ‘Roots of Intersectionality.’ Find the podcast here.
Context
Angelina Weld Grimke was a teacher, poet and playwright, working in the first half of the 20th century. She is far less well known than the other authors we have explored in these podcasts, and there is limited information about her life. However, we know she was mixed race, and race was an important theme in her work, especially as she was one of the first women of colour to have her play performed in America. Her work also explores her suppressed sexual identity, and our extract is taken from the poem Rosalie (or Rosabella), one of her lesbian love poems.
Lived between: 1880-1958
Extract
I
Leaves that whisper whisper ever,
Listen, listen, pray;
Birds, that twitter, twitter softly,
Do not say me nay;
Winds, that breathe about, upon her,
(Words I do not dare)
Whisper, twitter, breathe unto her
That I find her fair.
II
Rose whose soul unfolds white petaled
Touch her soul rose-white;
Rose whose thoughts unfold gold petaled
Blossom in her sight;
Rose whose heart unfolds red petaled
Quick her slow heart's stir;
Tell her white, gold, red my love is;
And for her, -- for her.