19th Century Women's Poetry



Mary Kyle Dallas (?-1897)

Born in Philadelphia, Dallas published several novels. Her poetry often related to music, and one poem, "Brave Love," was set to music by Harry Pepper.


He'd Nothing But His Violin
He'd nothing but his violin,
I'd nothing but my song,
But we were wed when skies were blue
And summer days were long;
And when we rested by the hedge,
The robins came and told
How they had dared to woo and win,
When early Spring was cold.
We sometimes supped on dew-berries,
Or slept among the hay,
But oft the farmers' wives at eve
Came out to hear us play;
The rare old songs, the dear old tunes,--
We could not starve for long
While my man had his violin,
And I my sweet love-song.

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