The Buckley School's founder believed that all public speakers should hone their presentation skills by reading poetry out loud. We keep that worthwhile practice alive by including a poem in our magazine each month for you to read aloud.
"Essentially and definitely a poem in the fullest and most positive sense of the term."
– Poet Algernon Swinburne on "Wuthering Heights"
This is not the first time we've featured a poem from Emily Brontë, who is far better known for her work as a novelist. You can learn more about her and find another of her poems here.
Our February selection will heighten your diction and enunciation--and might work nicely if you're celebrating Galentine's Day with friends.
"Ladies celebrating ladies. It’s like Lilith Fair, minus the angst. Plus frittatas."
– Leslie Knope describing Galentine's Day in "Parks and Recreation"
As for the plants in the poem, we know the holly tree and we're going to assume a wild rose-briar is the rosa rubignosa or sweet-briar rose, though if you have more accurate information on that, we'd love to hear it!
Love and Friendship
by Emily Brontë
Love is like the wild rose-briar,
Friendship like the holly-tree—
The holly is dark when the rose-briar blooms
But which will bloom most constantly?
The wild rose-briar is sweet in spring,
Its summer blossoms scent the air;
Yet wait till winter comes again
And who will call the wild-briar fair?
Then scorn the silly rose-wreath now
And deck thee with the holly’s sheen,
That when December blights thy brow
He still may leave thy garland green.
