Writer Spotlight: Sara Teasdale
Date: January 23, 2007
Sara Teasdale was a female, American poet of the early 1900s. Her writing themes often leaned toward the Romantic poetry style, featuring love, nature and tragedy. She was a successful and enjoyed writer of the early 20th century, winning several, notable writing prizes throughout her career. Today she is remembered in the Walk of Fame of St. Louis, the city in which she was born.
Teasdale’s life itself was filled with love and tragedy. She was courted by two men, longed to live in the worlds she wrote of, and dealt with constant health problems. Her misery led to divorce from her only marriage, and, ultimately, her suicide. Tragedy loomed over Teasdale, even after death, as one of the men who loved her–the one she did not marry–committed suicide two years later. This is one tale of a writer that fits the stereotype most imagine.
My Favorite Poem by Teasdale: “Like Barley Bending”
Like barley bending
In low fields by the sea,
Singing in hard wind
Ceaselessly;
Like barley bending
And rising again,
So would I, unbroken,
Rise from pain;
So would I softly,
Day long, night long,
Change my sorrow
Into song.
Where You Can Read More of Teasdale’s Work
About Writer Spotlight
This feature is about writers or for writers and is created biweekly, on a Tuesday. If you would like to suggest a writer (published or unpublished; fiction or nonfiction; poetry, stories, etc.), or would like to suggest a writing topic, please feel free to contact me.
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Comments ordered from oldest to newest.
LorriM
January 29, 2007 at 2:21 am
Her biography is, basically, a tragic one, and, although she was prolific with her poetry, her life was encompassed by the stereotypes of the era.
Her poems reflect her inner conflict, and desire to be recognized as an equal, in a world, recognized and controlled by men.
