Robert Crawford
Robert Crawford was an Australian poet.
Crawford was born in Doonside,
New South Wales, the son of Robert Crawford senior, and was educated at The
King's School, Parramatta, and the University of Sydney. Crawford settled on a
farm as his forefathers had done, but not being successful, became a clerk in
Sydney and afterwards had a typewriting business. Some of Crawford's poems were
published in The Bulletin and other periodicals. Crawford is believed to have
been the first prize-winning haiku poet published in Australia, in The Bulletin
on 12 August 1899. In 1904 a small collection, Lyric Moods:Various Verses, was
published in Sydney. An enlarged edition was later published in Melbourne
retitled simply Lyric Moods (1909). In 1921 another volume, Leafy Bliss, was
published, and an enlarged edition appeared three years later. Crawford died
suddenly at Lindfield, Sydney, on 13 January 1930.
Not a great deal is
known about Crawford; he was short of stature, poetical in spirit. He mixed
little in literary circles and seems to be forgotten a few years after his
death. The statement that he was educated at The King's School originally
appeared in the Bookfellow, and may have come direct from Crawford. If so there
is no reason to doubt it, yet in the records of The King's School of his period
the only R. Crawford is listed as Richard Crawford. It was also not possible to
identify him positively with the Robert James G. W. Crawford who graduated B.A.
at the University of Sydney in 1912, when the poet was about 44 years of age.
Crawford is represented in some of the anthologies, and A. G. Stephens thought
highly of his work. His work has a delicate charm and, though at times one fears
it will not rise above merely pretty verse, in some of his quatrains and lyrics
Crawford does succeed in writing poetry of importance. Perhaps, as Stephens once
suggested, he may be better appreciated in the 21st century.
http://www.poemhunter.com/robert-crawford/biography/
Crawford was born in Doonside,
New South Wales, the son of Robert Crawford senior, and was educated at The
King's School, Parramatta, and the University of Sydney. Crawford settled on a
farm as his forefathers had done, but not being successful, became a clerk in
Sydney and afterwards had a typewriting business. Some of Crawford's poems were
published in The Bulletin and other periodicals. Crawford is believed to have
been the first prize-winning haiku poet published in Australia, in The Bulletin
on 12 August 1899. In 1904 a small collection, Lyric Moods:Various Verses, was
published in Sydney. An enlarged edition was later published in Melbourne
retitled simply Lyric Moods (1909). In 1921 another volume, Leafy Bliss, was
published, and an enlarged edition appeared three years later. Crawford died
suddenly at Lindfield, Sydney, on 13 January 1930.
Not a great deal is
known about Crawford; he was short of stature, poetical in spirit. He mixed
little in literary circles and seems to be forgotten a few years after his
death. The statement that he was educated at The King's School originally
appeared in the Bookfellow, and may have come direct from Crawford. If so there
is no reason to doubt it, yet in the records of The King's School of his period
the only R. Crawford is listed as Richard Crawford. It was also not possible to
identify him positively with the Robert James G. W. Crawford who graduated B.A.
at the University of Sydney in 1912, when the poet was about 44 years of age.
Crawford is represented in some of the anthologies, and A. G. Stephens thought
highly of his work. His work has a delicate charm and, though at times one fears
it will not rise above merely pretty verse, in some of his quatrains and lyrics
Crawford does succeed in writing poetry of importance. Perhaps, as Stephens once
suggested, he may be better appreciated in the 21st century.
http://www.poemhunter.com/robert-crawford/biography/
A Memory
She had an other-worldly air, So like a flower she grew, As if her thoughts and feelings were The only life she knew. She moved in other ways apart, As in a secret place, And the emotion of her heart Seemed breathing in her face. It was as if a faery power Had charmed her with its mood, And graced her with the dreamy dower Of earthly angelhood. And when Death touched her starry brow, It seemed as if it were The dream she was became somehow Another dream of her. http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/a-memory-28/ |
At Love's Begining
I might not have it then — I might not, yet She was so near to me, could I forget She might be nearer? There was in her eyes -- What shall I say? — a hint of the sunrise Of her heart's day: would it then break on me In my life's glory, or should I but see The malediction of that morning pour Disaster on my heart for evermore? I did not know, and all I was became A hush, a wonder. I scarce breathed her name, Scarce dared to read her eyes too deeply, lest Wrath in their tenderness should be exprest; When suddenly love's lightning ran a streak Up the white throat into the pallid cheek; Her eyes took wonder too — and even thus What we to either were, revealed to us, Rose like God's heaven, at once, in such a way For aye; and her eyes fell as mine took sway Upon the moment when she knew it all, And knew in knowing it beyond recall Was the confession which her heart had made With eyes, not lips, ere lips to mine were laid -- That mystic moment, when all she was drew Out of herself, as all that I was too, Emptied of self, then found itself in her. http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/at-love-s-beginning/ |
At Juliet's Tomb
This fair woman who is dead (Sung so sweet of long ago) Lies not in a mortal bed -- Song has made her couch to grow With all sweet things, as they stir Like unfading growths that cling In an everlasting spring Round her Poet's dream of her. Time is dead — she has not died! All the light of beauty stays, As if the sweet lips replied To whate'er her lover says O'er the tomb to her, as he Fingers her undying hair: Such is death when Love is there, Love that lives in poesy http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/at-juliet-s-tomb/ |