Christina Rossetti (1830–1894)

In contrast to her brother, the wild-living Pre-Raphaelite artist and poet Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Christina was so devout that she abstained from playing chess or visiting the opera on religious grounds. She remained unmarried, and devoted herself to charity work, her family and poetry. Although she modelled for her brother and other artists, it tended to be for sacred subjects and she heartily disapproved of some of the Pre-Raphaelites’ other muses, including the ill-starred Lizzie Siddal, her brother’s obsession and – eventually – his wife. One of her best-loved poems is ‘Goblin Market’, in which one naughty sister is tempted by sticky enchanted treats.

De Profundis is here.

Muriel Rukeyser (1913–1980)

Muriel was a lifelong political activist as well as an important figure in twentieth-century feminist literature, writing on subjects including equality, justice and Judaism. She reported from Barcelona during the Spanish Civil War, was jailed for protesting against the Vietnam War and travelled to Korea to demonstrate against poet Kim Chi-ha being sentenced to death (his execution did not go ahead). As well as writing and translating poetry, Muriel produced journalism, biography, plays, children’s books and television scripts.

Darkness Music is here.

Olive Runner

Olive’s poem was published in Poetry magazine in September 1918. Almost a hundred years later, it was rediscovered and celebrated as part of the freedom-themed National Poetry Day 2017.

Freedom is here.

Sappho (c. 630–c. 570 BC)

Not many facts are known about Sappho’s life, but she lived on the Greek island of Lesbos – probably in Mytilene, the island’s biggest city – and is thought to have had several brothers, a husband and a daughter. Most of her poems survive only as fragments, some of which were discovered in ancient Egyptian papier-mâché coffins in 1914. We do know that she was praised throughout the ancient world – Plato called her ‘the tenth Muse’ – and that her image appeared on statues and coins. At a time when most poetry was formal and meant for public performance, Sappho wrote passionately about her private feelings, including love poems addressed to women. It is from her home island of Lesbos that we get the word ‘lesbian’.

‘Leave Krete’ is here.

Carole Satyamurti (1939–2019)

Carole, who worked as a social worker, then a Lecturer in Sociology at the University of East London, came to poetry relatively late in life. In her forties, she took a writing course and was astonished to win the National Poetry Competition. She went on to publish six collections of poetry, winning awards and Poetry Book Society recommendations. Carole also produced a retelling of the Mahabharata, an Indian epic poem.

Ourstory is here.

Anna Seward (1742–1809)

Anna lived most of her life in the Bishop’s Palace of Lichfield Cathedral, where her father, Thomas Seward, had served as Canon. Thomas had written in favour of female education, and he ensured Anna was taught to a high standard at home – she could, apparently, recite poems by Milton at the tender age of three. Anna went on to become one of the most prominent writers of her day, publishing successful poetry collections and writing for periodicals, often engaging in furious disputes with other writers including James Boswell. She was critical of the institution of marriage and remained single, though she formed passionate attachments to women including her foster sister, Honora Sneyd, to whom she addressed several poems.