• Georgia Hilton

After Emily Eden

 

And who could tire

of the pineapples,

and strawberries,

ices and sculptures,

the temporary rooms

and magnificent

embroidered hangings,

the incredible abundance

of beautiful flowers

at Mrs Baring’s?

Oh Birds of Paradise,

I wish I were married

to a dusty old banker!

 

But Harriet is tired,

and that is why she

continually invites

brilliant men to dine.

William Thackeray

is such a darling!

And John Stuart Mill

is jolly clever, if far

too much in earnest.

Look, here is Thomas

Carlyle come calling,

her best, her dearest

friend she calls him –

 

he says poor Jane is sick

but we all know she is sulking.