You might have already guessed I’m a fan of Christina Rossetti’s since this is certainly not the first poem of hers that I post here. Poetry ran in the family, with her father Dante Rossetti (how can you not become a poet with that name?) also being an acclaimed author. However, I’ve always preferred Christina. Women supporting women, right?
Era gia l’ora che volge il desio. – Dante
Ricorro al tempo ch’io vi vidi prima. – Petrarca
I wish I could remember that first day,
First hour, first moment of your meeting me,
If bright or dim the season, it might be
Summer or Winter for aught I can say;
So unrecorded did it slip away,
So blind was I to see and to foresee,
So dull to mark the budding of my tree
That would not blossom yet for many a May.
If only I could recollect it, such
A day of days! I let it come and go
As traceless as a thaw of bygone snow;
It seemed to mean so little, meant so much;
If only now I could recall that touch,
First touch of hand in hand – Did one but know!
Christina Rossetti
Alix in Wonderland 