It is always exciting to discover a poet I have not previously heard of. In the book “The Forgotten Army: Women’s Poetry of the First World War”, edited by Nora Jones and Liz Ward, are several poets I have not yet researched and one I had not previously heard of – Lucy Hawkins. On pages 24 – 25 are Lucy Hawkins’ poems “A Private” and “To an Officer in Regent Street”.
Lucy Hawkins' WW1 collection “At a Venture” was published by Blackwell, Oxford in 1917.
I have not been able to discover anything about Lucy Hawkins – if anyone can help please get in touch.
"To an Officer in Regent Street” by Lucy Hawkins
LIKE some lean ghost who for a little space
Looks on the world again, and the clear skies,
Or mariner that from the sea doth rise
In vain, to find another in his place,
You walk with shades of death on your brown face
And look upon the street with dead men’s eyes.
Fresh women throng beside you in the street
And painted women; but they seek in vain
To catch those haunted eyes, or turn again
From their slow course toward waiting death your feet.
You must pass lonely, on whose brow there meet
Abel’s sharp anguish, and the curse of Cain.
Note: Regent Street is one of the main shopping centres of London’s West End. It was named after the Prince Regent George, who went on to become King George IV. It runs from Waterloo Place in St James's at the southern end, through Piccadilly Circus and Oxford Circus, to All Souls Church. From there Langham Place and Portland Place continue the route to Regent's Park.
Women’s Poetry of the First World War” Edited by Nora Jones and Liz Ward (Highgate Publications, Beverley, Ltd., Beverley, 1991)
