traveling through time, said Princess Haiku

"Lady Godiva" by: John Collier

Tribute to John William Waterhouse

..fair thou art as moonlight after Rain

Joy is but sorrow
While we know
It ends to-morrow---
Even so!
Joy with lifted veil
Shows a face as pale
As the fair changing moon so fair and frail.

Pain is but pleasure,
If we know
It heaps up treasure:---
Even so!
Turn, transfigured Pain,
Sweetheart, turn again, .
For fair Thou art as moonrise after Rain

Christina Rossetti

Christina Rossetti was born into an Italian/English family in London in 1830. Her book of poetry, "Goblin Market & Other Poems" was one of the first, great triumphs of the Pre-Raphaelite era. Christina led the cloistered, confined and sad life of many women of her day. If she were alive today we would hope she could dance with joy under the moon at times rather than only leave tears to water night blooming jasmine.

Jane Burden Morris in Blue Silk

Discovered Jane Burden Morris indirectly via an interesting post on Flowerville; one of my favorite brainy blogs. Bring a notebook and a pen with you when you visit, because there are new things to be learned here. The amazing Jane Morris was a chameleon. As she was born into a working class family, it was assumed she would become a domestic. Fortunately, her intelligence and beauty offered her the opportunity to transcend the limitations of her social class. After marrying the poet William Morris, she was privately educated, studying languages, music, literature, weaving and became a model associated with Dante Gabrielle Rossetti, epitomizing the beauty of the Pre-Raphaelites.

Stories about people who defy fate are fascinating and inspiring to all of us.