Enid's 16th birthday book of poems?

[Lucky Star]

Sorry to hear about your husband Sue. But what a lovely item to have in your personal collection. I'm so glad the book has survived and is in good hands.

[Boatbuilder]

I am so sorry to hear that you lost your dear husband recently, Sue. I am sure you had 56 wonderful years together - a great achievement these days. Take care and stay safe.

John

[Eddie Muir]

I’m very sorry to hear about the loss of your husband, Sue. My thoughts are with you at this very sad time.

[Aussie Sue]

Thank you all for your kind word re the loss of my husband. Very appreciated. The past two years were very difficult as he had advanced dementia (alzheimer's) but he was a wonderful caring man, who was dearly loved by every one who knew him and we had a fabulous life together.

[Aussie Sue]

I've read 'The Poet' in Barbara Stoney's book but I can't remember if I've ever come across 'My Captain'. The title makes me think of Walt Whitman!

So Anita and others who may be interested.

In the front of 'The Poetry of Earth' book Enid has written in ink (as in pen & ink) Enid Blyton 1916.
It is a lovely poetry book and obviously been read and used continuously during it's life. It obviously inspired Enid to write poetry.

The poem 'The Poet' was written with only a few alterations. but the other poem was written & crossed out twice, ending up as follows:-

Curling hair
And deep brown eyes
Purest soul
That in there lies
A loving heart
In all you do
Never failing, ever true
My Captain

These poems were written in pencil.

And I must admit I do feel very privileged to have these books which were special to Enid during her life.

cheers Sue

[Viv of Ginger Pop]

My best wishes to you too, Sue.

I've also wondered about the books that inspired Enid when she was young. Yesterday someone in my village had a help-yourself box of books on their garden wall and I picked up Our Island Story by Henrietta Marshall, published in 1905. It is the legends and folklore of Britain, as well as an Imperial history!

Along with Puck of Pook's Hill by Rudyard Kipling in 1906, these books must have been in her school library if not on her own bookshelf!

Viv

[pete9012S]

I picked up Our Island Story by Henrietta Marshall, published in 1905.

Thank you for this book tip Viv.
I have just bought the kindle version for 75p from amazon which I look forward to reading.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00FVE9WOU/ ... TF8&btkr=1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Anita Bensoussane]

Thanks so much for typing out 'My Captain' for us, Sue. It means a lot.

I can't help wondering whether the "Captain" to whom the poem is addressed might be Ida Hunt, whom Enid got to know in 1916 when she went to stay with the Hunt family (friends of the Attenboroughs) at Seckford Hall in Suffolk. Ida was a few years older than Enid and was already a Froebel-trained kindergarten teacher at Ipswich High School when Enid made her acquaintance. It was she who suggested that Enid herself would make a good teacher.

Enid began her teacher training at Ipswich in September 1916, moving into Ida's lodgings in Christchurch Street where the two women had a bedroom each and shared a sitting room. Barbara Stoney says that Enid was lonely and would seek Ida out for long chats, even after the latter had gone to bed. Enid called Ida "Cap'n" and herself "cabin-boy" or "Richard".

[Aussie Sue]

Thanks so much for typing out 'My Captain' for us, Sue. It means a lot.

I can't help wondering whether the "Captain" to whom the poem is addressed might be Ida Hunt, whom Enid got to know in 1916 when she went to stay with the Hunt family (friends of the Attenboroughs) at Seckford Hall in Suffolk. Ida was a few years older than Enid and was already a Froebel-trained kindergarten teacher at Ipswich High School when Enid made her acquaintance. It was she who suggested that Enid herself would make a good teacher.

Enid began her teacher training at Ipswich in September 1916, moving into Ida's lodgings in Christchurch Street where the two women had a bedroom each and shared a sitting room. Barbara Stoney says that Enid was lonely and would seek Ida out for long chats, even after the latter had gone to bed. Enid called Ida "Cap'n" and herself "cabin-boy" or "Richard".

Anita you are right, that fits perfectly, the date and the info on Ida. How lovely to fit that together, it makes the poem really mean something. And it lets us know how Enid was feeling at that time.

[John Pickup]

Thank you for posting The Captain, Sue. A beautiful poem.

[Kate Mary]

I'm so glad that Enid's poetry book survived and has ended up in good hands, thank you for sharing ' My Captain' with us Sue. Reading this thread has inspired me to reread Barbara Stoney's biography again. Best wishes for the future.

Viv had some lucky finds. Puck of Pook's Hill is a brilliant book as is the sequel Rewards and Fairies. I've got Our Island Story on my e-reader too but haven't got round to it yet.

[Katharine]

Sue, thanks for sharing the poem with us, and thanks Anita for the information about Ida being called "Cap'n".

If only I could turn the clock back about 100 years, I could walk to Christchurch Street from my house in a short time and visit them. Although my house didn't actually exist then.

[Anita Bensoussane]

How lovely to fit that together, it makes the poem really mean something. And it lets us know how Enid was feeling at that time.

Yes, it's lovely to be able to piece things together. Thanks again for sharing, Sue.

[Viv of Ginger Pop]

I'm now up to chapter 20 of Our Island Story and it's an interesting read.

It starts Once upon a time there was a giant called Neptune. So it is history as was understood in 1905 interspersed with folklore, and given as a continuous narrative of the origin myths of Britain.

I like it and the writing style is very familiar. In fact, if I hadn't seen the author's name on the book I could be happily convinced it was by Enid Blyton writing in the 1920s.

So, with that in mind I dug out Teacher's Treasury vol 3, where Enid Blyton also does her history, but going back to a proto-human living in the trees!

Viv