If we had to compare one of Christina's poems with one of today's modern artist's lyrics it would be....
Echo by Christina Rossetti
Christina Rossetti in 1847
Come to me in the silence of the night; Come in the sparkling silence of a dream; Come with soft
rounded cheeks and eyes as bright As sunlight on a stream; Come back in tears, O memory, hope, love of finished
years. O dream how sweet, too sweet, too
bitter sweet, Whose wakening should have been in Paradise, Where souls brimfull of love abide and meet; Where
thirsting longing eyes Watch the slow door That opening, letting in, lets out no more.
Yet come to me in dreams,
that I may live My very life again though cold in death: Come back to me in dreams, that I may give Pulse for
pulse, breath for breath: Speak low, lean low, As long ago, my love, how long ago.
Almost Lover by A Fine Frenzy
Your fingertips across my skin The palm trees swaying in
the wind Images
You sang me spanish lullabies The sweetest sadness in your eyes Clever trick
I never
want to see you unhappy I thought you'd want the same for me
(Chorus) Goodbye, my almost lover Goodbye, my hopeless
dream I'm trying not to think about you Can't you just let me be? So long, my luckless romance My back is turned
on you I should've known you'd bring me heartache Almost lovers always do
We walked along a crowded street You
took my hand and danced with me Images
And when you left you kissed my lips You told me you'd never ever forget
these images, no
I never want to see you unhappy I thought you'd want the same for me
(Chorus)
I cannot go to the ocean I cannot drive the streets
at night I cannot wake up in the morning Without you on my mind So you're gone and I'm haunted And I bet you are
just fine Did I make it that easy To walk right in and out of my life?
(Chorus)
The Comparison
Christina Rossetti's poem, "Echo", shares
with the reader how one's personal memory can mirror their experiences. The speaker is hoping for her lost lover to return
even in the dreams. The speaker mentions twice for her lover to "come back" and the repitition of the phrase can only
mean that she hurts from her past and longing for her loved one. These memories that the speaker shares is their reality even if they appear in dreams.
Female indie and acoustic artist, Alison Monro of
the band A Fine Frenzy, can be compared with the piece "echo" with her song titled, "Almost Lover". Alison enjoyed reading
the classic literary novels of C.S Lewis and Charles Dickson. Eventually in her own right, she became an author. Meanwhile
she focused her writing into creating music. The band name, A Fine Frenzy is taken from a Shakespeare's
A Midsummer Night's Dream, "The poet's eye, in a fine frenzy
rolling, Doth glance from heaven to earth, from earth to heaven."
Although Christina evokes for her lover to return
and Alison bids her lover farewell, both concepts rouse emotions that are of but memories and experiences of pain. Both writers
are very emotional and very sensitive, they focus on their unlucky love and submit to the reader their painful memories.
