Tag Archives: Poetry

Bumping into John Keats at St. Guy’s Hospital

Posted on May 11, 2022 by Stephen Liddell

Sometimes when I am out and about in London I find that for a few days or even weeks my paths cross with that of a famous or historical figure on numerous and sometimes unexpected occasions and recently I have … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Life, London, Travel, Ye Olde England Tours | Tagged Guy's Hospital, John Keats, Keats, Medicine, Poetry, Statue | 2 Comments

The Gilt of Cain

Posted on June 12, 2020 by Stephen Liddell

I wrote on Monday on one of my favourite Secret Gardens in the City of London, Fen Court. It would be a beautiful little space in any case but is extra special due to its connections with the Abolition of … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, history, Ye Olde England Tours | Tagged Black Lives Matter, City of London, Fen Court, Poetry, Secret London Gardens, Slavery, The Gilt of Cain | 1 Comment

Coronavirus Diary 15 – Easter and Passover in splendid isolation – How solitude can lead to creativity.

Posted on April 10, 2020 by Stephen Liddell

This weekend is Easter (our only 4 day weekend!) for myself and many of us, Passover for many more and Sikhs and Hindu’s have Vaisakhi and in a week or so Ramadan will be starting also. It will be very … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Life, Religion and Faith | Tagged Alone, creativity, Diary, Easter, Faith, Hermit, Loneliness, Passover, Poetry, Solitude | 5 Comments

I loved the girl

Posted on December 4, 2019 by Stephen Liddell

I loved the girl with the utmost love of which my soul is capable, and she is taken from me – yet in the agony of my spirit in surrendering such a treasure I feel a thousand times richer than … Continue reading →

Posted in Life | Tagged Poetry, sadness, Wordsworth | 2 Comments

Quotable Tennyson

Posted on August 12, 2019 by Stephen Liddell

Last week I posted on the birthday of Alfred, Lord Tennyson. It is little known but this Poet Laureate is actually the ninth most quoted literary figure. Whilst not in the same league as Shakespeare or perhaps as entertaining … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Heritage, history, Life, Popular Culture, writing | Tagged Alfred Tennyson, Better to have loved and lost, Charge of The Light Brigade, Literature, Lord Tennyson, Poetry, Quotes | 4 Comments

Remembering Alfred, Lord Tennyson on bis birthday

Posted on August 7, 2019 by Stephen Liddell

This morning as I write this, or yesterday when this is posted, I was giving an all day tour to a family from New York and we went inside the incredible Westminster Abbey. As we were there 15 minutes before … Continue reading →

Posted in Heritage, history | Tagged Alfred Tennyson, Literature, Lord Tennyson, Poetry, Poets Corner, Victorian, Westminster Abbey | 6 Comments

John Donne – A forgotten poet and his discovered manuscript.

Posted on June 10, 2019 by Stephen Liddell

In the long and rich history of English literature, John Donne is almost forgotten about by many today but in his time he was pioneering. Born into a Catholic family at a time when it was illegal to practice the … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Heritage, history, Life, writing | Tagged English, John Donne, Literature, Poetry, Treasure | 3 Comments

Paradise Lost – Better to reign in hell than serve in paradise! – Finding the tomb of Milton.

Posted on February 20, 2019 by Stephen Liddell

One of the perks of doing guided tours is coming across unexpected treasures. Many of the places I visit are off the usual tourist-track but no matter how many times I go out on walks, I find new things almost … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Life, London, Religion and Faith | Tagged Barbican, churches, City of London, John Milton, Milton, Paradise Lost, Poetry, Roman Walking Tour, St Giles Cripplegate | 7 Comments

Bunhill Fields – the resting place of some of the biggest names in history.

Posted on January 9, 2019 by Stephen Liddell

You might remember a few weeks ago I wrote about the dreadful place Dancing on the Dead at Enon Chapel – The Victorian Sensation! Whilst writing that and out and about on research, I gained the chance to visit Bunhill Fields. … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Life, London, Religion and Faith, Travel, Ye Olde England Tours | Tagged Bonehill, Bunhill Fields, Daniel Defoe, English, John Bunyan, Poetry, Robinson Crusoe, William Blake | 8 Comments

For I Will Consider My Cat Jeoffry

Posted on January 7, 2019 by Stephen Liddell

The internet is always full of cat videos and cat memes and I thought I would try to raise the bar a little by bringing up the marvellous poem by Christopher Smart, a poet and mystic who led an eventful … Continue reading →