1843: Life's Dull Reality

Summary

This poem is not included in Hawkshaw's published collections. It was published in a volume of original poems entitled the Athenæum Souvenir; original Poems, &c, contributed by various Author, in aid of the Funds of the Athenœum Bazaar, held in the Town Hall, MANCHESTER, October 1843: a compilation of poetry by Manchester poets on sale at the Manchester Athenæum Bazaar on 2 October 1843. This fundraising event was held to raise funds for the Manchester Athenæum, an institution founded in 1835 for the ‘advancement and diffusion of knowledge’. The Manchester Guardian review of the bazaar highlights ‘Life's Dull Reality’ as one of the outstanding poems in the volume. The poem was printed in full in the Manchester Guardian on 11 October 1843, with the following introduction:

‘We copy the following beautiful little poem from the Athenæum Souvenir,—the volume containing the collected poetic contributions of a number of gifted writers in aid of the Bazaar funds:—’

“Life's dull reality!”—ah! say not so;

Speak rather of its solemn mystery.

What there is in it hidden, none shall know,

Until they read it in eternity.

It is not life, nor earth, but we are dull.

There is a meaning in all things around:

The lowliest life of poetry is full:

Each home, a shrine,—each grave, a sacred ground.[…]