The Gallery of Gothic Princesses

I.

On the right is Emily Bronte,
Bard of Yorkshire moor
Her talented, tormented family
Wrote novels which still endure.

II.

On the left s Christina Rossetti,
Who chastely did refuse
The goblin s fruit of ecstasy;
Pre-Raphaelite recluse.

III.

In the center s a filmy mirror,
Dusty-looking glass;
You rub it till it s clearer
And see a skull-faced lass
Yourself& at Requiem Mass.
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Shelley

(The Birth of Science Fiction)

I.
Young Shelley at Eton imbibed the mystique
Of science romanticized into extremes:
He gave his poor tutor a shock and a shriek
Electric jolt! eliciting screams.

II.
Explosives and fire-balloons were his joy,
Chemicals tainting his fingers and arms,
Steam engine blew-up (another mere toy).
Mad Shelley continually causing alarms

III.
His tutor named Walker is wholly forgot
Blueprint for someone whose name we ve all read
Frankenstein s prototype, likely as not,
Mixed up with Shelley in wife Mary s head.
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