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Henry Austin Dobson
1840-1921
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| Henry Austin Dobson is buried in the Westminster
Cemetery, Uxbridge Rd, Hanwell, Middlesex. (Grave number 7800 behind
the gatehouse). (See map...ref
no. 19) Dobson was born in
Plymouth on 18th Jan 1840. He was the son of an engineer and was
educated at Beaumaris Grammar School and in Strasbourg.
At the age of 16 he joined the Board of Trade and worked there
until his retirement in 1901- rising to the position of Principal in
the Harbour Department.
He is particularly remembered for his use of
French verse forms
such as the chant royal, the virelai nouveau, the triolet and the
rondel. He also had a great interest in 18th Century French society
and was accomplished at writing
vers de société. Dobson's poetry collections include
Vignettes in Rhyme, Proverbs in Porcelain and At the Sign of
The Lyre.
The poem below is a thirteen line rondel.
Grave of Henry Dobson
Photograph by Andy Whitfield |
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| Love comes back to his vacant
dwelling, - |
| The old, old Love that we
knew of yore! |
| We see him stand by the
open door, |
| With his great eyes sad, and his bosom
swelling. |
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| He makes as though in our arms
repelling, |
| He fain would lie as he
lay before;- |
| Love comes back to his vacant dwelling, |
| The old, old Love that we
knew of yore! |
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| Ah, who shall help us from
over-spelling |
| That sweet, forgotten,
forbidden lore! |
| E'en as we doubt in our
heart once more, |
| With a rush of tears to our eyelids
welling, |
| Love comes back to his vacant dwelling. |
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The Wanderer |
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