Oscar Wilde was born on October 16th 1854. He was born in Ierland but grew up in Germany where he found that he had a natural flare for the dramatic. He was a very out spoken and witty person. He emerged as a poet/playwrite during The Victorian Period. This was the period of time from 1837 to 1901. When Queen Victoria was in power in britan. Wilde wrote poems and plays about tragedies and dispire. Such as the first act in his play "Salome". This was most likely due to the worsening tensions in this region leading up to the first world war. Other artists and poets of that same time frame also have sad undertones and depressed words. For Example, Matthew Arnold worte poem called "faith" around this same time period. The poem was aboutt he lose of christain beleifs much like the christian british movement of this time.

THE GRAVE OF SHELLEY by: Oscar Wilde IKE burnt-out torches by a sick man's bed Gaunt cypress-trees stand round the sun-bleached stone; Here doth the little night-owl make her throne, And the slight lizard show his jewelled head. And, where the chaliced poppies flame to red, In the still chamber of yon pyramid Surely some Old-World Sphinx lurks darkly hid, Grim warder of this pleasaunce of the dead. Ah! sweet indeed to rest within the womb Of Earth, great mother of eternal sleep, But sweeter far for thee a restless tomb In the blue cavern of an echoing deep, Or where the tall ships founder in the gloom Against the rocks of some wave-shattered steep.

THEOCRITUS (A Villanelle) by: Oscar Wilde SINGER of Persephone! In the dim meadows desolate Dost thou remember Sicily? Still through the ivy flits the bee Where Amaryllis lies in state; O Singer of Persephone! Simætha calls on Hecate And hears the wild dogs at the gate; Dost thou remember Sicily? Still by the light and laughing sea Poor Polypheme bemoans his fate; O Singer of Persephone! And still in boyish rivalry Young Daphnis challenges his mate; Dost thou remember Sicily? Slim Lacon keeps a goat for thee, For thee the jocund shepherds wait; O Singer of Persephone! Dost thou remember Sicily?