Mary Leapor (1722-1746), poet, was born in Marston St Lawrence, Northamptonshire, the only child of Anne Sharman (d. 1741) and Philip Leapor (1693–1771), a gardener. She is notable as having been one of a very small number of labouring-class writers in the period. Partly self-educated, she probably received a rudimentary education at either a local Dame school, or at the local free school in Brackley on the south side of the Chapel belonging to Magdelan College. According to her father she began writing "tolerably" at the age of 10. Her father recollected "She would often be scribbling, and sometimes in Rhyme", but that her mother ended up discouraging the writing, requesting she find some "more profitable employment". She was fortunate enough to attain a position as kitchen maid with an employer, Susanna Jennens ("Parthenissa" in Leapor's poetry), who apparently encouraged her writing and allowed her the use of her library. Jennens wrote poetry herself and had connections to both Mary Astell and Mary Wortley Montagu. Not all employers were so accommodating and Leapor's devotion to writing led to her dismissal from a subsequent position with Sir Richard Chauncy’s family, as she apparently would not stop writing even in the kitchen. In 1784 an account was published in The Gentleman's Magazine, possibly by Chauncy’s son, allegedly describing Chauncy’s remembrances of the poet. According to this piece, Leapor’s fondness for writing verses there displayed itself by her sometimes taking up her pen while the jack was standing still, and the meat scorching … He represented her as having been extremely swarthy, and quite emaciated, with a long crane-neck, and a short body, much resembling, in shape, a bass-viol.[1] She returned home to Brackley to care for her widowed father in 1744 or 1745, and despite many responsibilities and not the best of health she continued to write and her work circulated among the inhabitants of the town. As a consequence she met Bridget Freemantle (1698–1779), the daughter of a former rector, who became both her friend and mentor. This relationship seems to have marked a turning point for Leapor and she wrote the bulk of her oeuvre in a very short period. It was Freemantle who suggested that Leapor publish a volume of poetry by subscription, and she also attempted to have a play of hers, a blank verse tragedy called The Unhappy Father, produced in London at the Covent Garden Theatre (a second play remains unfinished). Neither venture was immediately successful, Leapor died of measles at the age of twenty-four.
there was a young lady whose eyes
THERE WAS A YOUNG LADY WHOSE EYES, WERE UNIQUE AS TO COLOUR AND SIZE;
WHEN SHE OPENED THEM WIDE...[read poem]
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WHEN SHE OPENED THEM WIDE...
an epistle to a lady
In vain, dear Madam, yes in vain you strive;
Alas! to make your luckless Mira thrive,...[read poem]
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Alas! to make your luckless Mira thrive,...
the quangle wangle's hat
On the top of the Crumpetty Tree
The Quangle Wangle sat,
But his face you could not se...[read poem]
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The Quangle Wangle sat,
But his face you could not se...
there was an old man of calcutta
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF CALCUTTA, WHO PERPETUALLY ATE BREAD & BUTTER;
TILL A GREAT BIT OF M...[read poem]
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TILL A GREAT BIT OF M...
there was an old man of new york
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF NEW YORK, WHO MURDERED HIMSELF WITH A FORK;
BUT NOBODY CRIED THOUGH HE ...[read poem]
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BUT NOBODY CRIED THOUGH HE ...
there was an old man on the border
There was an old man on the Border,
Who lived in the utmost disorder;
He danced with the c...[read poem]
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Who lived in the utmost disorder;
He danced with the c...
the owl and the pussy-cat
I.
The Owl and the Pussy-Cat went to sea
In a beautiful pea-green boat:
Th...[read poem]
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The Owl and the Pussy-Cat went to sea
In a beautiful pea-green boat:
Th...
there was an old person of nice
There was an old person of Nice,
Whose associates were usually Geese.
They walked out toge...[read poem]
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Whose associates were usually Geese.
They walked out toge...
there was an old man with a beard
There was an Old Man with a beard ,
Who said, "It is just as I feared! --
Two Owls and a H...[read poem]
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Who said, "It is just as I feared! --
Two Owls and a H...
there was an old man of thermopylæ
There was an old man of Thermopylæ,
Who never did anything properly;
But they said, ...[read poem]
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Who never did anything properly;
But they said, ...
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