The wild-rose briar is sweet in the spring,
Its summer blossoms scent the air;
Yet wait till winter comes again
And who will call the wild-briar fair?
Then scorn the silly rose-wreath now
And deck thee with the holly's sheen,
That when December blights thy brow
He may still leave thy garland green.

~ Emily Bronte

Emily Bronte is the famous author of Wuthering Heights, which features one of literature’s most popular star-crossed lovers, Cathy and Heathcliff (shown in the photo above - the novel's 1939 film adaptation).  This classic piece of romantic literature was Emily’s only novel.

Along with her sisters, novelists Charlotte (Jane Eyre) and Anne (Agnes Grey, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall), Emily created imaginary worlds and wrote poetry during her lifetime, most of which was spent on the lonely Yorkshire moors.  She was published under the pen name Ellis Bell.

This painting of the three Bronte sisters (Anne, Emily, then Charlotte) was done by their brother Branwell - whose shadow remained in the painting after he painted himself out.

To see a poem by her sister, Anne, click here!