“Do you wish to be loved?”: poem by Edgar Allan Poe dedicated to Fanny Osgood.

“Do you wish to be loved?”: poem by Edgar Allan Poe dedicated to Fanny Osgood.

Do you want to be loved? (Wouldn’t You Be Loved?) is a cursed poem by the American writer Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849), composed in 1845.

The original name of the poem is actually: To Frances S. Osgoodand is dedicated precisely to this enigmatic and popular poetess of the time: Frances Sargent Osgood (1811-1850), better known as Fanny Osgood, famous for having exchanged fiery poems with EA Poewhom he deeply admired.

Yes ok Fanny Osgood It is part of Edgar Allan Poe’s catalog of secret loves, the truth is that the relationship between the two was strictly platonic.

Edgar Allan Poe He not only reflected on the fantastic. He certainly was never a writer oblivious to the misfortunes of passion. The emotion provoked by his romantic poems flows as something logical, inevitable, denying the idea that surprise arises only from the unpredictable.

It all started in February 1845. EA Poe He had given a conference in New York where he harshly criticized North American poetry. Among the few poets who were saved from the attack was Fanny Osgoodto whom he predicted a bright future.

Fanny Osgood had not attended the conference, anyway, the words of EA Poe They came to him through comments. Naturally, she was very impressed. The praise of a critic as implacable as EA Poe It was shocking to him.

EA Poe and Fanny Osgood They met a month after the conference, in March 1845. She had recently separated from her husband and EA Poe He was still married to Virginia Clemm, although his wife’s health was deteriorating dramatically.

Some say that EA Poe was shocked by Fanny Osgoodperhaps because they had both spent their childhood in Boston, or perhaps because the girl looked alarmingly like Virginia Clemmeven in their sufferings, since Fanny At that time he was suffering the first symptoms of tuberculosis.

From there a relationship was born full of flirtation and mutual admiration. EA Poe He collaborated with the publication of many poems by Fanny Osgoodand she repaid him by including him in complex codes and ciphers in her verses.

Curiously, Virginia Clemm approved of her husband’s platonic relationship and Fanny Osgood. In fact, he considered it healthy for her husband, since EA Poe had temporarily given up alcohol to impress Fanny.

Far from feeling jealous, Virginia Clemm She knew that she would soon die, and she wanted her beloved husband to find comfort in the arms of a noble and delicate woman like Fanny.

A fourth woman, Elizabeth F. Ellettalso a poet and also secretly in love with EA Poecirculated malicious rumors about meetings between Virginia Clemm, Fanny Osgood and EA Poe, which he described as inadequate. He even suggested that the third son of Fanny was actually the product of clandestine meetings with EA Poe.

Do you want them to love you?
Thou Wouldst Be Loved?, Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849)

Do you want to be loved?
Never lose then
the direction of your heart.
Only what you are you have to be,
and what you simulate, you will never be.
Thus, in the world, your subtle way,
your grace, your beautiful being,
will be the subject of endless praise
and love a simple duty.

More poems by Edgar Allan Poe. I Gothic Poems.

More gothic literature:

The summary, analysis and translation into Spanish of the poem by EA Poe: Do you want to be loved? (Wouldn’t You Be Loved?) was made by . For reproduction, write to us at