Dedication to Charlotte

To her who, cast with me in trying days
Stood in the place of health and power and praise;
Who, when I thought all light was out, became
A lamp of hope that put my fears to shame;
Who faced for love's sole sake the life austere
That waits upon the man of letters here;
Who, unawares, her deep affection showed
By many a touching little wifely mode;
Whose spirit, self-denying, dear, divine
Its sorrows hid, so might lessen mine ~
To her, my bright, best friend, I dedicate
This book of songs ~'t will help to compensate
For much neglect. The act, if not the rhyme,
Will touch her heart, and lead her to the time
Of trials past.  Thats which is most intense
Within these leaves is of her influence;
And if aught here is sweetened with a tone
Sincere, like love, it came of love alone.

by Henry Kendall
Australian Poet 1839~1882

"On 7th June, 1868, Henry Kendall married Charlotte Rutter, whose father was a Government Medical Officer.  She was eighteen ~ ten years younger than Kendall ~ with golden hair and blue eyes.   This poem was written in Dedication to her for his 1869 book of poems "Leaves from Australian Forests".   A beautiful dedication with words of affection to the one who shared his life and stood by his side till his death in 1882."