Sara Teasdale

Sara Teasdale (August 8, 1884 – January 29, 1933) was an American lyric poet known for her romantic and classical style. Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Teasdale was the youngest child of a wealthy family. She was home-schooled until she was nine and later attended private schools.

Teasdale began writing poetry at a young age and her first poem was published in a local newspaper in 1907. Her first collection of poems, “Sonnets to Duse and Other Poems,” was published in 1907, and her second collection, “Helen of Troy and Other Poems,” followed in 1911.

In 1914, Teasdale married Ernst Filsinger, a businessman, and they moved to New York City. She continued to write and publish poetry, including her collections “Rivers to the Sea” (1915), “Love Songs” (1917), and “Flame and Shadow” (1920). Her poetry was known for its simplicity, emotional intensity, and lyrical beauty, often exploring themes of love, nature, and death.

Teasdale received numerous awards for her poetry, including the Columbia University Poetry Society Prize (1918), the Poetry Society of America Prize (1918), and the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1918 for her collection “Love Songs.”

Despite her success, Teasdale suffered from poor health and depression throughout her life. After her divorce from Filsinger in 1929, she moved back to St. Louis. On January 29, 1933, at the age of 48, Teasdale took her own life with an overdose of sleeping pills.

Teasdale’s poetry has been praised for its technical perfection, musical quality, and emotional depth. Her work continues to be widely read and admired, cementing her place as one of the most important American poets of the early 20th century.