Though the love of man for woman has been one of the most fruitful sources
of inspiration to the poets, verses in which famous authors have sung the
praises of women who have become their wives are comparatively rare. The
belief is common that the natures of poets are more sensitive than those
of other persons. If this is true, it is only reasonable to infer that a
poet possesses the power of giving more forceful expression to his sense
of bereavement than any other person would be capable of doing.
In the case of Poe, the poem "Annabel Lee," written shortly after the
death of his beautiful young wife, is said to have been inspired by the
writer's loss. Mrs. Poe, Virginia Clemm, a first cousin of the poet,
became his wife before she was fifteen years old. Her wedded life was one
of sorrow and hardship, and eleven years later she died of consumption.
The wife of Longfellow died in 1861. Shortly afterward the poem "Via
Solitaria" was written. It was not intended for publication, and during
Longfellow's lifetime it was not included in any collection of his poems,
for the reason that its author regarded it as being too distinctively
personal for the public eye.