Release date is 2025-04-11

Carol Brown, Mairi and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (National Library of Scotland)

"Two new poems : Rohallion; the little dragon by Violet Jacob" is a slim poetry collection published in the early 20th century. The book contains two poems, both of which explore themes of longing, memory, and the interplay between duty and desire, set against evocative Scottish and spiritual landscapes. The collection fits within the broader tradition of lyric poetry, drawing on both regional Scottish dialect and more universal themes of inner conflict and yearning. The first poem, "Rohallion," follows a narrator reflecting with deep nostalgia on his rural Scottish home, Rohallion, as he journeys away. Through vivid descriptions of family life, familiar landscapes, and the irresistible pull of home, the poem builds a sense of belonging, loss, and the magnetic call of one's origins. The second poem, "The Little Dragon," shifts to the spiritual setting of a convent where a nun, constrained by religious life, is captivated by a passing knight. The encounter kindles a forbidden passion within her, blending the sacred with the earthly. Her ensuing ecstasy and detachment from the world are misinterpreted as sainthood by the religious community, even as her true inspiration remains undisclosed. The imagery of the laughing little dragon at the poem's close hints at the enduring spark of unconfessed desire, adding irony to the tale of her sanctification. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Originally published: Edinburgh: The Porpoise Press, 1924