Lays and Legends (Second Series)

"Lays and Legends (Second Series)" by E. Nesbit is a collection of poems from the late 1800s filled with ballads exploring what it means to be human. Nesbit uses folklore and legends to bring to life poems about love, death, and doing what is right and wrong. Early on, the reader is brought into stories of romance mixed with sadness through different people and events. For instance, the "Bridal Ballad" shares the touching story of love mixed with lies, showing a bride poisoning her cheating husband on their wedding night. Other poems touch on grief, what we leave behind, and beliefs, like in "The Ghost," where someone struggles with loss and wanting. These first poems create a strong feeling of sadness and thoughtfulness that is present throughout the collection, helping the reader think about life through Nesbit's storytelling.