Maurine and Other Poems

"MAURINE AND OTHER POEMS" by Ella Wheeler Wilcox is a compilation of verses likely from the end of the 1800s, exploring feelings such as love and friendship. The poems also touch on beauty and the challenging times that can happen in close connections between people, as told in the poem about Maurine. We meet Maurine La Pelle, a young woman dealing with how she feels about others around her, like her close friend, Helen Trevor, and Vivian Dangerfield, someone she might like romantically. Right away, we see Maurine sewing and singing on a nice day, and then Vivian comes to visit. They talk and joke around, but we learn they have different ideas about being a woman and being friends. The story brings up questions of jealousy, love, and rivalry as Maurine and Vivian both try to build a relationship with Helen, and with each other. Maurine believes deeply in female friendship, while Vivian is not so sure. As the poem proceeds, Maurine's feelings get more mixed up when Helen arrives and their affections towards Vivian leads the reader into the complications of both love and loyalty.