Goblin Market, The Prince's Progress, and Other Poems

Two sisters wander the meadow as the day turns to dusk, their curious ears catching the lilting chant of goblin merchants hawking an impossible bounty of ripe, exotic fruits. The younger sister, Laura, is drawn by the glittering promise of the strange harvest, while her cautious sister, Lizzie, urges her to turn away, fearing the hidden danger in the goblins’ alluring wares. When Laura finally reaches the strange traders, she offers a lock of golden hair in exchange for a taste, discovering a flavor that dazzles beyond anything she has known.

The poem unfurls a vivid, lyrical tableau of temptation, sisterly devotion, and the strange beauty of supernatural markets. It balances the enchanting allure of the fruit with an undercurrent of warning, hinting at the costs of yielding to desire. Listeners will be carried by Rossetti’s musical language and the poignant bond between the sisters as they navigate a world where the ordinary meets the uncanny.