Anne Finch

Anne Finch, Countess of Winchilsea, has only recently received greater praise for being a poet, although she has always enjoyed some fame as a poet. Her diverse collection of work records her personal struggles and private thoughts, while demonstrating her awareness of the social and political climate of her era. Her poems reveal a senstive mind and religious soul, but they also exhibit great range and demonstrate her use of Augustan diction and forms.

"A Nocturnal Reverie" is a poem describing a nighttime scene and the speaker's disappointment when the sun forces her back to the real world by bringing it to an end. The speaker describes a night where all harsh winds are far away and the gentle breeze of Zephyr, Greek god, is soothing. She describes her surroundings as almost perfect compared to other, lesser settings, communicating she is in the most perfect place on earth. She hears cheerful sounds coming from both a nightingale (Philomel) and an owl. The tone of this poem is soothing, peaceful, and enjoyable. She expresses the beauty that comes from the natural landscape around her and that the best things in life (in this case nature) cannot be bought.