Valentine poem to Eleanor Anne Porden

This poem forms part of season 1 of "The Attic Chest", a compilation of writings by "the Society of the Attic Chest", a group of friends who met weekly at the house of the Pordens in Berners Street, London. Members of the Attic Chest Society included the poet Anna Vardill, sculptor John Flaxman and his sister, the painter Maria Flaxman.

The poem relates to a game of cards and has a small picture underneath it of Eleanor Porden under a guttering candle with her cards and the 'fish' that she has won. Fishes were counters used for card game betting.

Eleanor Anne Porden (1795-1825), the founder of the society, was the daughter of architect William Porden. Interested in the arts and sciences, Eleanor published two volumes of poetry: "The Veils" and "Coeur de Lion".