SOURCE: Poe, Edgar A. “The Literati of New York City.” Godey's Magazine and Lady's Book 33 (July-December 1846): 127-29.

In the following essay, Poe provides an overview of Osgood's poems, praising them for their grace, energy, and charm.

Mrs. Frances Sargent Osgood, for the last two or three years, has been rapidly attaining distinction—and this, evidently, with no effort at attaining it. She seems, in fact, to have no object in view beyond that of giving voice to the feelings or to the fancies of the moment. “Necessity,” says the proverb, “is the mother of Invention;” and the invention of Mrs. O., at least, springs plainly from necessity—from the necessity of invention. Not to write poetry—not to think it, dream it, act it, and be it, is entirely out of her power.

It may be questioned whether, with more method, more industry, more definite purpose, more ambition...