Mary Bayard Clarke | |
|---|---|
 Photo of Mary Bayard Clarke from the late 1860s | |
| Born | Mary Bayard Devereux May 13, 1827 Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Died | March 30, 1886 (aged 58) New Bern, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Other names | Tenella Betsey Bittersweet |
| Occupation(s) | Writer, poet |
| Notable work | Carolina Carols: A Collection of North Carolina Poetry (also known as "Wood Notes"), 1854 |
Mary Bayard Clarke (née Devereux; May 13, 1827 – March 30, 1886) was a writer, poet, and photographer who resided in North Carolina. Described posthumously by the Raleigh News and Observer as "one of its most gifted daughters",[1] She set out to demonstrate the literary talent of her state while also learning from other cultures and styles of writing. Born and raised in Raleigh, Clarke began her work by compiling an anthology of North Carolina poetry, Wood Notes, before writing her own poetry which appeared in numerous magazines, newspapers, and journals in the United States and abroad.