Dionysius the Areopagite
Hawkshaw's first volume of poetry "'Dionysius the Areopagite' with other poems" was published in London and Manchester in November 1842. The collection of twenty-two poems includes the long narrative title poem which retells the biblical story of Dionysius the Areopagite, an elected member of the Areopagus in Athens who is briefly mentioned in the New Testament (). Hawkshaw's poem offers an imaginative reconstruction of Dionysius's personal journey towards Christianity and his decision to choose Christian faith over romantic love.