Ada Dwyer Russell (1863–1952) was an American actress who performed on stage in Broadway and London and became the muse to her poet lover Amy Lowell.

[10] Although no record exists of Dwyer renouncing the Mormon religion she was raised in, she ceased involvement,[2]: 51  and her father was asked to resign in 1913 by top leaders after telling other Salt Lake members that same-sex sexual activity was not a sin.

[13] Unfortunately, most of the primary document letters of communication between the two were destroyed by Ada at Amy's request, leaving much unknown about the details of their life together[2]: 47  as they had to hide the nature of their relationship.

"[15] Examples of these love poems to Dwyer include the Taxi, Absence,[2]: xxi  In a Garden, Madonna of the Evening Flowers,[13] Opal,[16] and Aubade.

[17][18] Lowell's poems about Dwyer have been called the most explicit and elegant lesbian love poetry during the time between the ancient Sappho and poets of the 1970s.