86 LOCAL AND NATIONAL POETS OF AMERICA. JESSIE F. O'DONNELL. BORN: LOWVILLE, N. Y., JAN. 18, 1860. MISS O'DONNELL has published a volume of poems entitled Heart Lyrics, and now follows the profession of literature. Her poems have JESSIE F. O'DONNELL. appeared in a number of the leading American periodicals. In person she is very slight, and now resides in her native town. THE NIGHT-BLOOMING CEREUS. The indolent four o'clock ladies Had waked from their long, dreamy rest, But the sun-flower's golden-lashed blossoms Had turned their brown eyes to the west, And the lilies grown suddenly weary, Lay hushed on the river's cold breast. The blue-bells began a soft tinkle, The primroses opened their eyes; And the grasses waved low where the fairies "Against the night dew-drops," they said; Or shaking the hyacinth's perfume, The last snowy petal had rolled, Then he bent o'er the weird, witching blos som, Left a kiss on its bosom of gold. All tremulous with the keen rapture, And rich with the Master's breath, Not one lesser touch shall defile me!" The Night-Blooming Cereus saith; And gathering her garments about her, She yielded her sweetness to death. Wherever a Cereus blossoms, 'Tis said that the Master is nigh; That he watches the glorious flower Uncurl the gold stamens that lie In the petals that tremble with rapture, And shut round his kiss when they die. EXTRACTS. Oh, the wondrous, glistening Easter, Shining in the morning light! Silently the world had blossomed Like a white rose in the night; Softly smiled the winter landscape To the sunbeams' glances bright. And who can blame the woman that she chose Life's warmth and color, ere her first love burned To ashes? Hearts need hearts. And, oh! God knows Dear love is sweet although but half returned. Can you measure a bluebird's quivering flight? Or the speed of a homesick swallow? LOCAL AND NATIONAL POETS OF AMERICA. JOHN WILLIAM EVERETT. BORN: CEDAR GROVE, LA., DEC. 13, 1869. IN his youth his parents removed their place of abode several times, finally settling in Lake Charles, La. when the subject of this sketch was sixteen years of age. His father is editor of The American in that town, and young Everett also resides there. While still JOHN WILLIAM EVERETT. in the university at Waco, Texas, he contributed several poems to the local press. He next attended the Mississippi college at Clinton, where he continued his studies as a theological student, a profession he intends to follow. Besides his poetic writings, he has contributed prose to various publications; and he has published a musical composition. REFLECTIONS. ON THE BANKS OF THE AMITE RIVER. "Tis late; the sun is sinking in the west; The wind moans lonesome through the waving trees; The twit'ring birds have hushed to seek their rest; The swallow's wing beats homeward on the breeze. The river moans and ripples as it flows; The moon is rising now upon the scene; The stars are stealing slowly from their close, And adding pleasure to the thought serene. 87 Upon this bank I have stood in days gone by; In youth's bright, happy hours I've wandered here, With one who now is sleeping silently Beneath the sod, whose voice I'll never hear! Ah, yes! Upon this bank of rocks and sand, Beneath the shady trees that bow above, I've kissed her cheeks, and pressed her little hand, And spoke to her in tender words of love. How often has she knelt to write her name Upon the ground upon the river's strand, And stood and watched the wavelets as they came, And washed the writing from the glittering sand! She knew not then while standing by my side, And gazing at her name as't disappeared, That her own life, so lovely-and my prideWas pictured there in emblems she had reared! Ah, life is short! But oh, how beautiful Is her's to me while memory draws it nigh! How gentle! Oh, how mild and dutiful Was she, who-lovely, darling girl-should die! Yes, time has borne her from this sacred place; No longer meet we by the river's shore, No more shall I behold her lovely face, And her sweet voice shall greet me, never more! EVENING ON THE CALCASIEU. The day is done; The setting sun, Growing red, sinks out of view; The lowing herds And twitt'ring birds I hear them on the Calcasieu. The old saw mill As death is still, Save sundry hissings now and then; 'Neath the sky blue Gathers the dew, Glittering in the sunlight's sheen. The Calcasieu Reflects the blue And beauteous sky that bows above, And from afar A little star Reflected, seems to speak of love. What is that? Hush! I hear a slush! I look; I see a little boat; A maiden fair With golden hair, Sweetly, softly sings, afloat! 88 LOCAL AND NATIONAL POETS OF AMERICA. MRS. E. B. BISANT-DELANY. BORN: MUSKINGUM CO., O., MARCH 16, 1844. SINCE 1856 this lady has contributed quite extensively to the Zanesville Journal and the periodical press generally. She now resides Will choose a fair Lily An emblem so chaste, Pretty pansy attuned To blithe notes of the harp, Might to sweet violets, Tone of envy impart. When the tube-rose's soul Caught the hot breath of June, The lily grew pale 'Neath the blush of the moon. So chaste is the Lily Of rarified soul, That all passionfied tides Must obey her control. A sonnet of love! As soulful and tender As cooing of dove, When her mates in the gloaming, And buttercups nod To the blaze of the planets That glorify God. MRS. EURA BROOKE BISANT-DELANY. on the Old Homestead near Zanesville, where she has become very popular. Personally this lady is of the average height with gold brown hair and blue gray eyes. INTRODUCTION. Petals of poetic passion Yellow, crimson, vari'gated,Briar-rose, thorn-spear be-mettled! Is thy warsome mood e'er sated? Muse of Satire? Flee this moment! Seek the desert of distress; Mortal woman is not faultless. Fallen angel!-nothing less! Charity? We'll kiss thy forehead; Pity, holds the helm of ship. Ere the life-boat leaves the vessel, Mercy kneels with quiv'ring lip. Hope-o'er sanguine-wields the anchor, Read finale in her eyes! Saved! Pale waves in foam-spray rancor, Ocean's anthem greets the skies. YOUR LILY. 'Mong animate blossoms, A florist of taste, LITTLE MARIAM KING. Song nymphs proclaim thee Thy mother- a poetess courting the stars, Mars, Whose face grew so red with the cruel war glow Reflection lent blush to a crystal of snow. O sweet little Mariam; God shield thee from harm! All the planets will rush, Set creation ajar,- Sweet bud zephyr kiss'd, LOCAL AND NATIONAL POETS OF AMERICA. 89 WILLIS FLETCHER JOHNSON BORN: NEW YORK CITY, OCT. 7, 1857. EDUCATED at Pennington seminary, New Jersey and university of the city of New York,he was married in 1878 to Sue Rockhill, daughter of Capt. Z. Rockhill of New Jersey. For past eight years has been on the editorial staff of New York Tribune. Mr. Johnson has lectured frequently and made many other public addresses. He is the author of several books WILLIS FLETCHER JOHNSON. and scores of poems which have had wide circulation in the periodical press of America and England. In person he is slightly under average size, but robust and athletic in a notable degree, with hair and eyes nearly black. Mr. Johnson in winter lives in Brooklyn, N. Y., and in summer divides his time between mountains and sea-shore. THE VICTOR. In the old world, when I was dead, All senseless, soulless, save to be O cruel tyrant Fate! Then dawned my birthday, and to life I sprang, and unto doomful strife; O foeman Fate! And fought my way, ere set of sun, To this new world, the victory won. O hated foeman Fate! Now all is sense, and life, and love, And footsteps unrestrained rove; O baffled Fate! And where I lead, Fate follows me, Myself my lord of destiny. O baffled, vanquished fate! NAMES. 'Neath the Natural Bridge's dizzy arch A youth once carved his name; And when above the yawning chasm, He hung, as if with life's last spasm, He struck his knife into the flint, Dreaming each rude and ragged dint Through the coming years' unceasing march Would herald his deathless fame. But the name was only read By eagles in their flight, And within the year the lichens grew And buried it out of sight. In careless leisure my name I trace And I know the ink may quickly fade, But my name, I trust, shall live, AUTUMN. The aster glows the falling leaves beneath, The goldenrod gleams by the hedgerow brown, As tho' the dying summer in the frost king's teeth Had hurled her gauntlet down. So when the shades of solemn silence sink Upon us, and we reach life's latest breath, The soul exultant bids, e'en on the grave's black brink, Defiance unto death! We perish not. The mounting spirit towers Eternal summer time. IN BOHEMIA. I am rich; who says me nay? I have bread to eat each day, Water from the mountain rill, Woman's lips to kiss at will, BOOKS AND BINDINGS. Some in paper, plain and cheap, There is one with gold agleam, Here's a tome in paper plain, Soiled and torn and marred with stain, As mind's pinions are unfurled, THE STONES OF MANHATTAN. I tread the stones of Manhattan; I, who have journeyed far From the meadow-sward and the moss bank, and the streamlet's pebbly bar; I, who have wandered hither, allured by the tales they told Of how the stones of Manhattan were reeking with ruddy gold. I tread the stones of Manhattan, the stones that are hard to my feet, As hard as the hearts around me, as hard as the faces I meet. Hot is their breath in summer, with fever of selfish greed, Cold is their touch in winter, as hearts to the hand of need. My heel strikes fire from the flint, but the spark is dead ere it burns, Strikes fire in my angry striding, but is bruised by the stone it spurns,-And echo scorns with a stony voice the cry of a soul's despair Breathed out on the thunderous throbbings of the city's desert air. Oh! faithless stones of Manhattan, that tempted my boyish feet Away from the clover-meadow, from the windwoven waves of wheat! I thought ye a golden highway; I find ye the path of shame, Where souls are sold for silver, and gold is the price of fame! But my weary feet must tread ye, as slaves on the quarry floor, And my aching brain must suffer your piti less uproar, Till the raving tide shall sweep above, and careless feet shall tread On the fatal stones of Manhattan, over my dreamless bed! POETS UNKNOWN TO FAME. Who seeks the poet's name or native bound, |