Comments on: Poetry needs us http://masspoetry.org/2008/08/08/poetry-needs-us/ Mon, 16 Apr 2012 15:02:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: DrJackDempsey http://masspoetry.org/2008/08/08/poetry-needs-us/comment-page-1/#comment-6 DrJackDempsey Wed, 08 Oct 2008 20:31:21 +0000 http://masspoetry.org/?p=77#comment-6 Hello---I'd like to suggest some "Poetry for Our Times" by pointing back to the beginning---with America's First Poet in English, Thomas Morton of Merrymount (and author of 1637's "New English Canaan"). Morton was a learned Elizabethan adventurer who reached Mass. Bay (Quincy Shore) in 1624, set up a multicultural trading-post and plantation (whose good cheer scandalized his starving Pilgrim neighbors), and who in May 1627 raised a Maypole to which he affixed our first English poetry about America---a riddling "Poem" and a Drinking "Song" whose lyrics are a love-story and a manifesto for a new American community. This earned Morton the title also of "America's First Rascal" and made him Mass. Bay's first political exile in 1630. As Morton's editor/biographer I'd like people to know they can see his achievements in life and poetry for themselves at http://ancientgreece-earlyamerica.com ; and, they can hear "his" voice in poetry, song and love of American nature by running "Thomas Morton of Merrymount" at YouTube! Enjoy this festival and I hope someday that Morton as our land's "poetic father" will be part of it! Come and share the next Revels at Merrymount in May 2009! Your wellwisher, Dr. Jack Dempsey Hello—I’d like to suggest some “Poetry for Our Times” by pointing back to the beginning—with America’s First Poet in English, Thomas Morton of Merrymount (and author of 1637′s “New English Canaan”). Morton was a learned Elizabethan adventurer who reached Mass. Bay (Quincy Shore) in 1624, set up a multicultural trading-post and plantation (whose good cheer scandalized his starving Pilgrim neighbors), and who in May 1627 raised a Maypole to which he affixed our first English poetry about America—a riddling “Poem” and a Drinking “Song” whose lyrics are a love-story and a manifesto for a new American community. This earned Morton the title also of “America’s First Rascal” and made him Mass. Bay’s first political exile in 1630. As Morton’s editor/biographer I’d like people to know they can see his achievements in life and poetry for themselves at http://ancientgreece-earlyamerica.com ; and, they can hear “his” voice in poetry, song and love of American nature by running “Thomas Morton of Merrymount” at YouTube! Enjoy this festival and I hope someday that Morton as our land’s “poetic father” will be part of it! Come and share the next Revels at Merrymount in May 2009! Your wellwisher, Dr. Jack Dempsey

]]> By: Karen M. Kline http://masspoetry.org/2008/08/08/poetry-needs-us/comment-page-1/#comment-4 Karen M. Kline Mon, 11 Aug 2008 11:21:13 +0000 http://masspoetry.org/?p=77#comment-4 Good Day to All! I have a question ~ do you recognize the name ANNE DUDLEY BRADSTREET? Who was she? Why study her? To find out more, go to www.literarytraveler.com and put her name in the "Search" box. I hope you enjoy learning more about this founding mother of Massachusetts Bay Colony and American poetry! Karen M. Kline, American Community Think Tank Good Day to All!

I have a question ~ do you recognize the name ANNE DUDLEY BRADSTREET? Who was she? Why study her?

To find out more, go to http://www.literarytraveler.com and put her name in the “Search” box. I hope you enjoy learning more about this founding mother of Massachusetts Bay Colony and American poetry!

Karen M. Kline, American Community Think Tank

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