Sonnet
I seek the fields, the woods, and gentle streams,
In hopes to pass some calm, refreshing hours;
But Ah! how weak are all my idle dreams —
Love, love alone my bleeding heart devours.
Or if mine eye a glance of pleasure shew
On some sweet object — hill or circling plain —
Quick comes the thought that causes all my woe,
My spirits sink, and I am sad again.
For since that beauteous and all-lovely fair
Hath from these arms by saddest fate been torn,
Her dear rememb’rance is my only care,
And for her sake alone I weep and mourn!
But vain are tears by fondest friendship shed,
Nor sighs or tears can animate the dead.
— H.
Between 1831 and 1846, a remarkably literate and talented poet who signed his work only with the initial “H” had more than 70 poems published in Springfield’s Sangamo Journal newspaper. The scope, versatility, and style of “H” were singular in that they rivaled the work of poets of much broader notoriety, such as Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott, George Gordon Byron and Thomas Gray. That “H” wrote in Springfield during the years that Abraham Lincoln was emerging as a gifted orator and eloquent politician suggests much about the “backwoods” prairie culture that produced them.
At 7 p.m. tonight, Nov. 6, John Hallwas, Illinois Humanities Council Road Scholar and the author of several books about literary Illinois will present a free lecture, The Poems of H: The Lost Poet of Lincoln’s Springfield, in the Carnegie Room of Lincoln Library, 326 S. 7th St. Hallwas will examine significant poems by “H”, and place them in the context of the larger literary landscape of Illinois and the emerging nation. For more information, call 217-525-2781 (days) or 217-525-2518 evenings. Sponsored by the Vachel Lindsay Association and the Illinois Humanities Council.
“People’s Poetry” accepts poetry submissions. Send yours to
Books and Poetry Editor Corrine Frisch c/o Illinois Times, P.O. Box 5256,
Springfield, IL 62705,or to caf1025@aol.com with “People’s Poetry” in the subject line. (Please limits your submissions
to poems of 14 lines or less.)
This article appears in Nov 6-12, 2003.
