An Ode To E. A. Robinson

Whispers of talent are carried on New England breezes Dickinson, Hawthorne, and the Irvings’ son Washington Though I sense a special connection to all of these None inspired more than Edwin Arlington Robinson Three Pulitzer Prizes were displayed on his mantle place His childhood in Maine he described as “stark and unhappy” Though he went to Harvard, academics he’d not embrace Arlington’s style was unique and his cadence snappy “Miniver Cheevy,” displaced soul, longed for Medieval years To Miniver I could relate, felt I was born too late Wishing I’d ridden West with America’s pioneers But at least my dreams alcohol will never desecrate For his depressed brother Herman, “Richard Cory” he wrote A handsome man who appeared to enjoy the perfect life But the turmoil in his heart, his exterior did not denote Richard shot himself in the head to put an end to strife Edwin, your character studies touched something deep inside Struggles you described of common men gripped me, made me cry People whose dreams and accomplishments did not coincide I, too, watch life’s play from backstage, feeling like a standby Though I seek to display wit, tragedies pour from my pen And much like my muse, my life seems filled with loneliness As poets we reach out to touch lives of men and women Hoping to find comfort as troubled feelings we express * Written for Jared's "Ode" contest Edwin Arlington Robinson (December 22, 1869 – April 6, 1935) was an American poet born in Maine who won three Pulitzer Prizes for his work. His brother Dr. Dean Robinson died of a drug overdose, perhaps inspiring Robinson to write of the alcoholic dreamer “Miniver Cheevy.”. It has been speculated that his poem "Richard Cory" was penned for his other brother, Herman. E.A. Robinson’s poems have a dark pessimism stemming from dreams gone awry. The style and themes of many of my poems seem to emulate Robinson, who often wrote in rhyming quatrains. “Richard Cory” can be found at http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/richard-cory/. To read “Miniver Cheevy,” go to http://www.americanpoems.com/poets/robinson/12640.