Notes About The Poem

Ode To William Henry Harrison

My ode to William Henry Harrison, 9th President
of the United States, yet barely known.
A Founding Father’s son and longtime frontier resident,
Brave military leader to the bone.

His victories in uniform stacked up along the way,
rarely defeated at the battle line.
As President, though, died in office one month to the day,
now nobody remembers Number Nine.

He served the House of Representatives a term or two;
in politics, he always did excel.
First Governor of Indiana Territory, too -
Ohio’s 13th Senator, as well.

As Major General, Will fought the War of 1812,
as well as several wars along the way.
His worth, though, as a President, historians will shelve
for lasting only one month to the day.

He married sweetheart Anna in the Fall of ’95,
she bore her husband many children - ten!
Although her health was poor, Anna was Queen Bee to the hive,
their son’s son: future POTUS, Benjamin. 

There’s no one I would rather have protect my garrison,
though in the end pneumonia held its sway.
A military hero, William Henry Harrison -
Ninth President, just one month to the day.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2020

Poem

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Legros Kelley Avatar
February 22, 2021 at 10:47 AM
Well done, this is wonderful! Thank you for sharing a well deserved tribute to someone who deserves to be remembered, as well as the educational information you've woven so eloquently into this poem. Congratulations!
Radhakrishna Avatar
February 21, 2021 at 12:13 PM
Well done John! A lovely poem! I knew little about him and it is very nice of you to bring him back in to the limelight! I shall try and learn more about him! Congrats on your win!
La France Avatar
February 21, 2021 at 10:43 AM
John, wonderful write about a President not well known, and congratulations on your win in the contest, well done _Constance
Kauffman Avatar
February 21, 2021 at 10:41 AM
Back to the field with congratulations of pennants and fireworks, John. Loved this on first reading and loved it all over again! So happy to see it on the winners list dear friend. Seven days to spring training!!!! Blessings.
Kauffman Avatar
June 3, 2020 at 10:13 PM
John, back to say congratulations on this elegant poem with a great history lesson! So well deserved!
Watt Avatar
June 3, 2020 at 10:27 PM
Thank you Sam, very kind of you ~ John
Marcum Wong Avatar
March 4, 2020 at 10:18 AM
A worthy podium win in this fine tribute to President Harrison John. Congratulations! xxoo
Watt Avatar
March 4, 2020 at 10:21 AM
Heartfelt thanks, Connie. Not so much a hero as President, but in other ways he was someone to look up to. Appreciate your visit ~ John
Y. Avatar
March 4, 2020 at 4:34 AM
Hi John,Congratulations on your winning write. Have a great day:-) Alexis
Watt Avatar
March 4, 2020 at 10:24 AM
Thank you Alexis, and a great day to you. ~ John
Devonshire Avatar
March 3, 2020 at 1:11 PM
I remember Harrison, John. He ran for president with VP Tyler and their campaign slogan was "Tippeecanoe and Tyler too." The first was one of his impressive battles. Congratulations on a great win, John! Hugs, Carolyn
Watt Avatar
March 3, 2020 at 4:44 PM
Carolyn, it was a bit of an overstatement to say 'nobody' remembers #9, but I'm impressed with your history knowledge. I wanted to fit 'Tippecanoe' into the poem, but found it wasn't very iambic! Thanks for the great comment ~ John
Kauffman Avatar
March 3, 2020 at 11:19 AM
John, wonderful ode! As a student of history I was enthralled by his story - much I did not know. Thank you for telling the story and congratulations!
Watt Avatar
March 3, 2020 at 5:11 PM
Thanks for coming by, Sam. I'm one who is always attracted to the underdogs in life. Harrison had a good run until he got voted into the White House!
Harper Avatar
March 2, 2020 at 10:34 PM
Congratulations John on your third place win in the Ode for a Leader or Politician Past or Present contest. I appreciated your solid use of form and your strong reasons for admiring William Henry Harrison even if he died shortly after election. Thanks for entering.
Watt Avatar
March 2, 2020 at 11:20 PM
Sheri, I'm surprised, grateful, and honored at the high placement you deemed this one worthy of. Thank you, and thanks for sponsoring a fun and challenging contest... much appreciated! ~ John
Wolf Avatar
February 2, 2020 at 1:27 PM
Gee, this a great recap of WHH's life and abilities. A lot here I didn't know. Thanks for the education, John! Much appreciated! Best of luck in the contest. ~ Gershon
Watt Avatar
February 7, 2020 at 1:06 AM
Thank you Gershon! I believe I will need a lot of luck for that contest, as WHH is nobody's hero, LOL! Many people in America haven't even heard of him ~ John
Turner Avatar
February 1, 2020 at 7:57 PM
John I consider myself an amateur history buff and I thoroughly enjoyed reading your poem today. Very informative.
Watt Avatar
February 1, 2020 at 7:59 PM
I'm glad you enjoyed this brief foray into early American history, Daniel! Cheers ~ John
Bauer Avatar
February 1, 2020 at 6:59 PM
john - this is beautifully rhymed and so informative! i very much enjoyed reading your poem and wish you much luck in the contest...
Watt Avatar
February 1, 2020 at 7:55 PM
Coming from a patroness of beautiful rhymes, this is high praise indeed! Thank you for the visit - I'm glad you enjoyed this little ode to a little known prez ~ John
Adams Avatar
February 1, 2020 at 4:13 PM
i love the lesson within your poem... great write, wonderfully penned... best wishes in the contest :) hugs
Watt Avatar
February 1, 2020 at 5:31 PM
Sandra, thanks for taking time to read and reply. I always appreciate your kind and thoughtful words! Hugs ~ John
Dietrich Avatar
February 1, 2020 at 3:03 PM
sorry, that is all I have time for today. I got kicked off library computer and am now doing it as "guest pass" haha
Dietrich Avatar
February 1, 2020 at 3:02 PM
you wrote really well on him and informed me a lot about a president of whom I know so little!!! well done.
Watt Avatar
February 1, 2020 at 5:30 PM
I think we're all in the same boat, Andrea... thank goodness for Google and Wikipedia! ~ John
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