Google is an interesting place. Today I learned that Abraham Lincoln
was a lover of poetry... Shakespeare, etc. But his favorite poem
was an obscure piece with an unknown author for many years.
It is said that Lincoln memorized it and performed it so often
that people thought he authored it. That poem?
'Mortality' or
'Oh Why Should the Spirit of Mortal Be Proud?'
As the title suggests - it is indeed a poem about death. Abe, sadly, was
well acquainted with death - not only from the Civil War... but personally.
His mother died when he was a child, his sister died when he was a teenager,
the girl he planned to marry died when he was in his 20s and he had a son
die at the age of 11. I'd say that was enough to contribute to the melancholy temperament that surprisingly is attributed to this fine President.
At any rate - I came across a beautifully illustrated book of this poem...
Copyright is 1876 for this gem. And the author? William Knox -
who apparently had plenty of issues of his own.
The poem in its entirety can be read here.
...and the book is available for purchase in my Etsy shop.
Oh the things we can learn from google! ~Joyce
Linking to Let's Talk Vintage
