Many famous American poets found inspiration in the culture and landscape of Ohio. Examine the connections in poetry written by Carl Sandburg, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Paul Laurence Dunbar, and James Wright.
Class Discussion Questions:
1) What in your community could be inspiring to a poet?
2) Write a one stanza poem about your school.
Read the Script:
It could be our remarkable history, our breathtaking landscape, or our diverse cities, but whatever it is there's something about Ohio that inspires creativity. The Buckeye State has been the muse of many notable poets throughout the years who've used the written word to try to capture Ohio's one of a kind spirit.
One famous poet who seemed to frequently have Ohio on his mind was Carl Sandburg. Born in Illinois in 1878, Sandburg became one of America's most celebrated poets during his lifetime. Sandburg developed a unique form of free verse that reflected the rhythms and color of Midwestern speech.
He's well known for his poems about Chicago, but the poet also captured Ohio's multifaceted scenes. In his poem "Honky Tonk in Cleveland, Ohio," published in 1920, Sandburg describes the sound of a big city jazz club almost like a zoo, writing,
"It's a jazz affair, drum crashes and cornet razzes. The trombone pony neighs and the tuba jackass snorts."
But in a calmer poem, Crossing Ohio When Poppies Bloom in Ashtabula," Sandburg paints a different Ohio, a more rural one. as he describes the transition from spring to summer. "Pick me poppies in the backyard in Ashtabula. May going, poppies coming, summer humming."
Of course, Sandburg is far from the only poet to get his creative juices flowing in Ohio. In 1854, accomplished poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote about another kind of flowing juice, Cincinnati's famous Catawba wine. The wine was made from Catawba grapes planted in the city's vineyard. And in his poem, aptly named "Catawba Wine," Longfellow celebrates Cincinnati's nickname, the Queen City, writing,
"And this song of the vine, This greeting of mine, The winds and the birds shall deliver, To the queen of the west, In her garlands dressed, On the banks of the beautiful river."
While Sandburg and Longfellow were just visitors who happened to find inspiration here, Ohio also claims its fair share of poets. Perhaps the most famous is Dayton, Ohio born Paul Laurence Dunbar. Growing up in the 1800's, he began writing poetry as a very young child, and eventually grew to become the most famous African-American poet in the country. His poems were often about the difficult African-American experience at the time, and he differentiated himself from other poets by writing in a type of speech common to African-Americans.
Another Ohio born poet, James Wright, frequently found inspiration in his home state. In his poem "Beautiful Ohio," Wright paints a picture of his hometown, Martin's Ferry, along the Ohio River, writing,
"Sixteen thousand and five hundred more or less people In Martin's Ferry, my home, my native country, Quickened the river with the speed of light. And the light caught there The solid speed of their lives In the instant of that waterfall. I know what we call it Most of the time. But I have my own song for it, And sometimes, even today, I call it beauty."
The beauty Wright speaks of is found throughout the state, and in different places. From a jazz club in Cleveland, to a vineyard in Cincinnati. It's these diverse scenes that make Ohio such a powerful muse, even if finding the right words can be tricky.
Instructional Links
eBook: Internet Archive, C. L. Martzolff, Poems on Ohio | Published in 1911 by the Ohio Historical Society
eBooks: Ohio Digital Library, Kids Poetry | Use your library card to read these. If your library is not listed, check your local library for access.
Classroom Resources: ReadWriteThink, April is National Poetry Month | Activities, lesson plans, interactives, mobile apps, & parent resources
Classroom Resources: Scholastic, Celebrate National Poetry Month | Poetry, authors, lesson plans, printables, poetry writing prompts
Website Article: Meet Ohio's 2016 Ohio Poet Laureate, Dr. Amit Majmudar