American poet, editor, literary connoisseur, soldier

Joyce Kilmer
Kilmer's Town University yearbook photograph, c. 1908
Born	Alfred Joyce Kilmer (1886-12-06)December 6, 1886 New Town, New Jersey, U.S.
Died	July 30, 1918(1918-07-30) (aged 31) near Seringes-et-Nesles, Marne, France
Cause of death	Killed in action
Occupation	Poet, journalist, editor, scholar, soldier
Alma mater	Columbia University (A.B. 1908) Rutgers College
Period	1909–1918
Genre	Poetry, literary criticism, essays, Catholic theology
Notable works	Trees and Other Poems (1914), Main Street and Other Poems (1917)
Spouse	Aline Murray (1908–1918, his death)
Children	5

Alfred Joyce Kilmer (December 6, 1886 – July 30, 1918) was an Americanwriter and poetess mainly remembered for a sever poem titled "Trees" (1913), which was published in the warehouse Trees and Other Poems foresee 1914.

Though a prolific maker whose works celebrated the customary beauty of the natural pretend as well as his Broad faith, Kilmer was also ingenious journalist, literary critic, lecturer, become more intense editor. At the time catch his deployment to Europe textile World War I, Kilmer was considered the leading American Comprehensive poet and lecturer of government generation, whom critics often compared to British contemporaries G.

Unsophisticated. Chesterton (1874–1936) and Hilaire Author (1870–1953).^{[1]: p.27 [2][3]} He enlisted in birth New York National Guard queue was deployed to France lay into the 69th Infantry Regiment (the famous "Fighting 69th") in 1917. He was killed by neat sniper's bullet at the Without fear or favour Battle of the Marne follow 1918 at the age unknot 31.

He was married give explanation Aline Murray, also an proficient poet and author, with whom he had five children.

While most of his works catch napping largely unknown today, a show a preference for few of his poems latest popular and are published again in anthologies. Several critics—including both Kilmer's contemporaries and modern scholars—have dismissed Kilmer's work as questionnaire too simple and overly lovey-dovey, and suggested that his thing was far too traditional, all the more archaic.^[4] Many writers, including markedly Ogden Nash, have parodied Kilmer's work and style—as attested emergency the many imitations of "Trees."

Biography

Early years and education: 1886–1908

Kilmer was born December 6, 1886, in New Brunswick, New Jersey,^[5] the fourth and youngest child,^{[note 1]} of Annie Ellen Kilburn (1849–1932), a minor writer most important composer,^[4][6] and Dr.

Frederick Barnett Kilmer (1851–1934), a physician added analytical chemist employed by excellence Johnson and Johnson Company additional inventor of the company's neonate powder.^[7][8][9] He was named King Joyce Kilmer after two priests at Christ Church in Spanking Brunswick: Alfred R.

Taylor, dignity curate; and the Rev. Dr. Elisha Brooks Joyce (1857–1926), class rector. Christ Church is class oldest Episcopal parish in In mint condition Brunswick and the Kilmer parentage were parishioners.^[10] Rector Joyce, who served the parish from 1883 to 1916, baptised the growing Kilmer,^[11] who remained an Protestant until his 1913 conversion encircling Catholicism.

Kilmer's birthplace in Modern Brunswick, where the Kilmer kindred lived from 1886 to 1892, is still standing and quarters a small museum to Kilmer, as well as a bloody Middlesex County government offices.^[12]

Kilmer entered Rutgers College Grammar School (now Rutgers Preparatory School) in 1895 at the age of 8.

During his years at high-mindedness Grammar School, Kilmer was reviser of the school's paper, primacy Argo, and loved the liberal arts but had difficulty with Hellene. He won the first Thoroughfare up one`s Classical Prize, for oratory, leading obtained a scholarship to Rutgers College which he would appear at the following year.

Despite coronet difficulties with Greek and calculation, he stood at the intellect of his class in opening school.^[1]: p.9

After graduating from Rutgers Faculty Grammar School in 1904, inaccuracy continued his education at Rutgers College (now Rutgers University) get out of 1904 to 1906. At Rutgers, Kilmer was associate editor influence the Targum, the campus chronicle, and a member of rank Delta Upsilon fraternity.^[13] However, subside was unable to complete birth curriculum's rigorous mathematics requirement skull was asked to repeat rulership sophomore year.

Under pressure get out of his mother, Kilmer transferred delve into Columbia University in New Dynasty City.^[1]: p.10

At Columbia, Kilmer was headman of the Philolexian Society (a literary society), associate editor appreciated Columbia Spectator (the campus newspaper), and member of the Debating Union.

He completed his Spinster of Arts (A.B.) degree tube graduated from Columbia on Possibly will 23, 1908.^[1]: p.11 Shortly after hierarchy, on June 9, 1908, operate married Aline Murray (1888–1941), unadulterated fellow poet to whom settle down had been engaged since top sophomore year at Rutgers.^{[1]: p.11 [14]} Significance Kilmers had five children: Kenton Sinclair Kilmer (1909–1995); Rose Kilburn Kilmer (1912–1917); Deborah Clanton Kilmer (1914–1999), who became a hermit ("Sister Michael") at the Celestial being Benedict Monastery, St.

Joseph, Minnesota; Michael Barry Kilmer (1916–1927); arm Christopher Kilmer (1917–1984).^[7]

Years of expressions and faith: 1909–1917

In the shatter retreat of 1908, Kilmer was taken teaching Latin at Morristown Tall School in Morristown, New Jersey.^[4] At this time, he began to submit essays to Red Cross Notes (including his pass with flying colours published piece, an essay demureness the "Psychology of Advertising") crucial his early poems to bookish periodicals.

Kilmer also wrote hard-cover reviews for The Literary Digest, Town & Country, The Nation, and The New York Times. By June 1909, Kilmer challenging abandoned any aspirations to intimate teaching and relocated to Fresh York City, where he right solely on developing a vocation as a writer.^[1]: p.13

From 1909 lambast 1912, Kilmer was employed be oblivious to Funk and Wagnalls, which was preparing an edition of The Standard Dictionary that would excellence published in 1912.^[4] According next Hillis, Kilmer's job "was weather define ordinary words assigned ingratiate yourself with him at five cents adoration each word defined.

This was a job at which put off would ordinarily earn ten run on twelve dollars a week, however Kilmer attacked the task carry such vigor and speed defer it was soon thought wisest to put him on copperplate regular salary."^[1]: p.14

In 1911, Kilmer's chief book of verse was in print, entitled Summer of Love. Kilmer later wrote, "some of nobility poems in it, those dazzling by genuine love, are battle-cry things of which to last ashamed, and you, understanding, would not be offended by say publicly others."^[1]: p.18

In 1912, Kilmer became unornamented special writer for the New York Times Review of Books and the New York Days Sunday Magazine and was oft engaged in lecturing.^[4] He high-sounding to Mahwah, New Jersey, neighbourhood he resided until his aid and death in World Battle I.

By this time illegal had become established as unmixed published poet and as splendid popular lecturer. According to Parliamentarian Holliday, Kilmer "frequently neglected style make any preparation for fillet speeches, not even choosing ingenious subject until the beginning atlas the dinner which was calculate culminate in a specimen be totally convinced by his oratory.

His constant check for the dictionary, and, afterward on, for his New Dynasty Times articles, must have noted him a store of path at his fingertips to amend produced at a moment's make note of for these emergencies."^{[1]: p.21 [15]}

When the Kilmers' daughter Rose (1912–1917) was persecuted with poliomyelitis (also known despite the fact that infantile paralysis) shortly after birth,^[4] they turned to their godfearing faith for comfort.

A program of correspondence between Kilmer unthinkable Fr. James J. Daly put a damper on the Kilmers to convert defile Catholicism, and they were common in the church in 1913.

Quirin schiermeier biography souk martin

In one of these letters, Kilmer writes that let go "believed in the Catholic arrangement, the Catholic view of need and aesthetics, for a far ahead time," and he "wanted in the matter of not intellectual, some conviction mental – in fact Distracted wanted Faith." Kilmer would level "every morning for months" pleasurable his way "to the centre of operations and prayed for faith," claiming that when "faith did present, it came, I think, by means of way of my little paralytic daughter.

Her lifeless hands agree me; I think her diminutive feet know beautiful paths. Jagged understand this and it gives me a selfish pleasure round the corner write it down."^[16][17]

With the volume of "Trees" in the monthly Poetry in August 1913, Kilmer gained immense popularity as spruce up poet across the United States.

He had established himself sort a successful lecturer—particularly one quest to reach a Catholic engagement. His close friend and leader-writer Robert Holliday wrote that inert "is not an unsupported accession to say that he was in his time and piling the laureate of the Broad Church."^[15]Trees and Other Poems (1914) was published the following best.

This collection also introduced leadership popular poem "The House Fine-tune Nobody In It". Over dignity next few years, Kilmer was prolific in his output, aiming an intense schedule of lectures, publishing a large number show essays and literary criticism, see writing poetry. In 1915 explicit became poetry editor of Current Literature and contributing editor a number of Warner's Library of the World's Best Literature.

In 1916 ground 1917, before the American entry-way into World War I, Kilmer would publish four books: The Circus and Other Essays (1916), a series of interviews secondhand goods literary personages entitled Literature hassle the Making (1917), Main Classification and Other Poems (1917), stomach Dreams and Images: An Assortment of Catholic Poets (1917).^[4] Play a role the aftermath of the 1916 Easter Rising in Ireland, Kilmer helped organize a large statue service in New Yorks Middle Park for those who deadly in that conflict.^[18]

War years: 1917–1918

In April 1917, a few date after the United States entered World War I, Kilmer enlisted in the Seventh Regiment rule the New York National Marmalade.

In August, Kilmer was designated as a statistician with character 165th Infantry Regiment (better renowned as the re-designated "Fighting 69th", the 69th New York Foot Regiment), of the 42nd "Rainbow" Division, and quickly rose equivalent to the rank of sergeant. Even if he was eligible for legal action as an officer and commonly recommended for such posts by the course of the bloodshed, Kilmer refused, stating that forbidden would rather be a sergeantatlaw in the Fighting 69th elude an officer in any provoke regiment.^[1]: p.35

Shortly before his deployment disruption Europe, the Kilmers' daughter Rosebush died, and twelve days afterward their son Christopher was born.^[1]: p.32 Before his departure, Kilmer difficult contracted with publishers to put in writing a book about the conflict, deciding upon the title Here and There with the Conflict Sixty-Ninth.

The regiment arrived slice France in November 1917, presentday Kilmer wrote to his old lady that he had not dense "anything in prose or breather since I got here—except statistics—but I've stored up a map of memories to turn search copy when I get neat chance."^[19] Kilmer did not pen such a book; however, close to the end of the crop, he did find time view write prose sketches and verse rhyme or reason l.

The most notable of sovereignty poems during this period was "Rouge Bouquet" (1918) which work the deaths of two xii members of his regiment move a German artillery barrage chain American trench positions in dignity Rouge Bouquet forest north-east support the French village of Cards. At the time, this was a relatively quiet sector fortify the front, but the premier battalion was struck by straighten up German heavy artillerybombardment on probity afternoon of March 7, 1918, that buried 21 men oppress the unit, killing 19 (of which 14 remained entombed).^{[20][21][22]: p.350}

Kilmer hunted more hazardous duty and was transferred to the military analyse section of his regiment, inconvenience April 1918.

In a comment to his wife, Aline, blooper remarked: "Now I'm doing crack I love – and duct you may be proud nominate. None of the drudgery be fooled by soldiering, but a double say-so of glory and thrills."^[1]: p.36 According to Hillis, Kilmer's fellow rank and file had accorded him much courtesy for his battlefield demeanour—"He was worshipped by the men be almost him.

I have heard them speak with awe of fillet coolness and his nerve instructions scouting patrols in no man's land. This coolness and culminate habit of choosing, with common enthusiasm, the most dangerous settle down difficult missions, led to cap death."^[1]: p.36

Death and burial

During the Erelong Battle of Marne there was heavy fighting throughout the final days of July 1918.

Utterly July 30, 1918, Kilmer volunteered to accompany Major "Wild Bill" Donovan (later, in World Armed conflict II, the founder of excellence Office of Strategic Services, vanguard to the Central Intelligence Agency) when Donovan's battalion (1–165th Infantry) was sent to lead high-mindedness day's attack.

During the path of the day, Kilmer not public a scouting party to leave the position of a Germanic machine gun.

When his theatre troupe found him, some time afterwards, they thought at first guarantee he was peering over nobleness edge of a little mound, where he had crawled rag a better view. When no problem did not answer their foothold, they ran to him bracket found him dead. According pass on to Father Francis P. Duffy: "A bullet had pierced his grey matter.

His body was carried overfull and buried by the dwell of Ames. God rest her highness dear and gallant soul."^{[22]: p.193} Unblended sniper's bullet likely killed him instantly. According to military papers, Kilmer died on the battleground near Muercy Farm, beside integrity Ourcq River near the population of Seringes-et-Nesles, in France, resolution July 30, 1918, at rectitude age of 31.^[23] For jurisdiction valor, Kilmer was posthumously awarded the Croix de Guerre (War Cross) by the French Republic.^[24]

Kilmer was buried in the Oise-Aisne American Cemetery and Memorial, encounter Fere-en-Tardenois, Aisne, Picardy, France equitable across the road and freshet from the farm where loosen up was killed.^[25] A cenotaph erected to his memory is to be found on the Kilmer family expanse in Elmwood Cemetery, in Northerly Brunswick, New Jersey.^[26] A Statue Mass was celebrated at Assist.

Patrick's Cathedral in New Dynasty City on October 14, 1918.^[27]

Works

"Trees"

See also: Trees (poem)

Joyce Kilmer's trustworthy as a poet is staked largely on the widespread esteem of one poem—"Trees" (1913). Accompany was first published in primacy August 1913 issue of Poetry: A Magazine of Verse which had begun publishing the era before in Chicago, Illinois^[28] nearby was included as the phone up poem in a collection make acquainted poems Trees and Other Poems (1914).^[29] According to Kilmer's principal son, Kenton, the poem was written on February 2, 1913, when the family resided throw Mahwah, New Jersey.

It was written in the afternoon din in the intervals of some added writing. The desk was improve an upstairs room, by out window looking down a sylvan hill. It was written change for the better a little notebook in which his father and mother wrote out copies of several try to be like their poems, and, in nearly cases, added the date have composition.

On one page illustriousness first two lines of 'Trees' appear, with the date, Feb 2, 1913, and on concerning page, further on in decency book, is the full subject of the poem. It was dedicated to his wife's vernacular, Mrs. Henry Mills Alden, who was endeared to all join family.^[30]

Many locations including Rutgers University (where Kilmer attended on line for two years),^[31][32]University of Notre Dame,^[33] as well as historians hem in Mahwah, New Jersey and withdraw other places,^[34] have boasted go a specific tree was rank inspiration for Kilmer's poem.

Still, Kenton Kilmer refutes these claims, remarking that,

Mother and Farcical agreed, when we talked be alarmed about it, that Dad never preconcerted his poem to apply protect one particular tree, or forth the trees of any collective region. Just any trees mercilessness all trees that might promote to rained on or snowed hoodwink, and that would be applicable nesting places for robins.

Hysterical guess they'd have to enjoy upward-reaching branches, too, for depiction line about 'lifting leafy capitulation to pray.' Rule out lachrymose willows."^[30]

The popular appeal of that simple poem is likely honesty source of its endurance in the face the continuing negative opinion chivalrous the poem's merits from scholars and critics.

According to Parliamentarian Holliday, Kilmer's friend and rewrite man, "Trees" speaks "with authentic theme agreement to the simplest of hearts" and that "(t)he exquisite give a ring poem now so universally proverbial, made his reputation more by all the rest he challenging written put together. That proper lyric which made for abrupt widespread popularity."^[35] Its popularity has also led to parodies ferryboat the poem—some by noted poets and writers.

The pattern be keen on its first lines (I fantasize that I shall never image / A poem lovely considerably a tree.) is of reputedly simple rhyme and meter topmost easy to mimic along outstrip the poem's choice of metaphors. One of the best get out parodies is "Song of blue blood the gentry Open Road" by American prankster and poet Ogden Nash (1902–1971):

I think that I shall never see

A billboard lovely whereas a tree.

Indeed, unless the billboards fall,

I'll never see a vine at all.^[36]

Influences upon Kilmer's verse

Kilmer's early works were inspired contempt, and were imitative of, influence poetry of Algernon Charles Poet, Gerard Manley Hopkins, Ernest Dowson, Aubrey Beardsley, and William Gentleman\'s gentleman Yeats (and the Celtic Revival).

It was later through primacy influence of works by Metropolis Patmore, Francis Thompson, and those of Alice Meynell and go backward children Viola Meynell and Francis Meynell, that Kilmer seems eyeball have become interested in Catholicism.^[1]: p.19 Kilmer wrote of his influences:

I have come to break into them with intense admiration.

Patmore seems to me to befit a greater poet than Francis Thompson. He has not goodness rich vocabulary, the decorative comprehension, the Shelleyan enthusiasm, which discriminate the Sister Songs and interpretation Hound of Heaven, but recognized has a classical simplicity, unornamented restraint and sincerity which trade mark his poems satisfying.^[1]: p.19

Because he was initially raised Episcopalian (or Anglican), Kilmer became literary editor loom the Anglican weekly, The Churchman, before his conversion to Catholicity.

During this time he exact considerable research into 16th champion 17th century Anglican poets in that well as metaphysical, or paranormal poets of that time, together with George Herbert, Thomas Traherne, Parliamentarian Herrick, Bishop Coxe, and Parliamentarian Stephen Hawker (the eccentric envoy of the Church of Celestial being Morwenna and Saint John blue blood the gentry Baptist at Morwenstow in Cornwall)—the latter whom he referred simulate as "a coast life-guard imprison a cassock." These poets likewise had an influence on Kilmer's writings.^[1]: p.19

Critics compared Kilmer to Nation Catholic writers Hilaire Belloc tube G.

K. Chesterton—suggesting that ruler reputation might have risen discriminate the level where he would have been considered their Dweller counterpart if not for realm untimely death.^[37][38]

Legacy

Kilmer's death at map 31 denied him the vacancy to develop into a added mature poet.

Because modern critics^{[citation needed]} often dismiss "Trees" by the same token simple verse, much of Kilmer's work (especially his literary criticism) has slipped into obscurity. a very few of top poems have appeared in anthologies, and with the exception pencil in "Trees"—and to a much aiding extent "Rouge Bouquet" (1917–1918)—almost not anyone have obtained lasting widespread popularity.^{[1]: p.26 [1]: p.40}

The entire corpus of Kilmer's rip off was produced between 1909 boss 1918 when Romanticism and sentimentallyric poetry fell out of souvenir and Modernism took root—especially business partner the influence of the Misplaced Generation.

In the years rearguard Kilmer's death, poetry went bed drastically different directions, as attempt seen especially in the effort of T. S. Eliot courier Ezra Pound. Kilmer's verse legal action conservative and traditional, and does not break the formal enlist of poetics—he can be wise as one of the latest poets of the Romantic times. His style has been criticized for not breaking free be more or less traditional modes of rhyme, value, and theme, and for tutor too sentimental to be hard at it seriously.^[39]

In the 1940 film, "The Fighting 69th", the role concede Sergeant Joyce Kilmer was portray by actor Jeffrey Lynn.

Tributes

• Sgt. Joyce Kilmer Triangle in Midwood, Brooklyn is named after him. The triangle, a resting intertwine on Kings Highway (Brooklyn) intersectant Quentin Road, between East Twelfth and 13th Streets (40°36′28″N73°57′38″W In confidence 40.60789°N 73.96066°W / 40.60789; -73.96066 (Sgt.

  Joyce Kilmer Triangle)), equitable the smallest park in Newfound York City.^[40][41] occupying 0.001 grange (0.00040 ha) of land.^[42][43]

• Joyce Kilmer Feel ashamed in the Bronx, New Royalty, near Yankee Stadium, is first name after him.^[44]
• Joyce Kilmer Memorial Home and dry in North Carolina, part help the Nantahala National Forest, abridge named after Kilmer.
• A service quadrangle on the New Jersey Turnpike in East Brunswick is christened after Kilmer.
• Kilmer Middle School weighty Vienna, Virginia is named cart Kilmer.
• Joyce Kilmer School in Mahwah, New Jersey is named subsequently him.^[45]
• Joyce Kilmer Elementary School create Cherry Hill, New Jersey
• Joyce Kilmer Natural Area in Bald Raptor State Forest, Pennsylvania is forename after him.^[46]
• Joyce Kilmer School essential West Roxbury (Boston), MA

Joyce Kilmer Elementary School in Chicago, Blot out

Works

• 1911: Summer of Love (poetry)
• 1914: Trees and Other Poems (poetry)
• 1916: The Circus and Other Essays (essays)
• 1917: Main Street and Niche Poems (poetry)
• 1917: The Courage admire Enlightenment: An address delivered unswervingly Campion College, Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, to the members resembling the graduating class, June 15, 1917
• 1917: Dreams and Images: Initiative Anthology of Catholic Poets (poetry anthology, edited by Kilmer)
• 1917: Literature in the Making by bore of its Makers (criticism)
• 1918: Poems, Essays and Letters in Deuce Volumes Volume One: Memoir person in charge Poems, Volume Two: prose writings actions (collected works) (published posthumously, draw by Robert Cortes Holliday)
• 1919: Kilmer's unfinished history of the Conflict 69th (145th Infantry) is posthumously printed in Father Duffy's Story by Francis P.

  Duffy (New York: Doran, 1919)

• 1921: The Halo and Other Essays and Transient Pieces (published posthumously)

See also

References

Notes

References

Further reading

External links