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Remembering Abraham Lincoln—Reader, Writer, Poet

LincolnandSonReadingSubmitted by Elaine Magliaro, Weekend Contributor

Abraham Lincoln was a self-educated man. He once said that he acquired his education “by littles.” The combined total of all the time he spent in school didn’t amount to a year. Still, he became one of our greatest presidents…and I believe some would agree an accomplished writer.

Lincoln gained much of his knowledge through books. He hungered for them when he was young. He read incessantly—beginning with the Bible and Shakespeare. His love of reading didn’t diminish as he grew older.

In his New York Times review of William Lee Miller’s book Lincoln’s Virtues, Eric Foner wrote the following:

During his single term in the House of Representatives, his colleagues considered it humorous that Lincoln spent his spare time poring over books in the Library of Congress. The result of this ”stunning work of self-education” was the ”intellectual power” revealed in Lincoln’s writings and speeches.

Ted Sorenson, a former advisor to John F. Kennedy, said he thought that Abraham Lincoln was not only the greatest American president…but also the best of all presidential speechwriters.

Sorenson:

Lincoln was a superb writer. Like Jefferson and Teddy Roosevelt, but few if any other presidents, he could have been a successful writer wholly apart from his political career. He needed no White House speechwriter, as that post is understood today. He wrote his major speeches out by hand, as he did his eloquent letters and other documents. Sometimes he read his draft speeches aloud to others, including members of his cabinet and his two principal secretaries, John Hay and John Nicolay, and he occasionally received suggestions, particularly at the start of his administration, from his onetime rival for the presidency, Secretary of State William Seward…

…Lincoln’s words, heard by comparatively few, by themselves carried power across time and around the world.

Sorenson added that the triumph of Lincoln’s greatest speech, the Gettysburg Address, didn’t come from rhetorical devices alone. He said Lincoln had “two great qualities infusing his use of those devices. First, he had a poetic literary sensibility. He was aware of the right rhythm and sound. An editor of the Gettysburg Address might say that ‘Eighty-seven years ago’ is shorter. Lincoln wrote instead, ‘Four score and seven years ago.’” In addition, Sorenson noted that Lincoln “had the root of the matter in him. The presidents greatest in speechcraft are almost all the greatest in statecraft also—because speeches are not just words. They present ideas, directions and values, and the best speeches are those that get those right. As Lincoln did.”

And how did Lincoln develop a “poetic literary sensibility?” Most likely from being an enthusiastic reader of poetry. According to the Library of Congress, Lincoln was an avid reader of poetry throughout his life—and as a teenager “began to cultivate an interest in writing poetry.” His oldest surviving poems were said to have been written “when he was between fifteen and seventeen years old, are brief squibs that appear in his arithmetic book.”

Here are two of his early poems:

Abraham Lincoln
his hand and pen
he will be good but
god knows When

 

Abraham Lincoln is my nam[e]
And with my pen I wrote the same
I wrote in both hast and speed
and left it here for fools to read

 From the Library of Congress:

Lincoln wrote his most serious poetry in 1846. The limited information that exists about their composition comes from Lincoln’s correspondence with Andrew Johnston, a fellow lawyer and Whig politician from Quincy, Illinois. In a letter to Johnston on February 24, 1846, Lincoln wrote:

“Feeling a little poetic this evening, I have concluded to redeem my promise this evening by sending you the piece you expressed the wish to have.[3] You find it enclosed. I wish I could think of something else to say; but I believe I can not. By the way, would you like to see a piece of poetry of my own making? I have a piece that is almost done, but I find a deal of trouble to finish it.”[4]

The poem Lincoln alluded to is “My Childhood-Home I See Again.” It was completed shortly after Lincoln’s message to Johnston.

In 2010, Robert Pinsky, a former Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress (1997-2000), wrote an article for Slate titled Firmness in the Write: Why Abraham Lincoln’s poetry is the real thing. In the article, he discussed Lincoln’s poem My Childhood-Home I See Again.

Pinsky:

The United States has had a head of state who was also a great writer. Only Marcus Aurelius can compete with Abraham Lincoln. Like many prose masters, Lincoln was a reader and writer of poetry. His poem “My Childhood-Home I See Again” combines polished but conventional passages in ballad meter with another element, powerfully imagined and turbulent. The poem is worth thinking about in relation to Abraham Lincoln’s mind. It also raises interesting questions about poetry itself—the art’s ability to compound the meanings of words with the force of bodily gestures.

Lincoln included “My Childhood-Home I See Again” in a letter, where he refers to it as “a little canto of what I call poetry.” The more ordinary part of the poem (published by newspapers after the assassination and omitting the more unsettling original passages) begins by describing a return to Lincoln’s childhood home in Indiana after 20 years away. These opening stanzas look back on the early years with an idealizing, though loss-conscious nostalgia, “as distant mountains please the eye.” Then, hearing about how many in the old place have died, he feels he is “living in the tombs.”

The shift from those relatively standard elegiac sentiments begins with “And here’s an object more of dread,” which introduces the story of Matthew Gentry, a childhood schoolmate (three years older) who was, like Lincoln, “a rather bright lad”—as Lincoln calls him in the letter—and, unlike Lincoln, “the son of the rich man of our very poor neighborhood.” At 19, Matthew went violently insane and spent the rest of his life locked up. In his confinement, the crazy man sang, and Lincoln describes himself as drawn to the singing: He “stole away” at night to hear it, “all silently and still.” The song, says the poem, seemed like “the funeral dirge … of reason dead and gone.” Yet it was “sweet” as well as “distant” and “lone”: adjectives that re-enforce the idea of fellow-feeling by Lincoln toward Matthew. The president describes that furtive pleasure in eloquent lines, indelibly simple and mysterious:

Air held his breath; the trees all still
….Seemed sorr’wing angels round,
Their swelling tears in dew-drops fell
….Upon the list’ning ground.

 

Here are the first four stanzas of Lincoln’s poem:

My childhood home I see again,

…And sadden with the view;

And still, as memory crowds my brain,

…There’s pleasure in it too.

 

O Memory! thou midway world

… ‘Twixt earth and paradise,

Where things decayed and loved ones lost

…In dreamy shadows rise,

 

And, freed from all that’s earthly vile,

…Seem hallowed, pure, and bright,

Like scenes in some enchanted isle

…All bathed in liquid light.

 

As dusky mountains please the eye

…When twilight chases day;

As bugle-notes that, passing by,

…In distance die away;

Click here to read the rest of Lincoln’s poem.

SOURCES

Lincoln as Poet (Library of Congress)

Abraham Lincoln (Poetry Foundation)

My Childhood Home I See Again (Poetry Foundation)

Why Abraham Lincoln’s poetry is the real thing. (Slate)

Reading 2: Learning By Littles (National Park Service)

A Real Education (Illinois Periodicals Online)

The Education of Abraham Lincoln (New York Times)

Ted Sorensen on Abraham Lincoln: A Man of His Words (Smithsonian)

46 thoughts on “Remembering Abraham Lincoln—Reader, Writer, Poet”

  2. Concerning Lincoln’s speaking abilities, I recall a story (probably apochryphal) about an old man approaching a teenager who had just recited the Gettysburg Address at a Forth of July rally. “Lincoln emphasized the word “people” and not the word “of” in that last sentence,” said the old man. “I know, I was there. It makes a difference.”

  4. TROLL SITING — Feb. 16, 2014 @ 10:47 p.m. & 10:51

    Urban Dictionary definitions:

    Troll: One who posts a deliberately provocative message to a newsgroup or message board with the intention of causing maximum disruption and argument.

    Trolling: Being a prick on the internet because you can. Typically unleashing one or more cynical or sarcastic remarks on an innocent by-stander, because it’s the internet and, hey, you can.

    A article on the polarizing effects of trolling –
    http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/climate_desk/2014/02/internet_troll_personality_study_machiavellianism_narcissism_psychopathy.html

    A report on the nature of the troll —
    http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0191886914000324

    PLEASE DO NOT FEED

  5. Mespo, it is extremely likely that Jeffery Dalmer and Adolf Hitler said some nice things during their life, but no matter how many nice things they could be shown to have said, we would never remove them from the category of sociopaths.

    I wish it were only words that could be referred to in regards to Lincoln’s sociopathy. If you aren’t afraid of the truth check out the articles at http://gunnyg.wordpress.com/2011/01/15/lew-rockwell-com-king-lincoln-archive-thomas-dilorenzo-etc/

    Truth just might set you free!

  7. Randy:
    Your post is like plucking all the vowels from our alphabet and claiming you can’t make any sensible words with what is left over. Your “sociopath” also said this in the famous Coopers Union speech:

    “Neither let us be slandered from our duty by false accusations against us, nor frightened from it by menaces of destruction to the Government nor of dungeons to ourselves. LET US HAVE FAITH THAT RIGHT MAKES MIGHT, AND IN THAT FAITH, LET US, TO THE END, DARE TO DO OUR DUTY AS WE UNDERSTAND IT.”

  8. Lincoln may have many faults…. One was he wanted to send the slaves off to Liberia …if you’ll look at Liberia you’ll see many similarities between the US and them…. The Capitol is Monrovia…. Named after James Monroe if I recall….repatriation…..

  10. Try reading the Collected Works of Lincoln for the true story in his own words. Why so many educated people will believe the revisionist goody goody two shoes lies about Lincoln doesn’t say much for their education.

    LINCOLN WAS AN OBSESSIVE WHITE SUPREMACIST

    “Free them [blacks] and make them politically and socially our equals? My own feelings will not admit of this . . . . We can not then make them equals.” (CW, Vol. II, p. 256).

    “There is a natural disgust in the minds of nearly all white people, to the idea of an indiscriminate amalgamation of the white and black races” (CW, Vol. II, p. 405).

    “What I would most desire would be the separation of the white and black races” (CW, Vol. II, p. 521).

    “I have no purpose to introduce political and social equality between the white and black races . . . . I, as well as Judge Douglas, am in favor of the race to which I belong, having the superior position. I have never said anything to the contrary.” (CW, Vol. III, p. 16).

    “I am not, nor ever have been in favor of bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the white and black races . . . . I am not nor ever have been in favor of making voters or jurors of negroes, nor of qualifying them to hold office, nor to intermarry with white people . . .” (CW, Vol, III, pp. 145-146).

    “I will to the very last stand by the law of this state, which forbids the marrying of white people with negroes.” (CW, Vol. III, p. 146).

    “Senator Douglas remarked . . that . . . this government was made for the white people and not for negroes. Why, in point of mere fact, I think so too.” (CW, Vol. II, p. 281).

    Until His Dying Day, Lincoln Plotted to Deport all the Black People Out of America

    “I have said that the separation of the races is the only perfect preventive of amalgamation . . . . Such separation . . . must be effected by colonization” [to Liberia, Central America, anywhere]. (CW, Vol. II, p. 409).

    “Let us be brought to believe it is morally right , and . . . favorable to . . . our interest, to transfer the African to his native clime . . .” (CW, Vol. II, p. 409).

    “The place I am thinking about having for a colony [for the deportation of all American blacks] is in Central America. It is nearer to us than Liberia.” (CW, Vol. V, pp. 373, 374).

    LINCOLN ONLY RHETORICALLY OPPOSED SOUTHERN SLAVERY. IN PRACTICE, HE STRENGTHENED IT

    ” I think no wise man has perceived, how it [slavery] could be at once eradicated, without producing a greater evil, even to the cause of human liberty himself.” (CW, Vol. II, p. 130).

    “I meant not to ask for the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia.” (CW, Vol., II, p. 260).

    “I believe there is no right, and ought to be no inclination I the people of the free states to enter into the slave states and interfere with the question of slavery at all.” (CW, Vol. II, p. 492).

    “I have no purpose directly or indirectly to interfere with the institution of slavery in the States where it exists.” (CW, Vol. III, p. 16).

    “I say that we must not interfere with the institution of slavery . . . because the constitution forbids it, and the general welfare does not require us to do so.” (CW, Vol. III, p. 460).

    LINCOLN CHAMPIONED THE FUGITIVE SLAVE ACT

    “I do not now, nor ever did, stand in favor of the unconditional repeal of the fugitive slave law.” (CW, Vol., III., p. 40).

    “[T]he people of the Southern states are entitled to a Congressional Fugitive Slave Law.” (CW, Vol. III, p. 41).

    Lincoln Advocated Secession When it Could Advance His Political Career

    “Any people anywhere, being inclined and having the power, have the right to rise up, and shake off the existing government, and form a new one that suits them better.” (CW, Vol. 1, p. 438).

    LINCOLN VIEWED FORT SUMTER AS AN IMPORTANT TAX COLLECTION POINT AND WENT TO WAR OVER IT

    “I think we should hold the forts, or retake them, as the case may be, and collect the revenue.” (CW, Vol. IV, p. 164).

    LINCOLN BELIEVED THE CONSTITUTION WAS WHATEVER HE ALONE SAID IT WAS

    “The dogmas of the quite past [referring to the U.S. Constitution], are inadequate to the stormy present . . . so we must think anew and act anew.” (CW, Vol. V, p. 537).

    “The resolutions quote from the constitution, the definition of treason; and also the . . . safeguards and guarantees therein provided for the citizen . . . against the pretensions of arbitrary power . . . . But these provisions of the constitution have no application to the case we have in hand.” (CW, Vol. VI, p. 262.

    “[T]he theory of the general government being only an agency, whose principles are the states [i.e. the true history of the American founding] was new to me and, as I think, is one of the best arguments for the national supremacy.” (CW, Vol. VII, p. 24.

    “I felt that measures, otherwise unconstitutional, might become lawful . . .” (CW, Vol. VII, p. 281).

    “You [General John Dix] are therefore hereby commanded forth with to arrest and imprison in any fort or military prison in your command the editors, proprietors and publishers of the aforesaid newspapers [New York World and New York Journal of Commerce].” CW, Vol. VII, p. 348.

    “It was decided [by Lincoln alone] that we have a case of rebellion, and that the public safety does require the qualified suspension of the writ [of Habeas Corpus].” CW, Vol. IV, pp. 430-431.

    LINCOLN WAS ECONOMICALLY IGNORANT OF THE BIG ECONOMIC ISSUE OF HIS DAY: PROTECTIONIST TARIFFS

    “[A] tariff of duties on imported goods . . . is indispensably necessary to the prosperity of the American people.” (CW, Vol. I, p. 307.

    “[B]y the tariff system . . . the man who contents himself to live upon the products of his own country , pays nothing at all.” (CW, Vol. I, p. 311).

    “All carrying . . . of articles from the place of their production to a distant place for their consumption . . . is useless labor.” (CW, Vol. I, p. 409).

    “I was an old Henry Clay tariff whig. In old times I made more speeches on that subject, than on any other. I have not changed my views.” (CW, Vol, III, p. 487).

    “The tariff is to the government what a meal is to a family . . .” (CW, Vol., IV, p. 211).

    “I must confess that I do not understand the subject [the economics of tariffs].” (CW, Vol. IV, p. 211).

    “The power confided to me, will be used . . . to collect the duties and imposes; but beyond what may be necessary for these objects, there will be no invasion . . .” (CW, Vol. IV, p. 266).

    “Accumulations of the public revenue, lying within [Fort Sumter] had been seized [and denied to the U.S. government] . . . . [The administration] sought only to hold the public places and property [i.e., the forts] . . . to collect the revenue.” (CW, Vol. IV, pp. 422-423).

    ALTHOUGH HE NEVER BECAME A CHRISTIAN, LINCOLN CLAIMED TO KNOW WHAT WAS IN THE MIND OF GOD AND BLAMED THE WAR ON HIM, ABSOLVING HIMSELF OF ALL RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT, IN ORDER TO BAMBOOZLE THE RELIGIOUS POPULATION OF THE NORTH

    “[I]t is peculiarly fit for us to recognize the hand of God in this terrible visitation [i.e. the war].” CW, Vol. IV, p. 482.

    “You all may recollect that in taking up the sword thus forced into my hands this Government . . . placed its whole dependence upon the favor of God.” (CW, Vol. V., p. 212).

    “God wills this contest [the war].” CW, Vol. V, p. 404.

    “If I had my way, this war would never have been commenced . . . but . . . we must believe that He permits it for some wise purpose of his own, mysterious and unknown to us . . .” (CW, Vol. V, p. 478).

    “[I]t has not pleased the Almighty to bless us with a return to peace . . .” (CW, Vol. V, p. 518).

    “[R]ender the homage due to the Divine Majesty . . . to lead the whole nation, through the paths of repentance and submission to the Divine Will, back to the perfect enjoyment of Union . . .” (CW, Vol. VI, p. 332).

    “It has pleased Almighty God . . . to vouchsafe to the army and the navy of the United States victories on land and sea.” (CW, Vol. VI, p. 332).

    “I claim not to have controlled events, but confess plainly that events have controlled me . . . . God alone can claim it.” (CW, Vol. VII, p. 282).

    “He intends some great good to follow this mighty convulsion, which no mortal could make . . .” (CW, Vol. VII, p. 535).

  12. Education as we know today was only for the wealthy…..laser….. Used to be you studied as an apprentice….. And then tried cases….. There was not a unified bar….. But you had to serve as an apprentice….. Texas was still this way until the 60s……

    Lincoln was well educated…. He was a spiritualist as well…..Mary Todd…. Got him into other forms of mysticism…. More later on that…. But he was quite the extraordinaire….. Followed his heart….. Then again…. It was because of the association with Pinkerton….. That got them in security business….

  13. John,
    Even with all you said, is not the result of his actions, squeezed and forced into the mechanisms available under the governing strictures, and somewhat chastised as by you, one of the most remarkable achievements in history?
    Lincoln’s actions are so remarkable that it is only academic to pick at them.
    Just as when a powerful sheriff had to be brought in to tame a wild town, then became too dangerous once the bad guys were quelled, perhaps it is best that Lincoln was assassinated for real before it could be done by pen alone.
    An intuitive learner such as Lincoln must have been, is never done learning and never thinks he knows it all.

  14. I’m compelled to first apologize. It is not my intent to offend. Please respond to an assessment I heard of Lincoln that challenged his actions as unconstitutional in that he confiscated private property, effected illegal immigration, engaged in an undeclared war and circumvented the legislative branch while usurping its powers and exceeding those of the executive. For example, a proclamation cannot be found as a legislative device in the Constitution, related either to the legislative or executive branch. My personal concern would be the deaths, ultimately, of something approaching one million men from an illegalwar that was conducted to resolve a labor issue (in an era of indentured servants) and one of economics that might have been resolve by economic activity such as boycotts. It could hardly have been declared an issue of immediacy as it had gone on for 2 or 3 hundred years.

  17. “Reading law” was almost the only way to become a lawyer in those days. The last person I ever heard of who did it that way was a lawyer in Jackson, MS. He did not realize he had enough hours to take the bar exam, discovering it accidentally. He had every loophole in the licensing law covered, so took the bar exam and passed easily. A substantial portion of his training had been through mentoring rather than sitting in a classroom. I don’t remember exactly when he got his license, but seems like it was in the 1980s. He died about ten years ago. He was not an old guy when he passed away.

  18. okay rafflaw;

    like out in CA, where one can work under a judge and/or law firm for 2 years and get a life time achievement equivalent right to take the BAR exam.

    Still is awesome that one so great came from such a background.

    WOW!

  20. WOW – I had NO idea that Lincoln was self-educated.

    Did they have a BAR license back then;
    or did he just learn the Law and resultantly become an attorney of law?

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