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Today is poet speak day.

Curious to find poetry hot spots in the environments I frequent, I started by doing a search for poetry communities in MyBlogLog.

I came across classicpoetryaloud’s community, “Classic Poetry Aloud Index“. He offers poetry readings by podcast. (if you’re not a MyBlogLog member, his official site can be found here)

In his community RSS feed I saw a title to one of his previous podcasts called “For Those Who Fail” by Joaquin Miller.

Joaquin Miller tidbits:

Joaquin Miller was pen name. His real name was Cincinnatus Heine (or Hiner) Miller.

Born in Union County, Indiana on September 8, 1837.

Possibly of German Baptist upbringing.

While young he moved to an Oregon farm with his family.

His occupations included:

Mining camp cook
Lawyer
Judge
Newspaper writer
Pony Express writer
Horse thief

In 1857 he married an Indian woman named Paquita. They had two children.

Miller later married Theresa Dyer in 1862 and had three children with her. They divorced in 1869.

Miller married Abigail Leland in 1879 in New York, New York.

He was jailed for stealing a horse in Shasta County, although there were more than one incident reported.

He spent some time in mining camps then moved to Canyon City, Oregon by 1864 and was elected third Judge of Grant County.

He later lost a seat with the Oregon Supreme Court, experienced another failed marriage, then traveled abroad for some years.

He eventually settled in Oakland, California where he grew fruit and published his various writing (poetry and the like).

Ambrose Bierce (American editorialist, journalist, short-story writer) once called Miller “The greatest-hearted man he ever knew.” yet also said he was “The greatest liar this country ever produced. He cannot, will not, tell the truth.” Miller said, “I always wondered why God made Bierce.”

From 1886 to 1913 (when Miller died) Miller lived in Oakland, in a home he called “The Hights.”

In 1919 “The Hights” was bought by the city and can be found in “Joaquin Miller Park.” It is designated a California Historical Landmark.

Todays Poet Speak poem:

“For Those Who Fail” by Joaquin Miller

“All honor to him who shall win the prize,”
The world has cried for a thousand years;
But to him who tries and who fails and dies,
I give great honor and glory and tears.

O great is the hero who wins a name,
But greater many and many a time,
Some pale-faced fellow who dies in shame,
And lets God finish the thought sublime.

And great is the man with a sword undrawn,
And good is the man who refrains from wine;
But the man who fails and yet fights on,
Lo! he is the twin-born brother of mine!

In “Childrens Literature - a textbook of sources for teachers and teacher training classes” by Charles Madison Curry (published 1921 - original from Harvard University) “For Those Who Fail” is said to suggest ‘the important truth that he who wins popular applause is not usually the one who most deserves to be honored.’

That I believe too.

Extra:

One of Millers most famous poems is “Columbus”:

“In men whom men condemn as ill

I find so much of goodness still.

In men whom men pronounce divine

I find so much of sin and blot

I do not dare to draw a line

Between the two, where God has not.”

Once again, if you’d like to hear classic poetry by podcast, visit “Classic Poetry Aloud Index.”

*Permalink to “For Those Who Fail” podcast*

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