While researching the New England literary renaissance of the mid-Nineteenth Century, B&RU stalwart Colin (CDinoke) Illar unearthed this early, unpublished poem attributed to John Greenleaf Whittier (1807-1892). Whittier was an ardent abolitionist, founder of the Liberty Party, and widely-read poet. His best-known poem today is the Civil War ode “Barbara Frietchie” (“Shoot if you must this old grey head, but spare your country’s flag, she said.”)
The unpublished poem found by Colin recounts the rise and fall of James Greenleaf (1765-1843) undoubtedly written shortly after Greenleaf’s death in gentile poverty in the City of Washington in 1843.