Bell wrote that Ehrmann was deeply concerned with social problems, and "... was a friend of Eugene Debs, the pioneer union founder in America, whose championing of the underdog struck a responsive chord in Ehrmann who deplored the exploitation of labour in his early twentieth century life. His poem America -- 1910 reflects this period, and Complacent Women, writtten in 1918, is as relevant today as it was then.” (Is there within your soul no pride of life/ No whispered music, and no star of hope/ That you have no desire for human rights?…) (See Appendix 2)
Born in Terre Haute, Indiana, and graduated from De Pauw University, and going on to postgraduate studies in law and philosophy at Harvard University, Ehrmann first practised law, and then joined the family business.
“At the age of 41, he (Ehrmann) left the company (the family meat-packing business) in order to devote his life to writing. Contemporaries told of him lying in the grass contemplating the sky – an early ‘flower child’,” wrote Bell.
And the central attraction in Ehrmann’s poetry is that he used very simple words, and yet the message makes a strong connection with the reader, touching the heart, the soul, and exercises the mind, as exemplified by the following:
Love Some One
Love some one – in God’s name
love some one – for this is
the bread of the inner life, without
which a part of you will
starve and die; and though you
feel you must be stern,
even hard, in your life of affairs,
make for yourself at least
a little corner, somewhere in the
great world, where you may
unbosom and be kind.
Indeed, Ehrmann was the driving force for my growing love for poetry since teenage years. He was able to draw me into his soul in such an immediate and deep manner, that the impact was ever-lasting, especially on an idealistic young mind. His works examined the human condition and contemporary issues some of which are still relevant today. Ehrmann demonstrated the power of communication via poetry so well that on mere first reading of Desiderata in a Reader’s Digest article, I was besotted and moved to seek further reading of his works.
On the other hand, the poet of more ancient times who made Desi a more literary student is without doubt, William Shakespeare. I can write volumes on this, to my mind, the greatest Scribe and story teller in the world, but I shan't today. Perhaps I will do it next wickedend when I would be more inclined to be outraged by the goings-on at home in NegaraKu, and I would did into The Bard's works to share some lessons, "Till then, it's adieu, and not Goodbye" as Morning Has Broken, and Desi must have his first gorgeous meal of the die! Yes, we are lucky to br e k fa t in plenty; ah food, glorious food, like ma'na from Heaven-- Yl, Desi
Partin's Courtesy of azlyrics.com:~~~~~~~
CAT STEVENS LYRICS
Morning has broken, like the first morning
Blackbird has spoken, like the first bird
Praise for the singing, praise for the morning
Praise for the springing fresh from the world
Sweet the rain's new fall, sunlit from heaven
Like the first dewfall, on the first grass
Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden
Sprung in completeness where his feet pass
Mine is the sunlight, mine is the morning
Born of the one light, Eden saw play
Praise with elation, praise every morning
God's re-creation of the new day
Blackbird has spoken, like the first bird
Praise for the singing, praise for the morning
Praise for the springing fresh from the world
Sweet the rain's new fall, sunlit from heaven
Like the first dewfall, on the first grass
Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden
Sprung in completeness where his feet pass
Mine is the sunlight, mine is the morning
Born of the one light, Eden saw play
Praise with elation, praise every morning
God's re-creation of the new day
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