Ella Wheeler Wilcox
Through tears to enlightenment39 total reviews
Comment from WalkerMan
This splendid biographical account of the life of Ella Wheeler Wilcox shows us how her childhood brilliance and avid reading evolved into timeless wisdom expressed in her poems and other writing. Both titles of and passages from some of her most famous poems are woven in with your growing skill.
Your choice of "The Winds of Fate" video recital is ideal, so I am including the wise words here for those who want to save them. The source is World Voices by Ella Wheeler Wilcox in 1916.
THE WINDS OF FATE
by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
One ship drives east and another drives west
With the self-same winds that blow;
'Tis the set of the sails
And not the gales
That tells them the way to go.
Like the winds of the sea are the winds of fate
As we voyage along through life;
'Tis the set of the soul
That decides its goal
And not the calm or the strife.
As usual, your Author's Notes thoroughly elaborate on each stanza's message. I like the way you ended with lines 7 and 8 from the first stanza of "Singers" in Ella Wheeler's book, Shells (1873), more than a decade before she married Robert Marius Wilcox in 1884.
Superb, and aptly illustrated.
Thank you for the dedication. :)) -- Mike
reply by the author on 03-Sep-2023
  |
This splendid biographical account of the life of Ella Wheeler Wilcox shows us how her childhood brilliance and avid reading evolved into timeless wisdom expressed in her poems and other writing. Both titles of and passages from some of her most famous poems are woven in with your growing skill.
Your choice of "The Winds of Fate" video recital is ideal, so I am including the wise words here for those who want to save them. The source is World Voices by Ella Wheeler Wilcox in 1916.
THE WINDS OF FATE
by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
One ship drives east and another drives west
With the self-same winds that blow;
'Tis the set of the sails
And not the gales
That tells them the way to go.
Like the winds of the sea are the winds of fate
As we voyage along through life;
'Tis the set of the soul
That decides its goal
And not the calm or the strife.
As usual, your Author's Notes thoroughly elaborate on each stanza's message. I like the way you ended with lines 7 and 8 from the first stanza of "Singers" in Ella Wheeler's book, Shells (1873), more than a decade before she married Robert Marius Wilcox in 1884.
Superb, and aptly illustrated.
Thank you for the dedication. :)) -- Mike
Comment Written 03-Sep-2023
reply by the author on 03-Sep-2023
-
Thank you so much, Mike, for this exceptional and thorough review! I greatly value all your kind words and would like to repeat my gratitude to you, not least for introducing me to this amazing lady who was undoubtedly ahead of time in so many ways. Take care Debbie
-
You are most welcome, Debbie. I'm always glad to have helped you.
Yes, it is important to bring Ella to readers not familiar with her, as her empathy and wisdom is vital education. :)) -- Mike
Comment from GWHARGIS
I am in awe of poets. Swear to you. You have made me see someone through artistic eyes. I felt their pain, their joy, their reasons why. This was an unusual poem in that was about another poet. Great job on this. Gretchen
reply by the author on 03-Sep-2023
 |
I am in awe of poets. Swear to you. You have made me see someone through artistic eyes. I felt their pain, their joy, their reasons why. This was an unusual poem in that was about another poet. Great job on this. Gretchen
Comment Written 03-Sep-2023
reply by the author on 03-Sep-2023
-
Thank you so much, Gretchen! Your review and kind words are greatly valued. Take care Debbie
Comment from w.j.debi
Another great biographical poem. My father never claimed to like poetry, and I'm not sure he ever knew the source, but he often quoted Ella Wheeler Wilcox's works.
Beautifully done. Thank you for sharing.
reply by the author on 03-Sep-2023
|
Another great biographical poem. My father never claimed to like poetry, and I'm not sure he ever knew the source, but he often quoted Ella Wheeler Wilcox's works.
Beautifully done. Thank you for sharing.
Comment Written 03-Sep-2023
reply by the author on 03-Sep-2023
-
Thank you so much again! I deeply value your words. What an astute man, your father! Take care Debbie
Comment from royowen
I like the way you use the ballad form of poetry, and the dedication to famous, although some not as well known as others into the bright lights of awareness to aspiring writers such as myself, your impeccable use of rhyme and meter is noted, well done, blessings Roy
reply by the author on 03-Sep-2023
|
I like the way you use the ballad form of poetry, and the dedication to famous, although some not as well known as others into the bright lights of awareness to aspiring writers such as myself, your impeccable use of rhyme and meter is noted, well done, blessings Roy
Comment Written 03-Sep-2023
reply by the author on 03-Sep-2023
-
Thank you so much, Roy, for this lovely review! I really appreciate your kind words. Bless you, Debbie
-
Most welcome
Comment from Heather Knight
Thanks for teaching us so much about this poet. In your posts, I don't know what I like best, the poem or the notes.
Unfortunately, this is very true:
She wrote the world will laugh with you
but weep - you weep alone -
What you say about the old lady she met on her way to a party, makes me think maybe she was an empath.
Thanks so much for sharing your talent.
reply by the author on 03-Sep-2023
|
Thanks for teaching us so much about this poet. In your posts, I don't know what I like best, the poem or the notes.
Unfortunately, this is very true:
She wrote the world will laugh with you
but weep - you weep alone -
What you say about the old lady she met on her way to a party, makes me think maybe she was an empath.
Thanks so much for sharing your talent.
Comment Written 03-Sep-2023
reply by the author on 03-Sep-2023
-
Thank you so much, Maria! Your kind words are greatly appreciated. Whatever the case with the widow on the train, it seems to have been a pivotal moment for Ella. Take care Debbie x
Comment from Raul1
I think this poem talks about reincarnation of being born again. It is a different kind of poetry. Excellent work! The simple verses is well written. Excellent work!
reply by the author on 03-Sep-2023
|
I think this poem talks about reincarnation of being born again. It is a different kind of poetry. Excellent work! The simple verses is well written. Excellent work!
Comment Written 03-Sep-2023
reply by the author on 03-Sep-2023
-
Thank you so much, Raul! I appreciate your kind review. Take care Debbie
Comment from Pam Lonsdale
I love this line: She wrote the world will laugh with you but weep - you weep alone" How true is that?
We all take inspiration from something or someone, and often it is the death of a loved one. We do it to honor them, and we honor them by doing it.
Your poems are all so much more than "rhymes" - they tell us stories and often those stories come after so much research. I appreciate the research that goes into something like this, as I do it myself and I know how much richer it is because of the time you took.
Your author's notes, as always, are fabulous. Thank you for sharing this talented lady with us.
Have you seen all the yellow below your video? I don't know if spacing down from the top would fix that, it just looks odd and if you are a perfectionist like I think you are, it may bug you a little.
xo
Pam
reply by the author on 03-Sep-2023
|
I love this line: She wrote the world will laugh with you but weep - you weep alone" How true is that?
We all take inspiration from something or someone, and often it is the death of a loved one. We do it to honor them, and we honor them by doing it.
Your poems are all so much more than "rhymes" - they tell us stories and often those stories come after so much research. I appreciate the research that goes into something like this, as I do it myself and I know how much richer it is because of the time you took.
Your author's notes, as always, are fabulous. Thank you for sharing this talented lady with us.
Have you seen all the yellow below your video? I don't know if spacing down from the top would fix that, it just looks odd and if you are a perfectionist like I think you are, it may bug you a little.
xo
Pam
Comment Written 03-Sep-2023
reply by the author on 03-Sep-2023
-
Pam, thank you so much for this wonderful review! I appreciate all the thought that's gone into it. And you're absolutely right about my irritation with that big block of yellow. I've tried spacing down from the top and enlarging the font but it won't go away. I had a video there which keeps disappearing but even when there the block remains on the bottom. It's very annoying! It's never happened before with the video disappearing. I don't know if it's anything to do with copyright?
-
The video was there, with the big block of color, when I read the poem. I've never posted a youtube video here, so I'm afraid I can't help you.
-
Thank you Pam. At least it was still there then :)
Comment from Cathy M
You followed Robert Frost's definition of a poem right to the period at the end. Your last stanza was a great educational stanza after all the beautiful descriptions including the last stanza. Robert Frost would be proud of this poem.
reply by the author on 03-Sep-2023
|
You followed Robert Frost's definition of a poem right to the period at the end. Your last stanza was a great educational stanza after all the beautiful descriptions including the last stanza. Robert Frost would be proud of this poem.
Comment Written 03-Sep-2023
reply by the author on 03-Sep-2023
-
Thank you so much, Cathy, for this wonderful review which I greatly appreciate! I'm delighted you enjoyed it. That means a lot to me. Take care Debbie
Comment from Brett Matthew West
Appears she had quite a life, and among other things a favoritism for books.
Notes filled in her life story well and help explain why she felt the way she did about animals, both the two-legged, and the four-legged species.
reply by the author on 03-Sep-2023
|
Appears she had quite a life, and among other things a favoritism for books.
Notes filled in her life story well and help explain why she felt the way she did about animals, both the two-legged, and the four-legged species.
Comment Written 03-Sep-2023
reply by the author on 03-Sep-2023
-
Thank you so much, Brett, for your kind review. I greatly appreciate your time and words here. Take care Debbie
Comment from HAPPIOTTER
What an absolute joy to read and a wonderful history lesson all together. I love your rhyming and timing. Perfect!! This is a great poem! Thank you for sharing and for providing such a wonderful read at the bottom about this fine lady.
Happi
reply by the author on 03-Sep-2023
|
What an absolute joy to read and a wonderful history lesson all together. I love your rhyming and timing. Perfect!! This is a great poem! Thank you for sharing and for providing such a wonderful read at the bottom about this fine lady.
Happi
Comment Written 03-Sep-2023
reply by the author on 03-Sep-2023
-
Thank you so much for this exceptional review, greatly appreciated! I'm delighted you enjoyed. Take care Debbie
-
You?re very welcome!!
Happi