By: Maggie Beedles

Maggie Beedles — Mon, 10 Oct 2022 13:09:07 +0000

Friends of mine and I would like to bring to Ms. Dove’s attention, another important African American Poet who spent her entire life here in Rolla, Inez C. Parker. Though largely forgotten in the modern day, we seek to resurrect her memory as part of our Black History Matters movement here in Rolla. She received much critical acclaim and national attention between 1904 and 1907, presenting to sold out audiences in Saint Louis, and then nearly falls out of the historical record by 1910. We would be so greatly enthused if Ms. Dove could read one of her poems tonight. Our suggestion would be:
HOPE
The morn was dreary and gray with mist,
By faintest glimmer of gold unkissed;
But Hope looked forth with a vision bright,
And whispered low, with a smile of light:
“Oh heart, dear heart, be of good cheer;
The noon will be fairer-never fear!”
Wind-swept the noon came, wet with rain,
All sighs and shadows, all tears and pain;
But Hope looked forth with a steadfast eye,
And whispered low as the wind shrieked by:
“on, heart, faint heart, be of good cheer;
At eve ‘twill be fairer-never fear!”
The shrouded sun found a cloudy tomb,
And without a star came a night of gloom;
But Hope looked forth with a vision bright,
And whispered low, with a smile of light:
“Oh, heart, sad heart, be of good cheer;
The morn will be fairer-never fear!”

If you could please get this message to Rita Dove, we would be so grateful!

Comments on: Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Rita Dove to speak at Missouri S&T

By: Maggie Beedles