John Holmes (poet)
Encyclopedia
John Holmes born John Albert Holmes Jr., was a poet
and critic
. He was born in Somerville, Massachusetts
, and both attended and taught at Tufts University
where he was a professor of literature
and modern poetry
for 28 years. He wrote several volumes of poetry and the lyrics to several Unitarian Universalist hymns., including "The People's Peace". He taught Anne Sexton
.
bled to death over his papers
Along the Row (1929)
Address to the Living (1937)
Fair Warning (1939)
The Poet's Word (1939)
Map of my Country (1943)
Little Treasury of Love Poems (1950)
The Double Root (1950)
The Symbols (1955)
Writing poetry (1960)
The Fortune Teller (1961)
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
and critic
Critic
A critic is anyone who expresses a value judgement. Informally, criticism is a common aspect of all human expression and need not necessarily imply skilled or accurate expressions of judgement. Critical judgements, good or bad, may be positive , negative , or balanced...
. He was born in Somerville, Massachusetts
Somerville, Massachusetts
Somerville is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, located just north of Boston. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 75,754 and was the most densely populated municipality in New England. It is also the 17th most densely populated incorporated place in...
, and both attended and taught at Tufts University
Tufts University
Tufts University is a private research university located in Medford/Somerville, near Boston, Massachusetts. It is organized into ten schools, including two undergraduate programs and eight graduate divisions, on four campuses in Massachusetts and on the eastern border of France...
where he was a professor of literature
Literature
Literature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...
and modern poetry
Poetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
for 28 years. He wrote several volumes of poetry and the lyrics to several Unitarian Universalist hymns., including "The People's Peace". He taught Anne Sexton
Anne Sexton
Anne Sexton was an American poet, known for her highly personal, confessional verse. She won the Pulitzer Prize for poetry in 1967...
.
Early years
Holmes was born in Somerville, Massachusetts, son of John A. Holmes, Sr. and Mary Florence (Murdock) Holmes. His father was an engineer who specialized in building dams and bridges. John attended Somerville public schools. Holmes’ early adulthood was marred by his struggle with alcoholism and the nightmarish end to his first marriage when his wife slit her wrists andbled to death over his papers
Professional life
In 1934 he became an instructor at Tufts. He worked there the rest of his life, rising to full professor in 1960. Holmes's students admired him. "When he taught," wrote Jerome Barron, "something magical happened. He made you want to write and understand poetry. He didn't lecture; he encouraged. Simplicity, and writing that went from the inside out, this is what he was after."His works
Holmes wrote several volumes of poetry:Along the Row (1929)
Address to the Living (1937)
Fair Warning (1939)
The Poet's Word (1939)
Map of my Country (1943)
Little Treasury of Love Poems (1950)
The Double Root (1950)
The Symbols (1955)
Writing poetry (1960)
The Fortune Teller (1961)