"Our days by deeds are numbered,—and by dreams, / If we dream well and nobly" —Florence Earle CoatesOur Days by Deeds and Dreams: A Daybook of Poems by Florence Earle Coates (2024)
Compiled by Sonja N. Bohm
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SYNOPSIS
If her mentor, Matthew Arnold, was "priest of the unknown," then Florence Earle Coates was its priestess. Of the life and times of Mrs. Coates, history has left us few leaves to cull. Yet we are not bereft of clues; they lie hidden within the "veiled heart" of her poetry. If we are to glean insight from a meager harvest, we must approach her poems as dreamers—navigating the world of imagination and seeing "Light where the shade lay deep." "Truth is with the dreamer," the poet declares. While we may be content with our modest yield, Coates would offer us the world! —Sonja N. Bohm (compiler)
Known for her carefully crafted lyrical style, Florence Earle Coates' poetry reflects the Romantic and Victorian traditions. Well-regarded during her lifetime, she has largely faded from modern literary discourse, partly due to a broader cultural shift away from traditional poetic forms and themes. After a decades-long search into Coates' life, times, and works, compiler Sonja N. Bohm created her Wikipedia article and transcribed her complete works to Wikisource, giving the poet a voice in the digital age so that her words might endure for future generations.
This collection represents Coates' complete poetic output to the best of Bohm's knowledge, with all poems now in the public domain. Also appended are over 40 verses addressing the subject of war, the majority of which were written by Coates during World War I. One such poem reflects on themes of peace and nature amidst the backdrop of conflict, capturing the essence of Coates' lyrical voice. An excerpt reads:
"Ah, well! we talk of war,
But peace is so much kinder,
That all our strife is for
Is just the hope to find her:
And see!—how Spring, with look serene,
Is garlanding her halls in green!"
This collection seeks to restore Florence Earle Coates to the literary conversation, presenting her complete works for poetry enthusiasts, scholars, and casual readers alike. Readers of all ages will find in her verse universal themes, such as beauty, love, joy and hope, crafted with a sincerity and depth that transcend time, place, and generation.
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