Sherry Chandler » Joseph Seamon Cotter
Joseph Seamon Cotter
Joseph Seamon Cotter (1861-1949) appears to have been Kentucky’s first African-American poet to get any attention from the white establishment. My peregrinations and researches lead me to believe that his poetic reputation has been eclipsed lately by that of his son, Joseph Seamon Cotter, Jr. (and, in fact, there’s some confusion between them on the web), but Cotter Senior’s accomplishments are impressive. KYLIT has posted an excellent biography that is well worth reading. I’ll hit the highlights. He was born free in Bardstown, because his great-grandfather had bought his own freedom in 1829 and after that continued to buy members of his family into freedom. He also bought a farm, so he must have been both very industrious and very respected.
Like George D. Prentice, Cotter learned to read by age 3 and also like Prentice, he had to give up formal schooling to work the family farm. Cotter published five poetry collections, the most famous of which is Sequel to the Pied Piper of Hamlin, a book of short stories, and a play, Caleb the Degenerate. In addition, he founded Louisville’s Paul Laurence Dunbar High School (he was an admirer and friend of Dunbar, who visited his home in Louisville) and was principal there for nearly twenty years. He served in Louisville public schools for 50 years. He was active in the National Organization for the Advancement of Colored People, a member of the Author’s League of America, and was listed in Who’s Who in America.
The little poem below is reproduced by William S. Ward in his Literary History of Kentucky. I like it as well as anything else of Cotter’s I’ve been able to find.
The Tryst
The moon hangs limp in a lusty sky
And trysts with the evening star,
Which flingeth back a golden smile,
And they straightway lovers are.
The rich man trinkets the wares of life
And mocks the poor man’s plea,
Which flingeth back a dagger-thought
That trysts with anarchy.
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