Not many people nowadays have heard of Joyce Kilmer. Of those who have, many probably think that he was a woman. He was not. And of his literary output, most probably know only one poem, "Trees," which is fairly famous ("Only God can make a tree") but not very good. Few know that he was a Catholic convert, or that he wrote much better poems than "Trees," or that he was well on his way to becoming the most significant American Catholic writer of his generation when he was killed in World War I.
Here is one of my favorite Joyce Kilmer poems, a nicely crafted Italian sonnet, appropriate to the day.
The Annunciation
(For Helen Parry Eden)
"Hail Mary, full of grace," the Angel saith.
Our Lady bows her head, and is ashamed;
She has a Bridegroom Who may not be named,
Her mortal flesh bears Him Who conquers death.
Now in the dust her spirit grovelleth;
Too bright a Sun before her eyes has flamed,
Too fair a herald joy too high proclaimed,
And human lips have trembled in God's breath.
O Mother-Maid, thou art ashamed to cover
With thy white self, whereon no stain can be,
Thy God, Who came from Heaven to be thy Lover,
Thy God, Who came from Heaven to dwell in thee.
About thy head celestial legions hover,
Chanting the praise of thy humility.
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