Joyce+Kilmer

(Alfred) Joyce Kilmer By: Jessica M. 1886-1918

Joyce Kilmer was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey, the fourth and youngest child of Annie Ellen Kilburn and Dr. Frederick Barnett Kilmer. Kilmer entered the Rutgers College Grammar School (now Rutgers Preparatory School) in 1895 at the age of 8. After graduating from the Rutgers College Grammar School in 1904, he continued his education at Rutgers College from 1904 to 1906. Unable to complete the math requirement in the curriculum at Rutgers, and was under pressure from his mother, Kilmer transferred to Columbia College of Columbia University in New York City. He completed his Arts degree and graduated from Columbia in 1908. He married Aline Murray, a fellow poet to who had also gone to Rutgers and they had five children together. He was a poet and journalist for most of his life but also served on the United States army where he was killed. Joyce Kilmers most famous poem, "Trees" is one of my favorite poems! The Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest is located in the Nantahala National Forest, North Carolina. It has some of the largest trees East of the Mississippi. Kilmer currently has a street named after him in New Brunswick and Edison, New Jersey, as well as many other memorial sites named after him. **Vision** Homer, they tell us, was blind and could not see the beautiful faces Looking up into his own and reflecting the joy of his dream, Yet did he seem Gifted with eyes that could follow the gods to their holiest places. I have no vision of gods, not of Eros with love-arrows laden, Jupiter thundering death or of Juno his white-breasted queen, Yet have I seen All of the joy of the world in the innocent heart of a maiden. Joyce Kilmer Trees I think that I shall never see A poem as lovely as a tree. A tree whose hungry mouth is prest Against the earth's sweet flowing breast; A tree that looks at God all day, And lifts her leafy arms to pray; A tree that may in Summer wear A nest of robins in her hair; Upon whose bosom snow has lain; Who intimately lives with rain. Poems are made by fools like me, But only God can make a tree. Joyce Kilmer