July 14, 2009
“Desiderata” Rises From The Grave (1965)
When Adlai Stevenson collapsed from a fatal heart attack on a London street in 1965, he left behind a number of impressive accomplishments: reformist govenor of Illinois, two-time Democratic presidential candidate, ambassador to the United Nations. But his death brought one more accomplishment, by popularizing a never-remembered poet's best work and helping to create an urban legend.
This is a story woven from two strands, involving Stevenson and the St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Baltimore. First, the Stevenson story.
On the day after Christmas, The New York Times published a story about Stevenson's tradition of creating a special Christmas card every year. When he died, on his nightstand was found a poem he intended to use for his 1965 card. Because no name was attached to Stevenson's copy, "Desiderata" was attributed to the world's most disseminated author, anonymous.
In fact, "Desiderata" was written by Max Ehrmann of Terre Haute, Ind. Born in 1872, the youngest of five children, lived nearly his whole life in his home town, except for a brief stint at a college down there road — where, he later wrote, he "contracted a disease I never have shaken off. The disease was idealism." He also spent two years studying law and philosophy at Harvard. That was the extent of his travels.
Back home in Terre Haute, Max tried to make a living by his pen. When he couldn't, he worked: attorney for a few years; credit manager at the overall factory owned by his family; the county's deputy prosecutor. Still, he kept writing, with the desire "to leave to my country a bit of chaste prose that he caught up some noble moods. ... If, in an hour of noble elation, I could write a bit of glorified prose that would soften the stern ways of life, and bring to our fevered days some courage, dignity and poise — I should be well content."
Five years after penning those noble sentiments in his journal, in 1927, Max wrote "Desiderata," with its words of advice suitable for a Hallmark card or a graduation speech.
"Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silenceFast-forward about 30 years. Max is long in his grave, and his widow has arranged with a publisher to put out "The Collected Poems of Max Ehrmann." The rector of St. Paul's Church in Baltimore, the Rev. Frederick Kates, came across a copy of the poem. He had a habit of passing out inspirational materials during Lent, so in 1959, about 300 parishioners found in their pews copies of "Desiderata," with the standard notation at the top "Old St. Paul's Church, Baltimore A.C. 1692".
As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and ignorant; they too have their story."
With the two strands in place, it's time to tie them together. Adlai Stevenson's friends honored his memory by printing and sending his Christmas card containing "Desiderata." The next month, a national United Methodist magazine sealed the birth of the urban legend by featuring "Desiderata" on its cover, as if written on parchment, with the credit "FOUND IN OLD SAINT PAUL'S ANGLICAN CHURCH, BALTIMORE, DATED 1692."
The poem's popularity grew, fueled in 1972 when a record by radio talk show host Les Crane hit #8 on the Billboard charts. The record inspired a parody by National Lampoon's Tony Hendra that proved equally popular. It opens:
Go placidly amidst the noise and waste, and remember what comfort there may be in owning a piece thereof.Ever since, the poem's fans have been drawn to St. Paul's to visit the birthplace of "Desiderata," only to be told: a) the church wasn't built in 1692; b) the poem can't be found here anyway; and c) would you please go away?"I'm sick of it," the Washington Post quoted the rector in a 1977 article. "I've been dealing with it 40 times a week for 15 years. Forty times a week." The rise of Max Ehrmann's profile as creator of "Desiderata" may have eased the pressure since then, but the church's website still tries to keep the record straight. And one hopes that Max Ehrmann, formerly of Terre Haute, Ind., is content. His "glorified prose" has found a home in the nation's heart.
Avoid quiet and passive persons, unless you are in need of sleep. Rotate your tires.
Speak glowingly of those greater than yourself; and heed well their advice, even though they be turkeys.
Know what to kiss - and when.
Consider that two wrongs never make a right, but that three do. Wherever possible, put people on hold.
Be comforted, that in the face of all irridity and disillusionment, and despite the changing fortunes of time, there is always a big future in computer maintenance.
Or, in some cases, on their backs.
Born: Benjamin Thompson, poet, Quincy, Mass., 1642; Punch, humor magazine, London, 1841; Owen Wister, novelist, Philadelphia, 1860; Irving Stone, novelist, San Francisco, 1903; Isaac Bashevis Singer, novelist, short-story writer, essayist, Radzymin, Poland, 1904; Woodrow Wilson "Woody" Guthrie, Okemah, Okla., 1912; Natalia Ginzburg, playwright, short-story writer, novelist, Palermo, Italy, 1916; Arthur Laurents, playwright, screenwriter, director, Brooklyn, N.Y., 1918; Linda Hasselstrom, poet, essayist, Houston, Texas, 1943.
Died: Madame de Staël (ps. Anna Louise Germaine Necker), author, critic, Paris, 1817; Anton Chekhov, playwright, short-story writer, Badenweiler, Germany, 1904; Raymond Loewy, designer, Monte Carlo, 1986; June Jordan, poet, novelist, essayist, children's author, Berkeley, Calif., 2002.
Quote for the Day: "Originality is not seen in single words or even in sentences. Originality is the sum total of a man's thinking or his writing." — Isaac Singer, who was born today in 1904
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