H. C. Dodge kindle Distant LECN Fields: An Early Fall of Leaves from the Poet-Tree of H.C. Dodge

With NRG his XOD/But did X10U8/The miss whose OBDNC/Did all LEV8. -- from "Letters Prey" Not 21st Century texting, but some of the 19th Century poetry of H.C. Dodge. The poems were once published widely in newspapers and other periodicals, whereby Dodge enjoyed a certain degree of popularity. However, by that same token, the author's work might now be considered scattered, as it was never collected together in a book — an impediment to finding new readers. This little volume is a first step towards giving H.C. Dodge more recognition for all the wordplay, the reasonably challenging writing constraints, the spirit of fun. If you're a reader who thinks wordplay great/your thirst for such tricks you may find these puns sate/Though if you're a groaner, they may only grate/(contrivances lead some to have for puns hate). -- CKP Whene’er a youthful lover/His courting has big gun/Howitzer prizes him to learn/That ‘tis not always fun. -- from "Cannon Aiding" Aphorisms, clichés, even riddles were all made to rhyme: A cat has nine lives; cat away mice will play/Casting pearls before swine; where’s a will there’s a way. -- from "Old Saws in Rhyme" Why does a winning jockey bold/Resemble one who has a cold?/The jockey’s horse is sound, of course/The other fellow’s sound is hoarse. -- from "Conundrums" Letters used to determine poems' forms in a variety of ways: An artist, admiring an angel aright/Bewildered by beauty bewitchingly bright/Charmed, conquered completely, called, courted, confessed/Devotion, declaring division distressed. -- from "A Letter Ration" A’s for Alcohol, curse of mankind/B is its Bars, with th’ Arch Tempter behind/C is the Crimes that its victims commit/D is its Drunkards that die in a fit. -- from "The Drinker's Alphabet" Other poems were more conventional in form, especially when taking on moral themes like the importance of family, or the dangers posed by the love of money or alcohol — and the value of avoiding vices: It doesn’t cost money, as many suppose/To have a good time on the earth/The best of its pleasures are free unto those/Who know how to value their worth. -- from "It Doesn't Cost Money" Over a century ago readers enjoyed the poems; they may provide a pleasant diversion still. An overlooked poet: unusual find?/Here gathered some verses so long ago rhymed/in newspapers only, now set in a book./Encourage acquaintances to take a look/and see if they like them: that is the great hope/(or else, the time wasted, left feeling a dope). -- CKP