Poems

POEMS

by Marguerite Alvis Venable

As a student and young teacher in Oklahoma some years ago, Marguerite Alvis became a well-known local poet. A stream of her work was printed in regional publications and for two successive years she was awarded the state prize for the best college poetry.

Later as a busy housewife, mother of five, and teacher in New York State, Marguerite A. Venable continued her writing, but with few attempts at any public notice. It is in line with her feeling that her best work has been largely unseen by others that this compilation is made for their enjoyment. Many of the best-liked older works are included, however, for the sake of old friends.

(Note by Jim Venable: This collection of poems was published shortly after Mom discovered she was dying of cancer.
About that time she rewrote the last two lines of Sunny Morning. I do not have the original wording.
She passed away in 1967 at the age of 46. Poems may be reprinted by written permission only.)

*A June*	*First Love, Long After*	*Moment*	*A Teacher's Prayer*	*In Time of War*
*Selection*	*Wings*	*Come Never Say*	*Josiah Gripp*	*Deception*
*The First Snow*	*Forerunner of Winter*	*Sunny Morning*	*Rondeau: Away in April*	*Thanksgiving*
*Testament*	*Insomnia*	*Lilac Drizzle*	*Triolets*	*Victor*
*Such Fiery Flowers*	*Country Night*	*The Winds of Delight*	*A Time with Mozart*	*The Softened Light*
*When I Have Pondered*	If	*The Prick That Saves*	*The Dream*	*Cloud Castles*
*Such Potent Trifles*	*Mexican Trip*	*Forbidden*	*Grief*	*Excerpts from 'The Sound of a Silver Horn'*
*Dusk Together*	*Love Song*	*Ornament*	*Messenger*	*Archers*
*The Touch of You*	*Western Home*	*Incident*	*Philosopher*	*Definition*
*Twosome*	*Captive*	*Tell Me, Wind*	*I Used to Dream*

The poem Mexican Trip, above, was first published with the title, I Have Awakened.

Other Poems
Song, written for Marguerite's mother, Agnes Flansburg, on Mother's Day, May 14, 1939.

At Windy Bay. This poem and the poem Philosopher, above, were first published in Leaves in the Wind, the Fourth Annual Anthology, Writers' Guild, Southwestern State Teachers College, Weatherford, Oklahoma, April, 1938.
In the Oklahoma News, May 18, 1938, Walt W. Mills wrote, "'Leaves in the Wind,' a thin anthology of poetry compiled by the Writers' Guild of the Southwestern State Teachers College at Weatherford, reached the cluttered desk lately. Some good verse, too, and we like best 'Philosopher,' by Marguerite Alvis, perhaps because there is so much of our own philosophy in it."
Young Widow and Full Tide were also published in Leaves in the Wind.
Young Widow is especially poignant, for Marguerite's father died just before she was born with the result that her mother, Agnes Flansburg, was a widow throughout her childhood and youth.

Compensation, I Lift Up Mine Eyes, and If Earth Seems Shining Now are award winning poems published in St. Nicholas Magazine, which was a college literary magazine. Marguerite was only 13 and 15 years old when she wrote these. Compensation was published in a book, as well.

Back to the Venable Family page. Send me some e-mail: jim@royaldomain.com