Lizette Woodworth Reese facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lizette Woodworth Reese
A Woman of the Century
Born	(1856-01-09)January 9, 1856 Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Died	December 17, 1935(1935-12-17) (aged 79)
Resting place	St. John's in the Village Church, Baltimore, Maryland
Occupation	Poet
Nationality	American

Lizette Woodworth Reese (born January 9, 1856 – died December 17, 1935) was an American poet and teacher. She was born in Maryland. Lizette taught English in Baltimore schools for nearly 50 years.

She was very good at writing poetry, especially lyrics. Many people praised her poems in both Europe and the United States. Lizette was particularly skilled at writing sonnets. These are poems with 14 lines.

Her sonnet called "Tears" was very famous. It was said to have a pure style, like the poet John Milton. In 1931, she was named the Poet Laureate of Maryland. This is a special honor for a poet.

Some of her well-known works include "A Branch of May" and "A Handful of Lavender."

Early Life and Education

Lizette Woodworth Reese was born on January 9, 1856. Her birthplace was Waverly, a community near Baltimore, Maryland. Her parents were Louisa Gabler and David Reese. Her father fought in the Civil War.

Lizette had a twin sister named Sophia. She went to public schools in Baltimore. She graduated from Eastern High School (Baltimore). Today, there is a memorial for her at this school.

Her Career as a Poet and Teacher

After finishing school, Lizette became a teacher in 1873. She taught at St. John's Parish School. The next year, she published her first poem. It was called "The Deserted House." This poem appeared in Southern Magazine.

She kept publishing poems in different magazines. In 1887, she released her first book of poems. It was called A Branch of May. Later, she published more books. These included A Handful of Lavender in 1891 and A Quiet Road in 1896.

Around the late 1890s and early 1900s, Lizette did not write as much. However, her sonnet "Tears" became very popular. It was published in Scribner's Magazine in 1899. This poem brought her a lot of praise.

A famous writer from Baltimore, H. L. Mencken, admired her work. He said her poems were "one of the imperishable glories of American literature." Lizette retired from teaching in 1918. Her last teaching job was at Western High School (Baltimore).

Some American composers even turned her poems into songs. Mildred Barnes Royse and Margaret Shelley Vance both created music for her poem "A Christmas Folk Song."

In 1931, the General Federation of Women's Clubs gave her a special title. She was named the Poet Laureate of Maryland. She was also the honorary president of the Poetry Society of Maryland. In 1890, she helped start the Woman's Literary Club of Baltimore.

Later Life and Legacy

Lizette Woodworth Reese passed away on December 17, 1935. She was buried at St. John's Episcopal Church. After she died, a friend of hers, the sculptor Grace Turnbull, made a statue to honor her.

This marble statue is called "The Good Shepherd." It stands at the old location of Eastern High School. This was Lizette's old school.

Her Published Works