Lorine Niedecker facts for kids

Lorine Faith Niedecker (pronounced NEE-decker) (born May 12, 1903 – died December 31, 1970) was an American poet. She was known for her short, clear poems that often focused on the natural beauty of Wisconsin, especially its rivers and lakes. Lorine Niedecker is an important figure in American poetry, particularly for her unique style and her connection to the Objectivist movement.

Early Life and Nature's Influence

Lorine Niedecker was born on Black Hawk Island near Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin. She spent most of her life living in quiet, rural areas. Growing up, she was surrounded by the sounds and sights of the river, including birds, trees, water, and marshes. This natural environment greatly inspired her poetry later in life.

After finishing high school in 1922, Lorine went to Beloit College to study literature. However, she had to leave after two years because her family could no longer afford the tuition. She then spent time caring for her mother. In 1928, she married Frank Hartwig, but their marriage ended after two years. During the Great Depression, Lorine lost her job at the Fort Atkinson Library, making life difficult.

Beginning Her Poetic Journey

Lorine Niedecker's first poems were influenced by styles like Imagism and surrealism. In 1931, she discovered the "Objectivist" issue of Poetry magazine. She sent her poems to Louis Zukofsky, who was the editor of that issue. This was the start of a very important friendship and working relationship for her as a poet.

Zukofsky encouraged her to send her poems to Poetry magazine, where they were accepted. This helped Niedecker connect with other modern poets of her time. By the mid-1930s, she began writing poems that focused more on everyday life and her own rural surroundings. Her first book, New Goose, was published in 1946.

Challenges and Rediscovery

After New Goose, Lorine Niedecker did not publish another book for fifteen years. She started working on a series of poems called For Paul, named after Zukofsky's son. However, Zukofsky felt these poems were too personal and advised her not to publish them. Because she lived in such a remote area, it was hard for her to get her work published in magazines. By 1955, she had only published a few times in ten years.

The 1960s brought new interest in Niedecker's poetry. Publishers in Britain, like Wild Hawthorn Press and Fulcrum Press, began to publish her books. Her poems also started appearing regularly in magazines. She became friends with other poets, including Cid Corman and Basil Bunting, who admired her unique style. During this time, she published books like My Friend Tree, T & G: The Collected Poems, 1936–1966, North Central, and My Life By Water.

Later Life and Legacy

Encouraged by this new attention, Lorine Niedecker started writing more. For many years, she had worked hard at jobs like scrubbing hospital floors and proofreading to make a living, often living in poverty. However, her life became more stable after she married Albert Millen in May 1963.

When Albert retired in 1968, the couple moved back to Black Hawk Island. They lived in a small cottage that Lorine had built on land she inherited from her father. This cottage, now known as the Lorine Niedecker Cottage, is recognized as a historic place.

Lorine Niedecker passed away in 1970. She left behind many poems that had not yet been published. Her collected works, edited by Jenny Penberthy, were published in 2002. In 2003, a celebration of her life and work was held, including visits to her homes on Black Hawk Island. Her writings and personal items are kept in the Dwight Foster Public Library and the Hoard Museum in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin.