Sam Walter Foss was a New England librarian and poet. He was born on June 19, 1858 in New Hampshire, went to college in Rhode Island and served as librarian for the Somerville Public Library in Massachusetts beginning in 1898. His most famous poem was The House by The Side of the Road.

There are some really good articles online about him, such as Minor Poet with a Major Message, with some examples of his poetry.

J. Dennis Robinson’s article, Sam Walter Foss was NH Poet Laureate for the Common Man, says that Sam rocked! I agree. I like many a dialectic poem and this article includes a passage from one Foss wrote:

“In another poem, Foss plays the part of a storeowner who tries to join the local church, because he knows that is the best way to attract customers. Unwilling to have him as a member, the church elders stall the merchant by telling him to go off and talk to God. But the merchant returns a few weeks later and tells the shocked elders that he has, indeed, talked to God about joining their church. What did the Lord say? – they ask. The shopkeeper repeats the conversation:

“I’m trying to git in,” sez I, “to the church of Elder Ford,
An they won’t let me in at all.” “Don’t worry,” sez the Lord.
“You’re not the only one,” sez He, “they’ve laid upon the shelf.
I’ve tried ten years without success to git in there myself,”

That’s painfully funny, and it also reminds me of another poem my grandfather told me once that I’ll have to go hunt up. But to stay on point for now - it’s true Foss’ books are out of print, but some of them are now available on google books. That’s where I found this poem:
Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: 19th century, American