This Poem was Submitted By: James C. Horak On Date: 2008-10-01 12:44:36 . . . Click Here To Mail this Poem to a Friend!

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The Navajos of William Randolph Hearst

He had one love, the pawnbroker did, and   people in line all waiting instead of Counting wealth in tidy sums or heaping   up this, more than giving away that.  The only iron tri-blade ever found at   the battle of Thermopolis Pass Chrysoberyl alexandrite worn in an                       Empress's hair.  A tight Germantown, a phase three blanket    with indigo blue, a spider woman's eye Making ochre red come alive...untold    hidden away behind monastery walls                        to this very day. A newsman giant's legacy dwindling to dust    capricious to time, languishing to touch. The idea so festering within his desire    the pawnbroker couldn't resist nor tire Until his bags and bags of silver lain upon    the monks' palms brought him the best. Until he became a pawnbroker no more.

Copyright © October 2008 James C. Horak

Additional Notes:
True story.


This Poem was Critiqued By: Mark Steven Scheffer On Date: 2008-10-17 11:23:30
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 1.00000
JCH, Wonderful title. I need to know the background before I can fully appreciate what you're doing in this poem. Great last line,too. I know enough to know something very grand is happening in this poem. You and DeniMari at the front of my line this month. MSS


This Poem was Critiqued By: Lora Silvey On Date: 2008-10-14 12:32:56
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 10.00000
James, Quite a unique poem and story. One often wonders what drives another to do the things they do and then fall back into being inquisitive of the collections. Your words are so well chosen that I must say I think this is one of your best. I worked on a book that dealt with his "castle" the blueprints copied to page and all the wonderful indiosicrisies (sp), anyway; your poem would have been an excellant introduction to the book, the man and the history. Couldn't find any nits with your write so all I can offer is a statement of how much I enjoyed this one. Thank you for posting an excellent poem and history lesson. Best always, Lora
This Poem was Critiqued By: Claire H. Currier On Date: 2008-10-08 07:38:12
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 1.00000
Interesting read, words well penned filled with images as your work always provides for the reader. Enjoyed .... a phase three blanket with indigo blue, a spider woman's eye Making ochre red come alive...well done my friend, no suggestions from Tully for this stands quite well on its own. God Bless, Claire
This Poem was Critiqued By: DeniMari Z. On Date: 2008-10-06 20:12:33
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 1.00000
He did leave a legacy; behind him. I'm not accelerated to the exact knowledge of his weatlth; but knew of him, his trials, the incident with his daughter back when I was very young - so the Hearst name lives on. This piece is very tight; compact write with fascinating information for anyone who reads it. I particularly enjoyed the second verse; indigo blue, spiders eye - great touch which enhances your poem. Very nicely done, I can't see anything with this to change; or edit. Sincerely, Deni
This Poem was Critiqued By: Dellena Rovito On Date: 2008-10-03 22:30:53
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 1.00000
Hi, I'm unsure of Hearst as a pawnbroker? But probably in the context a person whose business is lending money at interest on personal, movable property deposited with the lender until redeemed. James, You get me going in research. And still I'm nowhere. I like rocks/so looking up Chrysoberyl alexandrite was nice. Navaho stuff: [blankets-] William Randolph Hearst's collection of Navajo textiles is one of the most complete gatherings of nineteenth-century Navajo weaving in the world. Comprising dozens of Classic Period serapes, chief blankets, Germantown eyedazzlers, and turn-of-the-century rugs, the 185-piece collection was donated to the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History in 1942 but for the next forty years was known only to a handful of scholars. Hearst began acquiring textiles from the Fred Harvey Company after viewing an exhibit of Indian artifacts. Over four decades he amassed a collection spanning more than a century of Navajo weaving and including nearly every major type produced from 1800 to 1920. Hearst's passion for American Indian artifacts was so strong that he had originally visualized his now-famous castle in San Simeon as a showplace for his Navajo textile collection. At a time when the Harvey Company was itself influencing the development of Indian handcrafts by opening up the tourist market, Hearst contributed to this influence by expressing his own artistic preference for rare and unusual pieces. All I know is I like reading your work and researching........ Dellena
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