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Ode To William Henry Harrison

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My ode to William Henry Harrison, 9th President of the United States, yet barely known. A Founding Father’s son and longtime frontier resident, Brave military leader to the bone. His victories in uniform stacked up along the way, rarely defeated at the battle line. As President, though, died in office one month to the day, now nobody remembers Number Nine. He served the House of Representatives a term or two; in politics, he always did excel. First Governor of Indiana Territory, too - Ohio’s 13th Senator, as well. As Major General, Will fought the War of 1812, as well as several wars along the way. His worth, though, as a President, historians will shelve for lasting only one month to the day. He married sweetheart Anna in the Fall of ’95, she bore her husband many children - ten! Although her health was poor, Anna was Queen Bee to the hive, their son’s son: future POTUS, Benjamin. There’s no one I would rather have protect my garrison, though in the end pneumonia held its sway. A military hero, William Henry Harrison - Ninth President, just one month to the day.

Copyright © | Year Posted 2020




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Date: 2/22/2021 10:47:00 AM
Well done, this is wonderful! Thank you for sharing a well deserved tribute to someone who deserves to be remembered, as well as the educational information you've woven so eloquently into this poem. Congratulations!
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Date: 2/21/2021 12:13:00 PM
Well done John! A lovely poem! I knew little about him and it is very nice of you to bring him back in to the limelight! I shall try and learn more about him! Congrats on your win!
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Date: 2/21/2021 10:43:00 AM
John, wonderful write about a President not well known, and congratulations on your win in the contest, well done _Constance
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Date: 2/21/2021 10:41:00 AM
Back to the field with congratulations of pennants and fireworks, John. Loved this on first reading and loved it all over again! So happy to see it on the winners list dear friend. Seven days to spring training!!!! Blessings.
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Date: 6/3/2020 10:13:00 PM
John, back to say congratulations on this elegant poem with a great history lesson! So well deserved!
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John Watt
Date: 6/3/2020 10:27:00 PM
Thank you Sam, very kind of you ~ John
Date: 3/4/2020 10:18:00 AM
A worthy podium win in this fine tribute to President Harrison John. Congratulations! xxoo
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John Watt
Date: 3/4/2020 10:21:00 AM
Heartfelt thanks, Connie. Not so much a hero as President, but in other ways he was someone to look up to. Appreciate your visit ~ John
Date: 3/4/2020 4:34:00 AM
Hi John,Congratulations on your winning write. Have a great day:-) Alexis
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John Watt
Date: 3/4/2020 10:24:00 AM
Thank you Alexis, and a great day to you. ~ John
Date: 3/3/2020 1:11:00 PM
I remember Harrison, John. He ran for president with VP Tyler and their campaign slogan was "Tippeecanoe and Tyler too." The first was one of his impressive battles. Congratulations on a great win, John! Hugs, Carolyn
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John Watt
Date: 3/3/2020 4:44:00 PM
Carolyn, it was a bit of an overstatement to say 'nobody' remembers #9, but I'm impressed with your history knowledge. I wanted to fit 'Tippecanoe' into the poem, but found it wasn't very iambic! Thanks for the great comment ~ John
Date: 3/3/2020 11:19:00 AM
John, wonderful ode! As a student of history I was enthralled by his story - much I did not know. Thank you for telling the story and congratulations!
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John Watt
Date: 3/3/2020 5:11:00 PM
Thanks for coming by, Sam. I'm one who is always attracted to the underdogs in life. Harrison had a good run until he got voted into the White House!
Date: 3/2/2020 10:34:00 PM
Congratulations John on your third place win in the Ode for a Leader or Politician Past or Present contest. I appreciated your solid use of form and your strong reasons for admiring William Henry Harrison even if he died shortly after election. Thanks for entering.
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John Watt
Date: 3/2/2020 11:20:00 PM
Sheri, I'm surprised, grateful, and honored at the high placement you deemed this one worthy of. Thank you, and thanks for sponsoring a fun and challenging contest... much appreciated! ~ John
Date: 2/2/2020 1:27:00 PM
Gee, this a great recap of WHH's life and abilities. A lot here I didn't know. Thanks for the education, John! Much appreciated! Best of luck in the contest. ~ Gershon
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John Watt
Date: 2/7/2020 1:06:00 AM
Thank you Gershon! I believe I will need a lot of luck for that contest, as WHH is nobody's hero, LOL! Many people in America haven't even heard of him ~ John
Date: 2/1/2020 7:57:00 PM
John I consider myself an amateur history buff and I thoroughly enjoyed reading your poem today. Very informative.
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John Watt
Date: 2/1/2020 7:59:00 PM
I'm glad you enjoyed this brief foray into early American history, Daniel! Cheers ~ John
Date: 2/1/2020 6:59:00 PM
john - this is beautifully rhymed and so informative! i very much enjoyed reading your poem and wish you much luck in the contest...
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John Watt
Date: 2/1/2020 7:55:00 PM
Coming from a patroness of beautiful rhymes, this is high praise indeed! Thank you for the visit - I'm glad you enjoyed this little ode to a little known prez ~ John
Date: 2/1/2020 4:13:00 PM
i love the lesson within your poem... great write, wonderfully penned... best wishes in the contest :) hugs
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John Watt
Date: 2/1/2020 5:31:00 PM
Sandra, thanks for taking time to read and reply. I always appreciate your kind and thoughtful words! Hugs ~ John
Date: 2/1/2020 3:03:00 PM
sorry, that is all I have time for today. I got kicked off library computer and am now doing it as "guest pass" haha
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Date: 2/1/2020 3:02:00 PM
you wrote really well on him and informed me a lot about a president of whom I know so little!!! well done.
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John Watt
Date: 2/1/2020 5:30:00 PM
I think we're all in the same boat, Andrea... thank goodness for Google and Wikipedia! ~ John

Book: Reflection on the Important Things