Adelaide Crapsey (1878–1914) was an American poet and educator, known for pioneering the cinquain, a five-line form that influenced modern poetry. Her concise, emotionally rich work remains a significant contribution to American literature.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, and raised in Rochester, she attended Kemper Hall and Vassar College, graduating in 1901. She later studied metrics and prosody, developing a deep interest in poetic structure and rhythm.
Her most notable publication, Verse (1915,) was released posthumously by her parents and features cinquain poems reflecting themes of mortality, nature, and introspection. A Study in English Metrics (1918,) examines poetic form and rhythm, highlighting her scholarly approach.
Often compared to Japanese haiku, Crapsey’s poetry is praised for its brevity and precision. Her poem “The Warning” exemplifies her ability to evoke deep emotion with minimal words.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Adelaide Crapsey
These be three silent things: The Falling snow… the hour before the dawn… the mouth of one just dead.
—Adelaide Crapsey
Topics: Silence
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