Elizabeth Akers Allen (1832–1911,) born Elizabeth Anne Chase, was an American poet and journalist known for her sentimental poetry and contributions to literary journalism.
Born in Strong, Maine, she grew up in Farmington, attending Farmington Academy. She published her first poems as a teenager under the pen name Florence Percy.
In 1855, Allen joined Portland Transcript as a writer and associate editor. The next year, she published Forest Buds from the Woods of Maine (1856,) a financial success. With the earnings, she traveled to Europe (1859–60,) serving as a correspondent for Portland Transcript and Boston Evening Gazette.
Her most famous poem, ‘Rock Me to Sleep’ (1859,) first published in Saturday Evening Post, gained popularity during the Civil War and was later set to music. She worked as literary editor of Daily Advertiser (1874–81.)
Allen’s poetry collections include Poems (1866,) Queen Catherine’s Rose (1885,) The High-Top Sweeting (1891,) The Ballad of the Bronx (1901,) and The Sunset Song and Other Verses (1902.) She also wrote The Triangular Society: Leaves from the Life of a Portland Family (1886.)
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Elizabeth Akers Allen
Blush, happy maiden, when you feel the lips that press love’s glowing seal.—But as the slow years darker roll, grown wiser, the experienced soul will own as dearer far than they the lips which kiss the tears away.
—Elizabeth Akers Allen
Topics: Kisses
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