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Florence Leonette Cooke (nee Flagg) is my great grandmother (my mother's mother's mother). She was born in Southborough, Massachusetts on May 13, 1870 and she died at age 34 on July 20, 1904 in N. Attleboro, Massachusetts -- almost exactly three months after the death of her last child. She was always known as "Nettie."
As I have written elsewhere her at The Prism, my grandmother was one of six children of Nettie Flagg Cooke and her husband, Walter Wilson Cooke (1869 - 1944). Tragically, Nettie and Walter lost three of their six children: Russell Cooke (1893 - 1894); Dorothy B. Cooke (1899 - 1907); and Russell Church Cooke (1902 - 1904). As might be expected, this deeply saddened Nettie and quite likely contributed to her untimely death at age 34.
Shown above is an undated poem Nettie wrote that exhibits her depression, pain, and yet hope for something better. I suspect this was written not long after the death of her son Russell Church Cooke on April 23, 1904. A transcription of the poem follows . . .
Shut in by sickness
Saddened by disappointment
I lay and watched one day
The setting sun.
I'm one day nearer home I murmured
And I'm glad, so glad
The day is done.
I closed my eyes and let
The mystic spell of twilight
Soothe me to rest
Ere the last crimson ray had gone
When suddenly the room
Was filled with brightness
For the lights were on
And so in this way, perhaps
Death may come to me
When life's little day is done
We close our eyes, but for a moment
To open them in Heaven's brightness
Where God's lights are always on.
Nettie Flagg Cooke
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| Nettie Flagg Cooke |
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Scan of original poem in the collection of the author.
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Copyright 2013, John D. Tew
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A great story and poem, John. I think average people in the era before radio and television wrote more poetry than we do today because they were less distracted and used their talents, even if it was on such a melancholy subject. By the way, North Attleborough isn't too far from here and my brother lived there for several years with his family.
ReplyDeleteThanks for both your contributions to the Challenge!