Three poems by Clare Harner

Shown above, page 274 from my personal copy of Important American Poets, ed. Edith Warren (Valiant House, 1938) with three poems by Clare Harner, later Clare Harner Lyon:

SCARECROW

(Hokku)

Hate is a scarecrow
That frightens all singing birds
From the fields of life.

PURITAN 

Corseted are my emotions
       Till I'm unwholesomely slim;
I'm laced with prescribed devotions --
       By nature, I'm not so prim!

SHE WALKED WITH THREE 

Three were the hounds that followed her,

       Though never far behind.

Relentless their walk as whispered slur --

       Illusions of harried mind.

And all who saw her thought her queer

       As she measured her hunted pace;

She looked as if a presence were near,

       With fright a veil for her face.

And only she knew the curs were there:

The hounds of envy, pride, and despair.

Facts about Clare Harner Lyon

This post gives documented facts about the author of "Immortality" aka Do not stand at my grave and weep. All items below have verifiable sources in public records and newspaper articles. 

Clare Harner Lyon (1909-1977)

Clare Harner in 1931

• Clare Harner was born October 1, 1909 in Green, Kansas to Martha and R. C. Harner. Clare's father Romeo Catlin Harner was a respected physician in Clay County, Kansas. The Harners lived in Clay Center and subsequently in Howard. Both Clare's parents had moved with their families to Kansas from Indiana. 

• Clare grew up in Howard, KS where Dr. Harner settled with wife and kids in 1912. She had two older brothers named Collis and Olin. (Sadly, Clare's brother Olin Wade Harner died on November 11, 1932, only 31 years old.) 

• In Howard, KS the Harners belonged to the First Methodist Episcopal Church where Clare's mother Martha Frances Harner (née Hainey) taught Sunday School and served as "chorister" in the Ladies Aid Society. With her mother's example and support, Clare developed an early interest in music and poetry as evidenced by piano recitals and other performances that received notice in local newspapers. At the age of 9 Clare read the anonymous Sunday-school poem "U and I" for the church ladies meeting at her mother's house, held on June 26, 1919.

Clare Harner, 9 years old, reads "U and I" Wed, Jul 2, 1919 – 1 · The Citizen (Howard, Kansas) · Newspapers.com

U and I. 

All the letters of the alphabet
The righteous way should choose,
But two of them, especially,
Should mind their P's and Q's;
A deal of trouble in this world,
And much that goes awry,
Could be prevented easily
By these two, U and I.
If U and I are cross, you see
There's bound to be a fuss;
If U and I untidy are,
Somewhere there'll be a muss;
If U and I are selfish, there
Will some one suffer wrong;
If U and I rob birds' nests, why,
The world will lose a song.
If some one feels dejected, or
'Tis cloudy for a while,
The sunshine may come back again
If U or I but smile.
If U should grumble, whine, or pout,
Or I should snarl and fret,
A storm would soon be raging that
We should not soon forget!
So U, look out, and mind your ways!
And I must likewise do,
And keep a cheery corner where
The skies are always blue.
The A's and B's and E's and O's
Do work that's good and great,
But U and I can do the most
To keep this old world straight. -- Christian Advocate, volume 85

• With other music students of Miss Edith Benson, Clare Harner performed three piano numbers at the recital in Howard on Saturday, September 3, 1921: "Yule" by Roentgen (probably Julius Röntgen); Mendelssohn's "Venetian Boat Song"; and "Boys' merry-go-round" by Niels Gade (as reported in the Howard, Kansas Citizen for September 7, 1921). The next year, Clare Harner performed Franz Schmidt's "Hungarian," as reported in the Howard Courant on July 13, 1922. 

• April 1922, cast in the school operetta, Quest of the Pink Parasol, as one of the "poppies" later turned into fairies. At a Christmas party that same year, hosted by her mother, Clare "held the place of honor" in the costume of a "Christmas fairy" (Howard Citizen, December 27, 1922). In 1923, Clare served as rehearsal accompanist for the next grade school production, "The House that Jack Built," billed as a "comic operetta."

• 1923-1926 Clare Harner attended Howard High School where she continued to excel at piano and violin; and regularly made the "honor roll" for academic progress. She performed several piano duets at public events with another student accompanist, Ruth Leckliter. Piano solo, Rhapsody Mignonne, performed in Howard on April 24, 1925 for the Elk County High Schools contest. In high school Clare Harner also won recognition for literary talents. In May 1925 an unidentified poem by Clare Harner won first prize at the "Elk County First Annual Track and Literary Meet," as reported on May 21, 1925 in the Moline Advance: 

Thu, May 21, 1925 – 1 · The Moline Advance (Moline, Kansas) · Newspapers.com
Thu, May 21, 1925 – 1 · The Moline Advance (Moline, Kansas) · Newspapers.com

• 1927-1929 after graduating from Howard High School, Clare Harner attended the College of Emporia, a small liberal arts college affiliated with the Presbyterian Church, fully enjoying its glory days before the Great Depression. At Emporia Clare Harner served as Secretary of The Minerva Society for which she contributed the annual summary signed ‘C. H.’ Mentions of Clare Harner in the school yearbook Alla Rah (Emporia, KS, 1928) appear on pages 108 and 113. 

Clare Harner in 1928 yearbook Alla Rah

• At College of Emporia she also headed the literary Scribbler’s Club as ‘Chancellor’ before transferring to Kansas State (Emporia Gazette, September 21, 1928).

• 1929-1931 Clare attended Kansas State University, then called Kansas State Agricultural College. In May 1929 Clare Harner was formally initiated into the Quill Club, as announced in the Kansas State Collegian on May 14, 1929. At Kansas State Clare Harner wrote articles for various student publications including the Kansas State Collegian and Brown Bull, the college humor magazine. 

In March 1931, Clare Harner co-edited the weekly Belleville Telescope with a "press team" of Kansas State students, supervised by journalism instructor Helen Hemphill. Clare and four classmates were "allowed to take almost complete responsibility" for editing the March 19, 1931 issue of the Belleville Telescope.

13 Mar 1931, Fri The Morning Chronicle (Manhattan, Kansas) Newspapers.com

Clare joined Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and graduated from Kansas State in 1931 with a degree in Industrial Journalism. 

Thu, Aug 27, 1931 – 1 · Manhattan Republic (Manhattan, Kansas) · Newspapers.com

• August 1931. With Kansas State senior Josephine Skinner, recent grad Clare Harner started Jo-Clare, a small business designing and making dresses. Jo-Clare operated above the college bookstore on Anderson Ave. in Aggieville. 

• November 11, 1932, death of Clare's brother Olin Wade Harner (1901-1932). 

MR. OLIN HARNER  

Olin Wade Harner was born April 2, 1901 at Clay Center, Kansas and died at the home of his parents in Howard, Kansas, Friday, November 11, 1932. He had been teaching in Kansas City at the time of his illness, a year ago, at which time he came home.

The Harner family moved to Howard in 1912, from Clay Center, Kansas and Olin attended grade school and high school in this city. In 1924 he received his A.B. degree from Kansas University at which school he was a member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity and secured a position in Kansas City Day School which he held for five years with the exception of one year leave of absence to recover his health. He was married to Helen Herron of Topeka, Kansas, July 30, 1932 at Howard, Kansas.

Services were held at the home of Dr. R. C. Harner at 10 a.m. Saturday, November 12, 1932. Funeral services and burial were at Clay Center, Kansas, Sunday, November 12th, at 2 o'clock. Dr. Ryerson, who had baptized Olin into the Methodist Episcopal church, conducted the services both at Howard and at Clay Center.

Olin Harner is survived by his wife, Helen Herron Harner; his parents Dr. and Mrs. R. C. Harner and his brother and sister, Collis and Clare.

Few deaths will be regretted more than that of Olin Harner by his many friends in Howard and elsewhere. He was a young man of outstanding ability and intellect, and his cheerful uncomplaining fight for health was a constant example of faith and optimism to his friends who were more fortunate in health. His profound comprehensive philosophy of life will continue to guide the lives of his friends and loved ones. All Howard joins the Harner family in mourning their loss.

The following resolutions were tendered Dr. Harner and family by the Country Day School of Kansas City with which Olin Harner was connected for five years preceding his death.

RESOLUTION

BE IT RESOLVED: by the members of the faculty of the Country Day School of Kansas City, Missouri that:

First: The death of Olin Harner has taken from us a valued friend and colleague whose presence, while among us, always radiated sunshine and whose absence during his illness was the cause of the deepest sorrow and regret.

Second: The death of "Olie," as he was affectionately called by those who knew him here, has occasioned an irreparable loss; He was loved by his students, esteemed by his co-workers and praised by his patrons.

Third: Olie's sojourn here will long remain a cherished memory among us -- pleasant disposition, his cheerfulness, his radiant smile still lives for us who knew him. May his loved ones find comfort in the affection he has left in the hearts of his friends.

Fourth: We express our deepest sympathy and pray that time may heal the wounds left in the hearts of his family.  -- Howard, Courant (November 15, 1934) via Kansas Trails, submitted there by Roland Hainey. 

• Employed in 1934 as a social worker with the Kansas Emergency Relief Committee, Clare Harner superintended "an exhibit showing the clothing prepared for the needy of the state" (Howard Courant, November 15, 1934). 

• After graduation Clare Harner lived and worked in Topeka, Kansas. Local directory shows that Clare resided with her surviving brother Collis and his wife Ruth. In Topeka, Clare found employment as a secretary while writing poetry and submitting verses to small poetry magazines like Expression and The Gypsy.

• In December 1934, Clare Harner's original poem "Immortality" was published in The Gypsy all poetry magazine, edited in Cincinnati, Ohio by George Elliston. Attributed in The Gypsy to CLARE HARNER of Topeka, Kan., "Immortality" was reprinted in the Kansas City Times on February 8, 1935. The Gypsy published one other poem by Clare Harner, Where You Go, which appeared in the June 1936 issue.

• In 1937 Clare lived in Denver, Colorado at 1113 E. Alameda according to city directory.

• In 1938, three short poems by Clare Harner appeared in Important American Poets, edited by Edith Warren (New York, 1938). Her short pieces printed on page 274 are a haiku titled "Scarecrow"; "Puritan"; and "She Walked with Three." 

• In 1939, Clare Harner's poem With No Ring is published in Eros (Henry Harrison, 1939), an anthology of love poems edited by Lucia Trent. In this year Clare Harner resides at 1973 Broadway in San Francisco, occupation Secretary; and registers to vote as Republican. 

Clare Harner Joins Fairchild Publications' San Francisco Staff

Mrs. Marl R. Hahlbeck, San Francisco news representative for the Fairchild Publications the past three years, is resigning and will be succeeded by Miss Clare Harner, who has previously done some special work for the organization. Mrs. Hahlbeck will join the San Francisco Call Bulletin as fashion editor. 

--Women's Wear Daily, Friday, October 20, 1939

• In 1940 Kansas Magazine published a selection of then recent poetry by Kansas writers including two poems by Clare Harner: "War Chant" and "Cry from the Dust Bowl," printed on pages 56-57. Her bio appeared in the back with those of other contributors to the 1940 issue:
  

  CLARE HARNER was born, reared, and educated in Kansas but now calls San Francisco her home town, for she has recently been appointed correspondent for Fairchild Publications in the bay area. Miss Harner has done newspaper, magazine, and advertising agency work in Topeka, Denver, Hollywood, and San Francisco. She grew up in Howard and was educated at Kansas State College. -- Kansas Magazine (1940) page 127.

• 1941, the short poem Challenger by Clare Harner is published in Cycle Vol. 7 No. 2 (June 1941) on page 14. 
  
  
  
  09 Oct 1943, Sat The San Francisco Examiner (San Francisco, California) Newspapers.com

• October 9, 1943: Clare Harner married Sergeant David Haines Lyon, USMC. Announcement in Kappa Kappa Gamma Key for December 1944 Key indicates "October 1944" but later notice in April 1946 issue of The Key gives wedding date of October 9, 1943 and specifies place of the ceremony as home, 994 Union Street in San Francisco. 

• In 1945 Clare Harner Lyon was employed as "clerk" with McCann-Erickson advertising company. With the end of WWII her husband David Haines Lyon was honorably discharged from military service on October 29, 1945. Draft Card identifies his wife, "Mrs. David Haines Lyon" as "NAME OF PERSON WHO WILL ALWAYS KNOW YOUR ADDRESS." At this time David and Clare Lyon reside at 2420 Leavenworth in San Francisco, CA. 
  
  Clare and David Lyon had two children, daughters Nancy Jane Lyon (b. 1947) and Martha Clare Lyon (b. 1950).  
  
  
• April 1961. "Clare Lyon, formerly production manager with Roy S. Durstine, Inc. (now Beaumont-Hohman & Durstine, Inc.) has been named production manager of California Medicine, journal of the California Medical Association."

03 Apr 1961, Mon The San Francisco Examiner (San Francisco, California) Newspapers.com

• 1970 City Directory lists Mrs. Clare Harner Lyon residing at 4336 Irving in San Francisco, CA.

• January 27, 1977, death of Clare Harner Lyon in San Francisco, age 67. Her 1977 funeral notice indicates that she belonged to or was somehow affiliated with the Second Church of Religious Science on Claremont Street.

Obituary for Claire LYON (Aged 77) Sun, Jan 30, 1977 – 25 · The San Francisco Examiner (San Francisco, California) · Newspapers.com

Clare Harner in Quest of the Pink Parasol

In April 1922 Clare Harner, age 12, appeared in her grade-school musical, an "operetta" for children titled The Quest of the Pink Parasol. As shown in this announcement from the local newspaper, Clare was cast in the Chorus of Poppies, later fairies. Directed by Neneta Mills, Supervisor of Music, with student accompanist Ruth Leckliter. 

Wed, Apr 19, 1922 – 1 · The Citizen (Howard, Kansas) · Newspapers.com
Happily, the "children all did fine" according to the wonderful review published in the Howard Citizen on April 26, 1922. 

"The solo parts were all good and the choruses were strong and pleasing."

Wed, Apr 26, 1922 – 1 · The Citizen (Howard, Kansas) · Newspapers.com

Challenger

 

Challenger

Where does he go,
       The daring one?
He follows the road
       That leads to the sun. 

Is the going rough

       The highway wide?

The road is long--

       But so is his stride!

And does he guess

       What lies ahead?

He only knows

       That he is led . . .

Drawn by a will

       Greater than his

To look for the sun

       And a Power that is.

--Clare Harner.

From Cycle Vol. 7 No. 2 (June 1941) page 14. Devoted to shorter poetry and reviews, Cycle magazine was then published in Houston, Texas and edited by Lily Lawrence Bow (1870-1943).

Dianne Scott tells the story of How Bow Channel Got Its Name.

 

With No Ring

 

With No Ring

People pass with averted eyes--
For I'm the sort their creeds despise.

No one believes I'd send you away.

Everyone thinks I begged you to stay.

The nicest women pass me by.

With questioning brows they wonder, "Why?"

They hold their skirts aside with care

Though the walk is broad with room to spare.

For a lady must wear a wedding ring:

A woman who can't is a leprous thing!

Why did you leave me alone like this?

An outcast because I loved your kiss.

CLARE HARNER.

As published in Eros (Henry Harrison, 1939), edited by Lucia Trent.

George Elliston, editor of The Gypsy poetry magazine

"... a reporter who was tough as nails and could spit the same."
-- George Elliston as described by Kevin Grace in Cincinnati's Literary Heritage (History Press, 2021)

Sun, Mar 24, 1935 – 24 · The Birmingham News (Birmingham, Alabama) · Newspapers.com

George Elliston (1883-1946) founded and edited The Gypsy all poetry magazine in Cincinnati, Ohio. Elliston's Gypsy published two poems by Kansas native Clare Harner, "Immortality" (December 1934) and Where You Go (June 1936). Clare Harner's Immortality is nowadays more popularly known by its first line "Do not stand by my grave and weep" or "Do not stand at my grave and weep." 

From the Birmingham AL News, March 24, 1935:

... George Elliston, an Ohio newspaper woman and poet with a delightful personality, will speak on poetry and read some of her poems. Miss Elliston has gained wide recognition for her poetry and through her newspaper work. Her poems have been printed in worthwhile anthologies, reprinted in the Literary Digest, set to music, used over radio, chosen for illumined motto cards, reproduced on “movie” screens and translated into Russian and German. In the Spring of 1928 she won in Vienna, with Ilse Huebner, a prize much coveted since the time of Bach by poets and composers, the Oesterreichische Music Pad Reichsverband award. 

She is owner and editor of the poetry journal Gypsy, which rates as one of the best poetry magazines on the market. She has a number of books of poetry to her credit and, in spite of her work as a poet and editor, she finds time to be a member of the news staff of The Cincinnati Times-Star. She writes news and features and is a syndicate writer for numerous papers.

Miss Elliston is past chairman of poetry for the League of American Pen Women and her many other activities are to be found in “Who’s Who in America.” During the Summer months Miss Elliston forgets all of these activities and retires to her estate of 15 acres, in the midst of which “Catalpa Cabin,” nestles, named for the huge catalpa which umbrellas it, and here in her studio, “Rhyme Hole,” she writes most of the lovely, haunting lyrics that have made her so well known....

Sun, Mar 24, 1935 – 24 · The Birmingham News (Birmingham, Alabama) · Newspapers.com

Link to George Elliston bio in The Encyclopedia of Northern Kentucky:

https://books.google.com/books?id=Zc0eBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA299&lpg=PA299&dq#v=onepage&q&f=false

Clare Harner’s ‘Immortality’ (1934)

Clare Harner’s ‘Immortality’ (1934): SINCE its rediscovery by John Wayne in 1977,1 the bereavement poem that begins ‘Do not stand at [by] my grave and weep’ has been variously traced to Hopi and....