Volume 5 , Issue 12

Who Was Claud Baird

While digging through some more family treasures, we found this McGill Bros' copy of Patriotic and Other Poems - written, published back in 1917 by Claud Baird. This writer searched through our copy of Woods County History books, but could find nothing on Claud Baird. Does anyone out there know of... or have any information on Baird?

This Patriotic & Other Poems was printed by Renfrew's Record Print, Alva, Oklahoma and published, copyrighted around 1917 in Alva, Oklahoma by Claud Baird. This was supposedly his first volume published for the public. Claud Baird dedicated it to the one who had given him his greatest inspiration -- his mother.

There are a couple of poems that I would like to share with you, because of what has been going on this week. I Love My Country More and More and Answering The Call. The latter was written in memory of our soldier boys back in May 4, 1917. The last stanza goes like this ... Answering The Call - (SEE pg. 7)

".....The boys are now responding throughout the Western World,
Nor will their steps turn homeward, till monarch's thrones are hurled
Into the depths of ocean, never to rise again, --
God give us strength to do it, that a man may be a man.
Alva, Okla., May 4, 1917."

Also... among the selection of poems you will find is a poem Baird wrote for the Pilgrim Bard. It is entitled... To The Pilgrim Bard - (SEE pg. 3)

" Sweet Singer of the Western plains!
I come not to disturb thy blissful melodies
With harsh and untried meter.
Thy fame is great, thy songs have long since
Been sung by thy fellow pioneers....."

For all you Northwestern Alumni and present students of NWOSU, here is the poem Claud Baird wrote for the Northwestern Normal School, Alva, Oklahoma. It is entitled... Northwestern Colors - (SEE pg. 17)

"Thy colors are clipped from the streamers
Of time on its infinite flight,
Thy red from the splendor of morning,
hy black from the rayless night....."

Before I send you out to enjoy this 2003 Spring weekend in the Heartlands... may I borrow the last stanza of Claud Baird's 1917 poem entitled I Love My country More and More...

" ....As thus I trod my country o'er,
I've learned to love it more and more,
The North, the South, I love them both.
Of East and West, I am not loath
To sing in song their endless praise;
And thus I give my humble lays
To the, My noble Land."

Here's hoping you have a great weekend. Keep our thoughts, prayers and support for our soldiers fighting across the ocean. See you all next weekend! ~~ Linda "oaKie" ~~   |  View or Add Comments (0 Comments)   |   Receive updates ( subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

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