Today's poem on Penny's Poetry Blog:
February, by James Berry Bensel
[...]
Then dusky twilight spreads around,
The last soft snowflake seeks the ground,
And through unshaded window-panes
The lamp-rays strike across the plains
[...]
https://gdancesbetty.blogspot.com/2023/02/february-days-ellwood-roberts.html

#pennyspoems

George J. Dance wrote:
>
> Today's poem on Penny's Poetry Blog:
> February, by James Berry Bensel
> [...]
> Then dusky twilight spreads around,
> The last soft snowflake seeks the ground,
> And through unshaded window-panes
> The lamp-rays strike across the plains
> [...]
> https://gdancesbetty.blogspot.com/2023/02/february-days-ellwood-roberts.html

> #pennyspoems

Another excellent and obscure (to me) choice....!

On 2023-02-12 4:50 p.m., General-Zod wrote:
> George J. Dance wrote:
>>
>> Today's poem on Penny's Poetry Blog:
>> February, by James Berry Bensel
>> [...]
>> Then dusky twilight spreads around,
>> The last soft snowflake seeks the ground,
>> And through unshaded window-panes
>> The lamp-rays strike across the plains
>> [...]
>> https://gdancesbetty.blogspot.com/2023/02/february-days-ellwood-roberts.html
>
>> #pennyspoems
>
> Another excellent and obscure (to me) choice....!

You're a poetry gourmand, Zod; you like all of it.

But Bensel's selection is pretty good; and I was happy to see it
attracting comments on facebook as well. On what I've read, I'd call him
the best of the first-time poets on the blog this month. What I've read
is only this one poem, but I do intend to read more of his work, with an
eye to blogging more of it over the year.

General-Zod wrote:

> George J. Dance wrote:
>>
>> Today's poem on Penny's Poetry Blog:
>> February, by James Berry Bensel
>> [...]
>> Then dusky twilight spreads around,
>> The last soft snowflake seeks the ground,
>> And through unshaded window-panes
>> The lamp-rays strike across the plains
>> [...]
>> https://gdancesbetty.blogspot.com/2023/02/february-days-ellwood-roberts.html

>> #pennyspoems

> Another excellent and obscure (to me) choice....!

Again, agreed and seconded.

🙂

George Dance wrote:

> On Sunday, February 12, 2023 at 4:55:13 PM UTC-5, General-Zod wrote:
>> George J. Dance wrote:
>> >
>> > Today's poem on Penny's Poetry Blog:
>> > February, by James Berry Bensel
>> > [...]
>> > Then dusky twilight spreads around,
>> > The last soft snowflake seeks the ground,
>> > And through unshaded window-panes
>> > The lamp-rays strike across the plains
>> > [...]
>> > https://gdancesbetty.blogspot.com/2023/02/february-days-ellwood-roberts..html
>>
>> > #pennyspoems

>> Another excellent and obscure (to me) choice....!

> I'd use "obscure" for poets that aren't on Wikipedia information; and Bensel qualifies. I had to scour the web and write a bio of him last weekend. But he's quite a good poet of his time, and I think I'll use more of his poetry this year. The main reason he didn't become better known, IMO, is that he died so young, at 29.

Cool info THNX again ---- G.D.

George Dance wrote:

> On Sunday, February 26, 2023 at 4:55:13 PM UTC-5, General-Zod wrote:
>> George J. Dance wrote:
>
>> > Today's poem on Penny's Poetry Blog:
>> > February, by James Berry Bensel
>> > [...]
>> > Then dusky twilight spreads around,
>> > The last soft snowflake seeks the ground,
>> > And through unshaded window-panes
>> > The lamp-rays strike across the plains
>> > [...]
>> > https://gdancesbetty.blogspot.com/2023/02/february-days-ellwood-roberts..html
>>
>> > #pennyspoems

>> Another excellent and obscure (to me) choice....!

> I'd use "obscure" for poets that aren't on Wikipedia information; and Bensel qualifies. I had to scour the web and write a bio of him last weekend. But he's quite a good poet of his time, and I think I'll use more of his poetry this year. The main reason he didn't become better known, IMO, is that he died so young, at 29.

Yes, having another read of the excellent, unsung poetry of James Berry Bensel...!

On 2023-02-28 3:57 p.m., General-Zod wrote:
> George Dance wrote:
>
>> On Sunday, February 26, 2023 at 4:55:13 PM UTC-5, General-Zod wrote:
>>> George J. Dance wrote:
>>
>>> > Today's poem on Penny's Poetry Blog: > February, by James Berry
>>> Bensel > [...] > Then dusky twilight spreads around, > The last soft
>>> snowflake seeks the ground, > And through unshaded window-panes > The
>>> lamp-rays strike across the plains > [...] >
>>> https://gdancesbetty.blogspot.com/2023/02/february-days-ellwood-roberts..html
>>> > #pennyspoems
>
>>> Another excellent and obscure (to me) choice....!
>
>> I'd use "obscure" for poets that aren't on Wikipedia [...] and
>> Bensel qualifies. I had to scour the web and write a bio of him last
>> weekend. But he's quite a good poet of his time, and I think I'll use
>> more of his poetry this year. The main reason he didn't become better
>> known, IMO, is that he died so young, at 29.
>
> Yes, having another read of the excellent, unsung poetry of James Berry
> Bensel...!

Bensel did very well in terms of reads, taking the silver position in
last month's Top 20:
https://gdancesbetty.blogspot.com/2023/03/pennys-top-20-february-2023.html

George J. Dance wrote:

> On 2023-02-28 3:57 p.m., General-Zod wrote:
>> George Dance wrote:
>>
>>> On Sunday, February 26, 2023 at 4:55:13 PM UTC-5, General-Zod wrote:
>>>> George J. Dance wrote:
>>>
>>>> > Today's poem on Penny's Poetry Blog: > February, by James Berry
>>>> Bensel > [...] > Then dusky twilight spreads around, > The last soft
>>>> snowflake seeks the ground, > And through unshaded window-panes > The
>>>> lamp-rays strike across the plains > [...] >
>>>> https://gdancesbetty.blogspot.com/2023/02/february-days-ellwood-roberts..html
>>>> > #pennyspoems
>>
>>>> Another excellent and obscure (to me) choice....!
>>
>>> I'd use "obscure" for poets that aren't on Wikipedia [...] and
>>> Bensel qualifies. I had to scour the web and write a bio of him last
>>> weekend. But he's quite a good poet of his time, and I think I'll use
>>> more of his poetry this year. The main reason he didn't become better
>>> known, IMO, is that he died so young, at 29.
>>
>> Yes, having another read of the excellent, unsung poetry of James Berry
>> Bensel...!

> Bensel did very well in terms of reads, taking the silver position in
> last month's Top 20:
> https://gdancesbetty.blogspot.com/2023/03/pennys-top-20-february-2023.html

That's great, that new readers are discovering his poetry again.

George J. Dance wrote:

> On 2023-02-28 3:57 p.m., General-Zod wrote:
>> George Dance wrote:
>>
>>> On Sunday, February 26, 2023 at 4:55:13 PM UTC-5, General-Zod wrote:
>>>> George J. Dance wrote:
>>>
>>>> > Today's poem on Penny's Poetry Blog: > February, by James Berry
>>>> Bensel > [...] > Then dusky twilight spreads around, > The last soft
>>>> snowflake seeks the ground, > And through unshaded window-panes > The
>>>> lamp-rays strike across the plains > [...] >
>>>> https://gdancesbetty.blogspot.com/2023/02/february-days-ellwood-roberts..html
>>>> > #pennyspoems
>>
>>>> Another excellent and obscure (to me) choice....!
>>
>>> I'd use "obscure" for poets that aren't on Wikipedia [...] and
>>> Bensel qualifies. I had to scour the web and write a bio of him last
>>> weekend. But he's quite a good poet of his time, and I think I'll use
>>> more of his poetry this year. The main reason he didn't become better
>>> known, IMO, is that he died so young, at 29.
>>
>> Yes, having another read of the excellent, unsung poetry of James Berry
>> Bensel...!

> Bensel did very well in terms of reads, taking the silver position in
> last month's Top 20:
> https://gdancesbetty.blogspot.com/2023/03/pennys-top-20-february-2023.html

I see that Doc hit the #1 spot for last month....:

https://gdancesbetty.blogspot.com/2023/03/pennys-top-20-february-2023.html

1. Winter Ghost (Taking a Time Out), Will Dockery
2. February, James Berry Bensel
3. To Helen, Edgar Allan Poe
4. The Branch, AE Reiff
5. Penny, or Penny's Hat, George J. Dance
6. February Days, Ellwood Roberts
7. In Memory of a Happy Day in February, Anne Brontë
8. The Key, George J. Dance
9. News, AE Reiff
10. February, H. Cordelia Ray

General-Zod wrote:

> George J. Dance wrote:

>> On 2023-02-28 3:57 p.m., General-Zod wrote:
>>> George Dance wrote:
>>>
>>>> On Sunday, February 26, 2023 at 4:55:13 PM UTC-5, General-Zod wrote:
>>>>> George J. Dance wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> > Today's poem on Penny's Poetry Blog: > February, by James Berry
>>>>> Bensel > [...] > Then dusky twilight spreads around, > The last soft
>>>>> snowflake seeks the ground, > And through unshaded window-panes > The
>>>>> lamp-rays strike across the plains > [...] >
>>>>> https://gdancesbetty.blogspot.com/2023/02/february-days-ellwood-roberts..html
>>>>> > #pennyspoems
>>>
>>>>> Another excellent and obscure (to me) choice....!
>>>
>>>> I'd use "obscure" for poets that aren't on Wikipedia [...] and
>>>> Bensel qualifies. I had to scour the web and write a bio of him last
>>>> weekend. But he's quite a good poet of his time, and I think I'll use
>>>> more of his poetry this year. The main reason he didn't become better
>>>> known, IMO, is that he died so young, at 29.
>>>
>>> Yes, having another read of the excellent, unsung poetry of James Berry
>>> Bensel...!

>> Bensel did very well in terms of reads, taking the silver position in
>> last month's Top 20:
>> https://gdancesbetty.blogspot.com/2023/03/pennys-top-20-february-2023.html

> I see that Doc hit the #1 spot for last month....:

> https://gdancesbetty.blogspot.com/2023/03/pennys-top-20-february-2023.html

> 1. Winter Ghost (Taking a Time Out), Will Dockery
> 2. February, James Berry Bensel
> 3. To Helen, Edgar Allan Poe
> 4. The Branch, AE Reiff
> 5. Penny, or Penny's Hat, George J. Dance
> 6. February Days, Ellwood Roberts
> 7. In Memory of a Happy Day in February, Anne Brontë
> 8. The Key, George J. Dance
> 9. News, AE Reiff
> 10. February, H. Cordelia Ray

Good find, I hadn't seen that.

🙂

On 2023-03-04 6:44 p.m., W.Dockery wrote:
> General-Zod wrote:
>
>> George J. Dance wrote:
>
>>> On 2023-02-28 3:57 p.m., General-Zod wrote:
>>>> George Dance wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> On Sunday, February 26, 2023 at 4:55:13 PM UTC-5, General-Zod wrote:
>>>>>> George J. Dance wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> > Today's poem on Penny's Poetry Blog: > February, by James Berry
>>>>>> Bensel > [...] > Then dusky twilight spreads around, > The last
>>>>>> soft snowflake seeks the ground, > And through unshaded
>>>>>> window-panes > The lamp-rays strike across the plains > [...] >
>>>>>> https://gdancesbetty.blogspot.com/2023/02/february-days-ellwood-roberts..html
>>>>>> > #pennyspoems
>>>>
>>>>>> Another excellent and obscure (to me) choice....!
>>>>
>>>>> I'd use "obscure" for poets that aren't on Wikipedia [...] and
>>>>> Bensel qualifies. I had to scour the web and write a bio of him
>>>>> last weekend. But he's quite a good poet of his time, and I think
>>>>> I'll use more of his poetry this year. The main reason he didn't
>>>>> become better known, IMO, is that he died so young, at 29.
>>>>
>>>> Yes, having another read of the excellent, unsung poetry of James
>>>> Berry Bensel...!
>
>>> Bensel did very well in terms of reads, taking the silver position in
>>> last month's Top 20:
>>> https://gdancesbetty.blogspot.com/2023/03/pennys-top-20-february-2023.html
>
>
>> I see that Doc hit the #1 spot for last month....:
>
>> https://gdancesbetty.blogspot.com/2023/03/pennys-top-20-february-2023.html
>
>>   1.  Winter Ghost (Taking a Time Out), Will Dockery
>>   2.  February, James Berry Bensel
>>   3.  To Helen, Edgar Allan Poe
>>   4.  The Branch, AE Reiff
>>   5.  Penny, or Penny's Hat, George J. Dance
>>   6.  February Days, Ellwood Roberts
>>   7.  In Memory of a Happy Day in February, Anne Brontë
>>   8.  The Key, George J. Dance
>>   9.  News, AE Reiff
>> 10.  February, H. Cordelia Ray
>
>
> Good find, I hadn't seen that.
>
> 🙂

I considered writing a post on it, but I figured, when the Flunkies are
still whining about your "#1 on ReverbNation" post.

George Dance wrote:

> On Sunday, February 12, 2023 at 4:55:13 PM UTC-5, General-Zod wrote:
>> George J. Dance wrote:
>> >
>> > Today's poem on Penny's Poetry Blog:
>> > February, by James Berry Bensel
>> > [...]
>> > Then dusky twilight spreads around,
>> > The last soft snowflake seeks the ground,
>> > And through unshaded window-panes
>> > The lamp-rays strike across the plains
>> > [...]
>> > https://gdancesbetty.blogspot.com/2023/02/february-days-ellwood-roberts..html
>>
>> > #pennyspoems

>> Another excellent and obscure (to me) choice....!

> I'd use "obscure" for poets that aren't on Wikipedia information; and Bensel qualifies. I had to scour the web and write a bio of him last weekend. But he's quite a good poet of his time, and I think I'll use more of his poetry this year. The main reason he didn't become better known, IMO, is that he died so young, at 29.

He's getting a new shot at having his poetry read, good job, George.

:)

George Dance wrote:

> On Sunday, February 12, 2023 at 4:55:13 PM UTC-5, General-Zod wrote:
>> George J. Dance wrote:
>> >
>> > Today's poem on Penny's Poetry Blog:
>> > February, by James Berry Bensel
>> > [...]
>> > Then dusky twilight spreads around,
>> > The last soft snowflake seeks the ground,
>> > And through unshaded window-panes
>> > The lamp-rays strike across the plains
>> > [...]
>> > https://gdancesbetty.blogspot.com/2023/02/february-days-ellwood-roberts..html
>>
>> > #pennyspoems

>> Another excellent and obscure (to me) choice....!

> I'd use "obscure" for poets that aren't on Wikipedia information; and Bensel qualifies. I had to scour the web and write a bio of him last weekend. But he's quite a good poet of his time, and I think I'll use more of his poetry this year. The main reason he didn't become better known, IMO, is that he died so young, at 29.

Interestingly, he was still considered "well known" as of this entry in 1917:

********************

https://www.bartleby.com/library/bios/606.html

C.D. Warner, et al., comp. The Library of the World’s Best Literature.
An Anthology in Thirty Volumes. 1917.
H. M. Ayres, ed. The Reader’s Dictionary of Authors. 1917.
James Berry Bensel (1856–1886)
Bensel, James Berry. A well-known American poet and novelist; born in New York, 1856; died in 1886. He lived the most of his life at Lynn, MA, and was a contributor to magazines. He wrote: ‘King Kophetua’s Wife’ (1884), a novel; ‘In the King’s Garden, and Other Poems’ (1886).

****************************

Will Dockery wrote:

> George Dance wrote:

>> On Sunday, February 12, 2023 at 4:55:13 PM UTC-5, General-Zod wrote:
>>> George J. Dance wrote:
>>> >
>>> > Today's poem on Penny's Poetry Blog:
>>> > February, by James Berry Bensel
>>> > [...]
>>> > Then dusky twilight spreads around,
>>> > The last soft snowflake seeks the ground,
>>> > And through unshaded window-panes
>>> > The lamp-rays strike across the plains
>>> > [...]
>>> > https://gdancesbetty.blogspot.com/2023/02/february-days-ellwood-roberts..html
>>>
>>> > #pennyspoems

>>> Another excellent and obscure (to me) choice....!

>> I'd use "obscure" for poets that aren't on Wikipedia information; and Bensel qualifies. I had to scour the web and write a bio of him last weekend. But he's quite a good poet of his time, and I think I'll use more of his poetry this year. The main reason he didn't become better known, IMO, is that he died so young, at 29.

> Interestingly, he was still considered "well known" as of this entry in 1917:

> ********************

> https://www.bartleby.com/library/bios/606.html

> C.D. Warner, et al., comp. The Library of the World’s Best Literature.
> An Anthology in Thirty Volumes. 1917.
> H. M. Ayres, ed. The Reader’s Dictionary of Authors. 1917.

> James Berry Bensel (1856–1886)

> Bensel, James Berry. A well-known American poet and novelist; born in New York, 1856; died in 1886. He lived the most of his life at Lynn, MA, and was a contributor to magazines. He wrote: ‘King Kophetua’s Wife’ (1884), a novel; ‘In the King’s Garden, and Other Poems’ (1886).

> ****************************

Cool info...!

George Dance wrote:

> On Sunday, February 12, 2023 at 4:55:13 PM UTC-5, General-Zod wrote:
>> George J. Dance wrote:
>> >
>> > Today's poem on Penny's Poetry Blog:
>> > February, by James Berry Bensel
>> > [...]
>> > Then dusky twilight spreads around,
>> > The last soft snowflake seeks the ground,
>> > And through unshaded window-panes
>> > The lamp-rays strike across the plains
>> > [...]
>> > https://gdancesbetty.blogspot.com/2023/02/february-days-ellwood-roberts..html
>>
>> > #pennyspoems

>> Another excellent and obscure (to me) choice....!

> I'd use "obscure" for poets that aren't on Wikipedia information; and Bensel qualifies. I had to scour the web and write a bio of him last weekend. But he's quite a good poet of his time, and I think I'll use more of his poetry this year. The main reason he didn't become better known, IMO, is that he died so young, at 29.

Again, keep the great poetry archives going, George.

George Dance wrote:

> On Sunday, March 22, 2023 at 4:55:13 PM UTC-5, General-Zod wrote:
>> George J. Dance wrote:
>> >
>> > Today's poem on Penny's Poetry Blog:
>> > February, by James Berry Bensel
>> > [...]
>> > Then dusky twilight spreads around,
>> > The last soft snowflake seeks the ground,
>> > And through unshaded window-panes
>> > The lamp-rays strike across the plains
>> > [...]
>> > https://gdancesbetty.blogspot.com/2023/02/february-days-ellwood-roberts..html
>>
>> > #pennyspoems

>> Another excellent and obscure (to me) choice....!

> I'd use "obscure" for poets that aren't on Wikipedia information; and Bensel qualifies. I had to scour the web and write a bio of him last weekend. But he's quite a good poet of his time, and I think I'll use more of his poetry this year. The main reason he didn't become better known, IMO, is that he died so young, at 29.

Cool, have a good day G.D.