Thomas Holley Chivers

 

Thomas Holley Chivers (October 18, 1809 – December 18, 1858) was an American doctor-turned-poet from Georgia. He is known for his friendship with Edgar Allan Poe and defended that poet after his death.

Chivers made use of legends and themes from Native American culture, particularly the Cherokee, often with Christian overtones. His influences were François-René de Chateaubriand and Emanuel Swedenborg.

Chivers believed in a close connection between poetry and God. He suggested that: "No poem of any considerable length... can be pleasing to any well-educated person for any length of time".  He called for a distinctive American literature, and he encouraged young writers.

Railroad Song

Clatta, clatta, clatta, clatter,

Like the devil beating batter

Down below in iron platter -

Which subsides into a clanky,

And a clinky, and a clanky,

And a clinky, clanky, clanky,

And a clanky, clinky, clanky;

And the song that now I offer

For Apollo's Golden Coffer -

With the friendship that I proffer -

Is for Riding on a Rail.