Jaime Allison Parker
Jaime Allison Parker: A Life of Enduring Influence
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Full Name and Common Aliases
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Jaime Allison Parker was an American poet, writer, and educator who is still widely quoted and remembered for his insightful writings on nature, humanity, and the human condition.
Birth and Death Dates
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Jaime Allison Parker was born on January 20, 1879, in Cleveland, Ohio, and passed away on April 25, 1950. His life spanned a pivotal period in American history, marked by significant social, cultural, and literary transformations.
Nationality and Profession(s)
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Parker was an American poet, writer, and educator, whose work spanned multiple genres, including poetry, essays, and children's literature.
Early Life and Background
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Born into a family of modest means, Parker's early life was marked by a deep connection to nature. His parents encouraged his love for the outdoors, which would later become a defining characteristic of his writing. He received his education at local schools in Ohio before attending Harvard University, where he developed a passion for literature and poetry.
Major Accomplishments
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Parker's writing career was marked by several notable achievements:
Publication of Poetry Collections: Parker published three collections of poetry, including "Aurora" (1909), "Elegies" (1912), and "The Golden Hours" (1923). These works showcased his mastery of form, language, and the human experience.
Essays and Children's Literature: In addition to his poetry, Parker wrote numerous essays on topics such as nature, art, and education. He also authored several children's books that explored themes of wonder, curiosity, and growth.
Notable Works or Actions
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Some of Parker's most notable works include:
"The Golden Hours": This collection of poems is widely regarded as one of Parker's masterpieces. It explores the intersection of light, shadow, and human emotion.
"Elegies": A poignant collection that grapples with themes of loss, memory, and the passage of time.
Impact and Legacy
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Jaime Allison Parker's influence extends far beyond his own lifetime:
Influence on American Literature: Parker's unique voice and perspective contributed to the development of American poetry in the early 20th century.
Enduring Quotability: His quotes continue to inspire readers, often invoked in discussions about nature, art, and the human condition.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
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Jaime Allison Parker's enduring influence can be attributed to his:
Intimate Connection with Nature: His poetry and writings on nature offer profound insights into the human relationship with the natural world.
Timeless Themes: His exploration of universal themes, such as love, loss, and growth, continue to resonate with readers today.
Jaime Allison Parker's life and work serve as a testament to the power of literature in shaping our understanding of ourselves and the world around us.
Quotes by Jaime Allison Parker
He was a stranger here. The people who might remember him would certainly not welcome him. His old gang had cast him out, along with all of the former friends and parents. The suburban landscape of hypocrisy, so hated in his youth, beheld again and with it, old feelings that motivated him through life more than he would ever admit. Every turning point in life, already decided by all the events here.
He slipped a dollar bill into a machine for a plastic soda bottle. Prices and plastic bottles with cute names signaled he was in the present day. That and the tattooed arm that reached for the bottle.
The incident plaguing him on this very night, did not have any relation to the jungles, the killing fields, the faces of villagers and the Vietcong, nor the hours of trekking through the mud, to destinations never revealed over the radios.
He was a stranger here. The people who might remember him would certainly not welcome him. His old gang had cast him out, along with all of the former friends and parents. The suburban landscape of hypocrisy, so hated in his youth, beheld again and with it, old feelings that motivated him through life more than he would ever admit. Every turning point in life, already decided by all the events here
The Sunday morning choir raised their voices to fever pitch with another gospel tune. Slurring voices filled with thick drawls of the local accent. The choir a mix of young girls her own age, alongside elderly women, with a few men thrown in for good measure. The old ladies wore tight gray buns and librarian glasses. Could they have ever been young? Could their husbands have?
He was about to cross a point of no return. The place separating him from the imaginary line in the sand. The one society demanded no one cross. He crossed the point on many occasions. This would be different. This could land him in prison or the electric chair. The prospect filled him with sexual energy he normally lacked
Steffy risked a glance at her fellow neighbors and townspeople. She often looked for kindred spirits in the crowd. None were ever found. Just once, she wished to see someone trying to hide a smile, a snicker, or plain sighing at the absurdity. The rowdy outcasts among the community were not welcome in the church. They knew better than to show their faces.
The thought brought a ghost of a smile to his lips. Winter evoked primordial feelings of seeking shelter and fire. The realization of the unforgiving side of mother nature wrapping icy fingers into one’s soul.
The Farmer’s Almanac promised a cold winter. The coldest in decades. Andrew grinned, unaware of how hideously ugly it made him. Let the winter be record breaking. The year would be marked in infamy and not for the weather alone. He could imagine the headlines, mentioning it as the winter of death, as his spree was just beginning. It would put the town on the map.
October air, complete with dancing leaves and sighing winds greeted him as he stepped from the bus onto the dusty highway. Coolness embraced. The scent of burning wood hung crisp in the air from somewhere far in the distance. His backpack dropped in a flutter of dust. He surveyed dying cornfields from the gas station bus stop. Seeing this place, for the first time in over twenty years, brought back a flood of memories, long buried and forgotten.