ToddDent-BertonBraley

7/28/2019 ToddDent-BertonBraley

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Berton BraleyCreated by Todd Dent

Biography

Collected Works

Sample Poems

Inspired Poems

Original Poems

Bibliography


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Biography

Berton Braley: An Inspiration To Us AllLet anyone say `Berton Braley, in the average crowd of regular Americans

and its dollars to doughnuts that hell poll a larger number of hands thanany of the well-known old masters (Baker).

This quote from an Oregon newspaper shows the popularity

and impact Berton Braley had on people during his time. Berton Braley

was born in Madison, Wisconsin on January 29, 1882. His parents were

Arthur and Alta. Arthur was a writer and wrote many reviews of

Shakespeare. When Braley was seven years old, his father and his onlysister died within nine months of each other. This tragic event changed the

way he looked at things for the rest of his life. In 1905, Braley moved to

Butte, Montana, and started working as a reporter for the town newspaper

("Biography"). While in Butte, he observed the miners working. This

cultivated a respect of the working world and for human achievement.

This experience was evident throughout his writings (Baker). In 1909 he

decided to move to New York. He worked for Life magazine and the New

York Evening Mail. This was when he began writing about life and people.

In 1910, he quit his jobs and began working as a freelance writer. After

some of his works became widely known, he was elected into the Players

Club. For a short period of his life, he took many trips to foreign countries.

After he married his wife, Elliot, Braley moved to London, and then back to

New York. After many years of writing, he moved to Florida. At five oclock

a.m. on January 23, 1966, Braley died of cancer at the age of

83("Biography").

Biography

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Biography cont.When Braley was young, he admired his father very much.

Barleys father first sparked his interest in writing. When Braley was justeleven years old, his first piece, a fairytale called Why the Grass Is Green,was published. When Braley turned sixteen, he dropped out of high

school to start working. After two years, he quit his job and returned toschool. In 1900, Braley sold his first poem to Judge Magazine for threedollars. After Braley graduated from high school, he began attending theUniversity of Wisconsin. In his first year at college, he wrote Sonnets of aFreshman. After graduating from college, he published The Oracle onSmoke. In the following years, he continued to write while workingnumerous jobs. He started working solely as a writer in 1910("Biography"). He wrote an article called Berton BraleysDaily Poem for

Newspaper Enterprise Association (Baker). After some of his worksbecame widely known, he was elected into the Players Club, a social clubfor people of high status. He continued to write poems and short storiesuntil his death in 1966 ("Biography").

There are many distinct elements within Braleys poetry.Although he viewed the world as mainly black and white, he was veryinspirational and optimistic in his writing. He believed that anything waspossible. He also thought that a person should do good deeds. In many of

his poems, the good are praised and the evil are frowned upon (ThePoetry of Berton Braley). Additionally, Berton had a pioneering spirit andapplauded productiveness. He believed in the spirit of the individual. Ifsomeone wanted something done, they should do it themselves. Throughhard work one can achieve their goals. Braley used many literaryelements in his poems. For example, Braley incorporated rhyme andrhythm in his poetry. He also used alliteration, assonance, and refrains.Braley is notable because he expressed moral and values throughout hiswriting and motivated and inspired his readers. As Braley states in StartWhere You Stand, The future is for him who does and dares.

Biography

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Collected Works

A Little Further

A Prayer

Essential

Gifts

Man

Mavericks

Purely Personal

Start Where You Stand

Success

That's Success

The Climbers

The Great Adventure

The Pioneers

The Price

The Scouting Trail

The Thinker

The Will To Win

Why Not?

More poems by Berton Braley

Biography

Collected Works

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Inspired Poems

Original Poems

Bibliography
http://www.bertonbraley.com/works.htmhttp://www.bertonbraley.com/works.htm


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The PriceBy Berton Braley

Whatever the freedom we own

Somebody has striven and tried for it;

By war through the years it has grownBy strength of the men who have died for it;

Each stone in the structure of truth--

Some one has made ready and right for it.

Some one has spent heart's blood and youth,

Some one has been willing to fight for it.

Not always has blood been the pay

But always a price has been paid for it;

The worth of achievement to-day

Is gauged by the struggle we've made for it.

There need not be rancor or hate

Nor bitterness, terror and blight for it,

But nothing is worthy or great,

Unless you are willing to fight for it.

You cannot buy progress with gold

(You get but the emptiest shell of it);

But to win it and earn it and hold

You must go through the heat and the hell of it,

You must suffer the sweat and the pain,

You must toil all the day and the night for it,

For nothing worth while you can gain

Unless you are willing to fight for it.

Analysis of The Price

Biography

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Analysis of The PriceIn Berton Braleyspoem The Price, he uses many

literary devices and poetic elements to convey the message is trying

to send. He uses a specific rhyme scheme, rhythm, and refrains

throughout the poem. The poem is about what people have to do to

get what they want and how people need the will to fight for whatthey feel is right. Braley wants the reader to know that someone has

always paid a price for what they wanted and for what they felt was

true, either verbally or physically. An example showing his rhyme,

rhythm, and refrains is portrayed in the following lines. Each stone in

the structure of truth--/ Someone has made ready and right for it/

Some one has spent hearts blood and youth/ Some one has been

willing to fight for it. Another examples of his poetic devices is

shown in the next line. You must suffer the sweat and the pain/ You

must toil all the day and night for it/ For nothing worth while you can

gain/ Unless you are willing to fight for it. These examples show the

rhyme scheme, rhythm, and refrains. It shows his rhyme scheme,

because every line rhymes with the line two times before it. It also

displays the rhythm in the poem. The first and third lines in each

stanza are shorter than the second and last line. This creates a

specific rhythm. It additionally shows refrains. A refrain is when aline or phrase is repeated many times. The phrase some one is used

many times throughout the poem. Braley used these elements for a

reason. These elements make it easier and more fun to read while

helping send his message to the reader. Without the devices the

poem would be very bland. The Price is an amazing poem that

makes the reader realize how lucky we are to have what freedoms we

have and also the motivation people need to get what they want.

Biography

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Sample Poems

Berton BraleysPurely Personal is an eye opening

poem. The main theme of the poem is that we are who we

are. We need to accept others for who they are rather than

rejecting them for what they are not. I chose this poem

because it teaches us to be accepting of others andnonjudgmental. The following lines express another idea. I

am as I am/ With the faults that beset me/ And which I

should cure/ But my nature wont let me/ And if youre as you

are/ As I am as I am/ You will get me. These lines teach us that

by accepting others we will understand who they really are

on the inside.

Purely Personal

Biography

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Purely PersonalBy Berton Braley

I am as I am

With the faults that besetme,

And which I should cure,

But my nature won't let me.

And if you're as you are

As I am as I am,

You will get me.

I am as I am.

Though I can rearrange me

In some minor details,

I am helpless to change me

From the basic Myself.

And I've got what I've got`Cause I am what I am

And I'm not what I'm not.

I am as I am

And I do as I do

As I am, being me,

And not you, being you.

Perhaps I would beAnd do better by far,

If I weren't as I am

And I were as you are,

But I'm bound to be me

And, without any sham,

Make the best of whatever

I am - as I am!

Biography

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Inspired Poems

Original Poems

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Sample Poems

Why Not? is a very motivating poem. The

main purpose behind this poem is to make us realize

that, at some point, we are all going to pass away, but

while we are living we need to make the most out of

life and leave a positive legacy behind. I chose this

poem because it teaches us that living a life of honor

and integrity is important, so that when the day comes

for us to meet the grave, we can say our life was well

lived. The following lines explain that even though

death is ugly, there is a life afterwards and our spirit

lives on. Up out of the darkness we reach to the light/

And slowly through ages we toil to the height/ The

soul of a mortal is more than his clay/ The spirit of

man can defy all decay.

Why Not?

Biography

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10/17

Why Not?By Berton Braley

Why shouldn't the soul of a mortal be proud?

Life goes, it is true, like a swift-flying cloud

But while it is going and ere he has died

A man may do many things worthy of pride

The high and the humble, the meek and the brave,

Are all of them destined in time for the grave,

But while they are living and drawing their breath

They may create something that lives after death.

The Builder may build and the singer may sing,

The Painter may paint while his time's on the wing.

And when they are buried deep down in the grimeThe things they have made will remain for all time.

Man conquers the mountains, the seas and the air,

And deserts turn gardens while under his care.

He does wondrous deeds in the scant space allowed;

Why shouldn't the soul of a mortal be proud?

Up out of the darkness we reach to the light

And slowly through ages we toil to the height.

The soul of a mortal is more than his clay;

The spirit of man can defy all decay!

So lift up your eyes to the Truth that is God's:

In spite of disaster, in face of all odds,

The spirit of Man is not wrapped in the shroud,Why shouldn't the soul of a mortal be proud?

Biography

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Original Poems

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Inspired PoemsStart Where You Stand

Start where you stand and never mind the past,

The past won't help you in beginning new,

If you have left it all behind at lastWhy, that's enough, you're done with it, you're through;

This is another chapter in the book,

This is another race that you have planned,

Don't give the vanished days a backward look,

Start where you stand.

The world won't care about your old defeats

If you can start anew and win success;

The future is your time, and time is fleet

And there is much of work and strain and stress;

Forget the buried woes and dead despairs,

Here is a brand-new trial right at hand,

The future is for him who does and dares,


Old failures will not halt, old triumphs aid,

To-day's the thing, to-morrow soon will be;

Get in the fight and face it unafraid,

And leave the past to ancient history,

What has been, has been; yesterday is dead

And by it you are neither blessed nor banned;

Take courage, man, be brave and drive ahead,


Inspired Poem

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Inspired Poems

Life Lessons

By Todd Dent

Inspired by Start Where You Stand

Star where you stand and never mind the past

The future is your purpose, hold steadfast

The past is a burden, leave it behind

Look to the future, focus your mind

Blunders were made, lessons were learned

Prices were paid, knowledge as earned

Destiny is yours to have and to hold

Dont limit yourself, have vigor, be bold

Tomorrows your vision, yesterdays gone

Each morning an awakening, venture on

Plant your feet firmly, take the first leap

Opportunities you encounter are yours to reap

Start Where You Stand

Biography

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Inspired Poems

Original Poems

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Inspired PoemsThe Will to Win

By Berton Braley

If you want a thing bad enough

To go out and fight for it,

Work day and night for it,Give up your time and your peace and your sleep for it

If only desire of it

Makes you quite mad enough

Never to tire of it,

Makes you hold all other things tawdry and cheap for it

If life seems all empty and useless without it

And all that you scheme and you dream is about it,

If gladly you'll sweat for it,

Fret for it,

Plan for it,

Lose all your terror of God or man for it,

If you'll simply go after that thing that you want.

With all your capacity,

Strength and sagacity,

Faith, hope and confidence, stern pertinacity,

If neither cold poverty, famished and gaunt,

Nor sickness nor pain

Of body or brain

Can turn you away from the thing that you want,

If dogged and grim you besiege and beset it,

You'll get it!

Inspired Poem

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Inspired Poems

I Want ItBy Todd Dent

Inspired by The Will To Win

I want it, I want it,

Theres nothing I wouldnt do for it

Sleepless nights, incessant fights

Oh, the weary quest for it

I want it, I want it,

The endless pursuit of it

Chasing dreams, inventing schemes

Oh, the realm of possibilities for it

I want it, I want it,With all my tenacity Ill strive for it

Persistent plots, determined thoughts

Ill never tire of this journey to complete it

The Will To Win

Biography

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Original Poems

How?

Inspired by To Kill a Mockingbird

What happened?

Tom took advantage of me.

What did you do?

Hollered and screamed.

Where were the children?No answer.

How does your father treat you?

Hes tollable cept

Except when hes drinking?

Whos the one that beat you?

That negro yonder.

What did he do?

He cussed and called me dirt.

He put his hands round my neck and threw me to the ground.

How?

Biography

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Original Poems

Tee Time

The crisp, fresh air engulfs my lungs

Invigorating my soul.

The rising sun is beginning its ascend above the horizon.

Its tangerine and flaxen hues stimulating my eyes.

The freshly clipped grass scrunches under my toes

As the early morning dew sprinkles the tips of my shoes.

The packed bag gently breathes its weight against my back

Approaching the destination.

The rigid weathered gloves slip onto my hands

Encasing anticipating fingers.

The cold sleeping club is gently grasped and awakened

For the task at hand.

TEE TIME!

Biography

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Bibliography

Biography:

http://www.bertonbraley.com/biography.htm

http://tinyurl.com/kjbn2x

http://tinyurl.com/4x9qdoe

Pictures:

Biography 1- http://www.bertonbraley.com/

Biography 2- http://www.enotes.com/topic/Berton_Braley

The Price- http://mssparky.com/category/a-soldiers-story/Tee Time- http://photomania.us/photo/1186166303/index.htm

How?- http://www.xtimeline.com/evt/view.aspx?id=114423

Analysis of The Price- http://tinyurl.com/3zzl65j

Purely Personal- http://tinyurl.com/3vm7k25

Why Not?- http://tinyurl.com/3tdq5kq

Life Lessons- http://tinyurl.com/3rurpes

Start Where You Stand- http://tinyurl.com/3 etf9osThe Will to Win- http://www.sweatyguineapig.com/?p=1059

I Want It- http://www.orgsites.com/az/saflagstaff/

Biography

Collected Works

Sample Poems

Inspired Poems

Original Poems

Bibliography
http://www.bertonbraley.com/biography.htmhttp://tinyurl.com/kjbn2xhttp://tinyurl.com/4x9qdoehttp://www.bertonbraley.com/http://www.enotes.com/topic/Berton_Braleyhttp://mssparky.com/category/a-soldiers-story/http://photomania.us/photo/1186166303/index.htmhttp://www.xtimeline.com/evt/view.aspx?id=114423http://tinyurl.com/3zzl65jhttp://tinyurl.com/3vm7k25http://tinyurl.com/3tdq5kqhttp://tinyurl.com/3rurpeshttp://tinyurl.com/3etf9oshttp://www.sweatyguineapig.com/?p=1059http://www.sweatyguineapig.com/?p=1059http://tinyurl.com/3etf9oshttp://tinyurl.com/3rurpeshttp://tinyurl.com/3tdq5kqhttp://tinyurl.com/3vm7k25http://tinyurl.com/3zzl65jhttp://www.xtimeline.com/evt/view.aspx?id=114423http://photomania.us/photo/1186166303/index.htmhttp://mssparky.com/category/a-soldiers-story/http://mssparky.com/category/a-soldiers-story/http://mssparky.com/category/a-soldiers-story/http://mssparky.com/category/a-soldiers-story/http://mssparky.com/category/a-soldiers-story/http://www.enotes.com/topic/Berton_Braleyhttp://www.bertonbraley.com/http://tinyurl.com/4x9qdoehttp://tinyurl.com/kjbn2xhttp://www.bertonbraley.com/biography.htm

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