The Poetry of George Albert Leddy

About the Book

The Poetry of George Albert Leddy (1883-1967) was first published in 1998 by his grandson Chris Abair, and is a “significant find” in the genre popularized by Robert Service—author of “The Cremation of Sam McGee.” The poems are mostly detailed stories, ingeniously crafted in perfect lyrical rhyme, offering a unique perspective on early twentieth-century America—a harsh but simpler time. In the oral tradition of storytelling, these poetic ballads are meant to be memorized and recited “from the heart”—some take 15 minutes to perform!

The poems cover a variety of themes: The series “Tales of the Rugged Trails" are grisly barroom ballads set in the Arctic, Out West, and on the sea. It includes "The Voice of the Bar” and “License or Prohibition" which deal with the evils of alcohol. “Cook and Peary" debates the question of who first discovered the North Pole. “The Blue and the Gray" and “Decoration Day" have a patriotic theme. A series of poems on the lighter side include titles like “The Butterfly and the Rose" and “The Old Picket Fence.” And there are many humorous personal poems.

A new generation is discovering that poetry is a performing art, as evident by the popularity of poetry slams, rapping, and Poetry Out-Loud competitions. Young people are realizing that poetry is meant to be heard like a song and recited like an actor performs lines. Still, many people today find poetry boring and hard to understand. The poetry of George Albert Leddy will surely go a long way to help change that perception.

About the Author

George Albert Leddy was born in 1883 in Hutchins Mills, a now deserted logging camp near Underhill, Vermont. He was self-educated, and a second-generation Irish American. The Leddy clan emigrated from Ireland in 1847 fleeing the Great Hunger, and settled in the area. Bert, as they called him—inspired by the popular ballads of the day—dreamed of adventures in the Klondike and Out West, but had to settle for work in the mills and creameries in the Burlington area. He had an ice parlor on Church St., and retired from the Strong Hardware Store. His home on St. Paul St. was full of his gadgets and inventions. He kept his dreams of adventure alive in the lyrical ballads he composed and shared with family and friends. Although he never left Vermont, he was able to craft accurately detailed stories—set in the Arctic, Out West, and on the sea. When he died in 1967, he left behind two unpublished manuscripts of his poetry inspired by his dreams, gardens, friends, and contemporary issues. It’s fortunate that these exceptional oral works were recorded and will be preserved for the enjoyment of future generations.