Today marks the 152nd anniversary of the birth of the remarkable American poet, Amy Lowell, a Pulitzer Prize winner known for her powerful contributions to poetry. Over a career that lasted just slightly more than a decade, Lowell crafted and shared more than 650 poems. However, her most significant impact on literary history is often attributed to her relentless efforts to engage American readers with contemporary poetry, notably facilitating the rise of Ezra Pound’s work.
Although Lowell’s brilliance dimmed in the public eye after her passing in 1925, the women’s studies movement of the 1970s played a vital role in rekindling interest in her work. Just a year after her death, she was honored posthumously with the Pulitzer Prize for her poetry collection, What’s O’Clock. One of her most heartfelt pieces, titled Anticipation, beautifully encapsulates her passionate love affair with Ada Russell:
“I have been temperate always,
But I am like to be very drunk
With your coming.
There have been times
I feared to walk down the street
Lest I should reel with the wine of you,
And jerk against my neighbors
As they go by.
I am parched now, and my tongue is horrible in my mouth,
But my brain is noisy
With the clash and gurgle of filling wine-cups.”
In addition to celebrating Lowell’s legacy, today also marks other significant events in history:
Sixty-two years ago, The Beatles made their unforgettable debut on The Ed Sullivan Show, captivating a record-breaking audience eager to witness their performance of the chart-topping hit, “I Want to Hold Your Hand.” With an astounding 73 million viewers tuning in, this event captured three-fourths of the adult audience in the United States, making it a groundbreaking moment in television history.
A few days prior, Ed Sullivan had been enchanted by the sight of 1,500 fans greeting The Beatles at London’s Heathrow Airport after their tour in Sweden, which fueled his desire to book them for his show. When The Beatles arrived at John F. Kennedy International Airport on February 7th, 1964, they were met with a throng of 5,000 enthusiastic fans, and CBS noted an overwhelming demand for tickets—50,000 requests for just 728 seats!
Once on stage, The Beatles opened with “All My Loving” and “Till There Was You,” delighting audiences with their charm, as the host introduced them warmly, celebrating their exemplary behavior. They also recorded “Please Please Me” and “Twist and Shout” for later broadcasts, solidifying their place in music history.
Finally, on this day, we also honor the birth of the illustrious Irish playwright and author, Brendan Behan, born 104 years ago in Dublin. Renowned for his compelling play, The Quare Fellow, and his candid interviews, Behan’s work was deeply influenced by his experiences, including two prison sentences as a young man, which informed his powerful storytelling. Recognized by Irish Central as one of the greatest Irish writers, Behan’s legacy continues to inspire and resonate.
