Cape Canaveral’s Pioneers Asleep
Modern poetry modern verse contemporary poetry contemporary verse modern poem contemporary poem
Archibald Whidden, pioneer on Cape Canaveral and grandfather of Phillip Whidden
I wonder if the lights across lagoon
Waves, little though they are, the lights and waves,
Portend some goodness underneath the moon
Like new moon light on marble architraves.
The houses on the shores send out their light.
Canaveral’s lagoon holds little dreams
Much smaller than the brains of sting rays, slight
As brains of horseshoe crabs beneath the beams
From windows in the white frame buildings sent
Across the water. Dreaming in the beds
Inside the bedrooms does not bear the scent
Of Atlas missiles in the sleeping heads.
No scenes from orbiting space telescopes
Invaded pioneering dreams with hopes.
~ Phillip Whidden
How long has your family been in Canaveral? They had no idea what would become of the little sleepy town.
I just now saw your comment. I never check here. I was waiting for an e-mail. Sorry. I believe my father arrived there in 1923.
Philip,
Are you related Alle Whidden? He was my Grandfather but he died before I was born.
Regards,
Ken Cook
I don’t know. That name does not mean anything to me. Sorry. Was Alle/Allee a pioneer on Cape Canaveral? A resident of south Florida? Can you give me more clues, please?