Pen name of the colorful American poet, essayist, and fabulist Cincinnatus Heine (or Hiner) Miller (1841-1913). Original handwritten and signed poem entitled ‘To Walt Whitman’ on two 7.75 x 11.75 lightly-lined off-white sheets. This poem was originally published in the January 1877 edition of Galaxy magazine, and is the actual manuscript that was submitted to the magazine. The five-stanza poem begins:
“O titan soul, ascend your starry steep / On golden stair to gods and storied men! / Ascend! Nor care where thy traducers creep, / For what may well be said of prophets when / A world that’s wicked comes to call them good.”
A couple partial separations along intersecting folds, scattered creasing and soiling, stray ink marks to top left corners, and a couple small edge tears, otherwise very good condition. This poem was found among the papers of journalist William Conant Church who was the publisher of the Galaxy. RRAuction COA.
