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Ella Wheeler Wilcox
Ella Wheeler Wilcox was an American author and poet. Her works include Poems of Passion and Solitude, which contains the lines "Laugh, and the world laughs with you; weep, and you weep alone." Her autobiography, The Worlds and I, was published in 1918, a year before her death.
Ella Wheeler was born in 1850 on a farm in Johnstown, Wisconsin, east of Janesville, the youngest of four children. The family later moved north of Madison, after losing its wealth, as the result of her father's failed business aspirations and speculation. Wilcox's family held themselves to be intellectuals, and a mastery of the nuances of the English language was prized. During her childhood, Wilcox amused herself by reading books and newspapers, which may have influenced her later writing (most notably William Shakespeare, The Arabian Nights, The Diverting History of John Gilpin and Gulliver's Travels, in addition to the few other pieces of literature that were to be had in her home).
Around the age of 8, Wilcox turned to writing poetry as an outlet. When she was 13 years old, her first poem was published. After losing her subscription to The New York Mercury, and being unable to afford to resubscribe, Wilcox thought that if she could get a piece of literature published, she would at least receive a copy of the paper wherein her piece was printed. The piece that she submitted is lost, and Wilcox later admitted that she could not recall even the topic of the poem. Wilcox became known as a poet in her own state by the time she graduated from high school.
Wilcox made efforts to teach occult things to the world. Her works, filled with positive thinking, were popular in the New Thought Movement and by 1915 her booklet, What I Know About New Thought had a distribution of 50,000 copies, according to its publisher, Elizabeth Towne.
The following statement expresses Wilcox's unique blending of New Thought, Spiritualism, and a Theosophical belief in reincarnation: "As we think, act, and live here today, we build the structures of our homes in spirit realms after we leave earth, and we build karma for future lives, thousands of years to come, on this earth or other planets. Life will assume new dignity, and labor new interest for us, when we come to the knowledge that death is but a continuation of life and labor, in higher planes."
Her final words in her autobiography The Worlds and I: "From this mighty storehouse (of God, and the hierarchies of Spiritual Beings) we may gather wisdom and knowledge, and receive light and power, as we pass through this preparatory room of earth, which is only one of the innumerable mansions in our Father's house. Think on these things."
Wilcox was an advocate of animal rights and vegetarianism. She died of cancer on October 30, 1919 in Short Beach, Connecticut.
Books by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
Poems of Passion
A beautiful collection of classic romantic poetry.
The Heart of the New Thought
A new book of original essays by this gifted woman dealing with The New Thought in practice. It deals with the practice of New Thought in our daily lives. A helpful and inspiring book, fully equal to the very best work this author has done.
On Seeing The Daibutsu - At Kamakura, Japan
The poem reflects the author's experience of visiting the Kamakura Buddha statue in Japan and the profound impact it had on her. The poem is a beautiful and lyrical description of the awe-inspiring statue, also known as the Great Buddha of Kamakura....
The Wish
It is a beautiful piece of literature that explores the theme of hope and the power of positive thinking. The poem was first published in 1916, and it has since become one of Wilcox's most famous works. It is a testament to her skill as a writer and...
The Brave Highland Laddies
In this, poet weaves a mesmerizing tapestry of words that captures the spirit of Scotland's rugged landscape and the indomitable courage of its people. With an expert blend of vivid imagery and heartfelt emotion, Wilcox invites readers to experience...
A Bachelor to a Married Flirt
"A Bachelor to a Married Flirt is a poem that warns a married woman of the dangers of flirting with other men." A Bachelor to a Married Flirt is a poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox that was first published in 1883. The poem is addressed to a married woman...
Compassion
What if there was a way to tap into the infinite power of compassion to heal yourself and the world around you? Compassion is a powerful and transformative force. It has the ability to heal our wounds, connect us to others, and make the world a bett...
New Thought Pastels
In a world often clouded by negativity and doubt, Ella Wheeler Wilcox's "New Thought Pastels" emerges as a beacon of hope and inspiration, offering a collection of poems that celebrate the power of positive thinking and self-belief. Through her lyric...
Art and Heart
This special poetry collection was assembled to celebrate the first anniversary of the creation of LibriVox. LibriVox volunteers bring you 38 different recordings of Art and Heart, by Ella Wheeler Wilcox. This poem, originally suggested by Betsie Bus...
Solitude (Wilcox)
"Laugh, and the world laughs with you;. . Weep, and you weep alone;For the sad old earth must borrow its mirth,. . But has trouble enough of its own."Librivox volunteers bring you sixteen readings of Solitude by Ella Wheeler Wilcox. This was the week...
Worth While
LibriVox volunteers offer you 15 different recordings of Worth While, by Ella Wheeler Wilcox. This was the weekly poetry project for the week of March 28, 2010.
Hidden Gems
LibriVox volunteers offer you 17 different recordings of Hidden Gems by Ella Wheeler Wilcox. This was the weekly poetry project for the week of May 9th, 2010.
In The Long Run
LibriVox volunteers bring you 14 recordings of In The Long Run by Ella Wheeler Wilcox. This was the Weekly Poetry project for July 11th, 2010.
Past
LibriVox volunteers bring you 21 recordings of The Past by Ella Wheeler Wilcox. This was the Weekly Poetry project for February 20, 2011.Ella Wheeler Wilcox was an American author and poet. Her best-known work was Poems of Passion. Her most enduring...
True Culture
LibriVox volunteers bring you 14 recordings of True Culture by Ella Wheeler Wilcox. This was the Weekly Poetry project for December 16, 2012. Ella Wheeler Wilcox was an American author and poet. Her best-known work was Poems of Passion. Her most endu...
Poems of Purpose
This is a volume of poems by Ella Wheeler Wilcox, published in 1919. - Summary by Carolin
Poems of Power
This is a volume in a series of books of poetry by Ella Wheeler Wilcox. This time, the theme is "Power". - Summary by Carolin
Poems of Optimism
This is a volume of Poems by Ella Wheeler Wilcox. The topic of this volume is "optimism". - Summary by Carolin
Poems of Cheer
This is another volume in Ella Wheeler Wilcox's series. This time, the topic is "Cheer". - Summary by Carolin
Six Bad Husbands and Six Unhappy Wives
This is a collection of six short stories, each of them illustrating that even a marriage which looks perfect from the outside can be sabotaged quite easily by the two people involved. - Summary by Carolin
Beauty Making
Ella Wheeler was born in 1850 on a farm in Johnstown, Wisconsin, east of Janesville, the youngest of four children. The family soon moved north of Madison. She started writing poetry at a very early age, and was well known as a poet in her own state...
Poems of Sentiment
This is a volume of poems by Ella Wheeler Wilcox. This time, the topic is "Sentiment". - Summary by Carolin
Poems of Experience
This is another volume of Ella Wheeler Wicox's famous series. This time, the topic is Experience. The short play The New Hawaiian Girl is included in this volume. The cast of The New Hawaiian Girl is Narrator: AvailleRalph: Kristin GjerløwEthel: Dia...
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