Frank Oliver Call

Frank Oliver Call (1878–1956) was a Canadian poet known for his lyrical depictions of nature and rural life. His work contributed to the early twentieth-century Canadian literary scene. Biography ↓More ↓

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Frank Oliver Call

The Lotus-Worshippers

With silent feet in trailing robes of white They crept from shadowy temples, far beyond Tall bamboo groves, to seek the lotus-pond That gleamed like some dark jewel through the night Upon great Buddha's breast. The crimson height Echoed their chanting as the morning dawned, And each bud, breaking from its silver bond, Lifted its cup to catch the golden light. And here beside this mist-bound northern lake, Encircled by tall spires of Gothic firs, The ancient beauty-worship wakes and stirs Within me, as I watch the morning break Upon white lily-buds, whose lips agleam Whisper the secret of the world-old dream.

Frank Oliver Call

Cups of Jade

The mists lie along the iris-purple valleys; The little wooden bridge, Where the waterfall rings its silver bells, Is a bow of darkness; The dust of the highway is gray as ashes under our feet; A cloud of night-birds Dots the orange sky. All day our paths have led us side by side Along the steep hot highways. It is cool evening now, And the temple bells call you one way And the silence calls me another. We come to the white door-posts of your house, We leave our dusty shoes beside the little pool among the iris leaves. We sit upon woven mats and you give me tea to drink From a cup of sea-green jade.

Biography

Frank Oliver Call was a Canadian poet born in 1878 and died in 1956. He published several poetry collections, including 'In a Belgian Garden' (1917), 'Acanthus and Wild Grape' (1920), 'Blue Homespun' (1924), and 'Son of the North' (1946). Call served as a professor at Bishop's University in Quebec. His poetry often focuses on natural landscapes and rural settings, employing traditional forms and a restrained, lyrical style. The imagery in his work frequently draws from the Canadian countryside, reflecting a deep attachment to the land. His style has been associated with the Georgian poets of the early twentieth century. His work contributed to the Canadian poetic tradition of his era.

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