Ernest Neal (1858–1943), was the 2nd Poet Laureate of Georgia. He was born in Sparta, Georgia (U.S.) in 1858. He lived in Dahlonega for some time, but Calhoun, GA was his home.

Biography

Neal became Georgia's 2nd Poet Laureate on August 20, 1927. He held the position until his death on January 7, 1943. One of Neal's best known poems,"The Indian's Heart," was recited at the dedication of the New Echota Monument near Calhoun.

New Echota New Echota was the capital of the Cherokee Nation in the Southeast United States from 1825 until their forced removal in the late 1830s. New Echota is located in present-day Gordon County, in northwest Georgia, 3.68 miles north of Calhoun. I ...

was the last standing capital of the

Cherokee The Cherokee (; chr, ᎠᏂᏴᏫᏯᎢ, translit=Aniyvwiyaʔi or Anigiduwagi, or chr, ᏣᎳᎩ, links=no, translit=Tsalagi) are one of the indigenous peoples of the Southeastern Woodlands of the United States. Prior to the 18th century, t ...

Indians before they were relocated to Oklahoma (i.e. " The Trail of Tears")from 1838–1839; President Andrew Jackson had much to do with this. Neal wrote many poems about Calhou

and New Echota.

Poems

"The Land of the Cherokee" Ernest Neal, Poet Laureate of Georgia, Calhoun, Georgia ''Poem read at dedication of the New Echota Monument, 1931''

Bibliography

''A second book of verse''. Macon: J.W. Burke, 1928. ''Yonah, and other poems.'' Atlanta: Unknown Publisher, 1920.

References

1858 births 1943 deaths People from Calhoun, Georgia Poets from Georgia (U.S. state) American male poets Poets Laureate of Georgia (U.S. state) {{US-poet-1850s-stub