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PEOPLE & ARTS Thursday 28 March 2019
Search on for burial site of America's first published poet

NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. It was all written through
(AP) — Anne Bradstreet the lens of her Puritan faith.
was the North American "She thought poetry was a
continent's first published vehicle for glorifying God,"
poet, yet her legacy has McWhorter said.
largely been lost to time. Bradstreet did not set out to
Now, professors and stu- become a published poet.
dents at Merrimack Col- Her writings were at first
lege in Massachusetts are shared with family.
trying to pinpoint her burial But her brother-in-law took
site while at the same time her manuscripts to Lon-
restoring her legacy and don, where they were pub-
what they say is her rightful lished. There is a school of
place in the pantheon of thought that he did so with-
Western literature. out her knowledge, but it
"Even though we don't is more likely she did know
know much about her, she he intended to have them
was a household name published, Pottroff said.
in the 17th century, both Although the project be-
here and in England," said gan just last year, Mc-
Christy Pottroff, an assistant Whorter's fascination with
professor of English at Mer- Bradstreet dates to 2009
rimack. when she was interview-
Bradstreet's 1650 book of In this Wednesday, March 20, 2019, photo provided by the Board of Trustees of Stevens Memorial ing for a job at Merrimack
Library, a handwritten manuscript called "Meditations Divine and Moral," by 17th century poet
poetry, "The Tenth Muse Anne Bradstreet, rests on a table at the Houghton Library on the campus of Harvard University, in and learned the poet was
Lately Sprung Up in Amer- Cambridge, Mass. buried somewhere on
ica," was a sensation both Associated Press campus. It turns out that's
in the Colonies and in her not true. But scholars think
native England, where 1672, was from a prominent Puritan women did not. titled, "To My Dear and Lov- she was buried not too far
people were fascinated by family. Her father, Thomas Most of her writings were ing Husband." away in what is now North
her accounts of everyday Dudley, served as governor about domestic life in She also wrote about the Andover, which in the 17th
life in the New World. of the Massachusetts Bay the Colonies, her role as horror of watching the fam- century was still part of An-
Pottroff and associate Colony. She married Simon a woman and mother of ily's home go up in flames. dover.
English professor Ellen Mc- Bradstreet, who also served eight, and her devotion to "Then, coming out, behold Even though there's a
Whorter are leading sev- as governor. her husband. a space, The flame con- marker for Bradstreet in an
eral students in the proj- Because of her family's "I prize thy love more than sume my dwelling place," old burial ground in town, it
ect, dubbed Finding Anne prominence and support, whole mines of gold, Or all she wrote in "Verses upon was put up about two de-
Bradstreet. she had access to educa- the riches that the East doth the Burning of Our House, cades ago and is not her
Bradstreet, who died in tional opportunities many hold," she wrote in a piece July 10th, 1666." gravesite. q

LOCASH offer a bro-country hoot of an album

By MARK KENNEDY "Cold Beer Kinda Night" Crowder, Jordan Schmidt
Associated Press and "Beers to Catch Up and Chris DeStefano. Lu-
LOCASH, "Brothers" (Wheel- On." cas and Brust contribute
house Records/BBR Music What's really refreshing is songwriting to three songs
Group) that it's clear everyone's in- — the really nice title track,
If there's a such a thing as vited. Right out of the gate the throwaway "Feels Like
Bingo for country song ref- is "One Big Country Song," a Party" and the first-class
erences, go ahead and which opens its arms wide, rocker "Secret Weapon." A
spin the latest LOCASH al- something some country sunny, optimistic tone runs
bum and brace yourself. songs don't. "A city boy, a through the album, reach-
You'll get a whole lot of country boy, yeah we all ing a high with "Summer in
trucks, beer, jeans, dogs, just tryna survive," the lyr- a Truck," an infectious ode
back roads, mom's cook- ics go. "Everybody's got to curly fries and wearing
ing, God and weekend holes in their blue jeans/If no shoes. You can try and
parties. And that's just the you bought 'em that way hate on it but that's like hat-
first few tunes. or not." This is welcome-all ing on a Lab puppy.
The vocalist duo of Chris party country, not afraid to The duo get religious in
Lucas and Preston Brust add dashes of rock, dance, "God Thing" — but always
may seem comfortable pop or some guitar solos. grateful and in awe; they're
around lyrical cliches but The bulk of the 11-track not the hellfire kind — and
thank goodness they know "Brothers" is produced by are heartfelt in the album's
a good tune, too, because Lindsay Rimes, who has outstanding power ballad This cover image released by Wheelhouse Records shows
"Brothers" is a bro-country worked with such artists as "Kissing a Girl," a superb bit "Brothers," a release by Locash.
hoot, filled with catchy, Kane Brown, Thomas Rhett of song-crafting that traces Associated Press
poppy tunes that fizz like and Dylan Scott. The song- a romance from a "couple
a just-opened Bud. In fact, writers include Rhett Akins, kids playing grown-ups" to but LOCASH don't dwell on alcohol and an embrace
two are ready-made for Dallas Davidson, Ashley being a daddy. it. The album closes where of good will on "Beers to
brewski commercials — Gorley, Jesse Frasure, Corey It's a deeply moving tune it began — with friends, Catch up On."q