A massive rough-cut granite monolith. That’s the Frank L Staton Monument. It stands as a silent testament to a life well-lived. A life filled with words. This isn’t just a tombstone. It’s a monument to Georgia’s first poet laureate. Frank L Stanton.
The bronze bas-relief on the granite shows the poet. A book of verse rests in his hand. A laurel wreath crowns his brow. The inscription on the monument captures his philosophy of life. “This old world we’re livin’ in Is mighty hard to beat You get a thorn with every rose But ain’t the roses sweet?” These words. Simple yet profound. They reflect Stanton’s optimistic outlook. Even in the face of hardship. He found sweetness in life.
Frank Lebby Stanton. Born in Charleston South Carolina in 1857. He died in Atlanta in 1927. He wasn’t just a poet. He was a journalist. A columnist for the Atlanta Constitution for over forty years. His column “Just From Georgia” was immensely popular. It featured his poems prose anecdotes and humorous sayings. He wrote in the dialect of black southerners and poor whites. He captured the essence of the South. Its charm and its struggles.
Stanton’s poems were often set to music. His lyrics for “Just Awearyin’ for You” became a wildly popular parlor song. His work “Mighty Lak a Rose” was a huge success. It touched the hearts of thousands. People from all over the world wrote to him about this poem. He even collaborated with other composers. Harry Thacker Burleigh Ethelbert Nevin and Carrie Jacobs-Bond all set his verses to music.
His monument wasn’t unveiled until 1935. Eight years after his death. Little Emily McNelly unveiled the marker. Marcelle Stanton Magahee his granddaughter was unable to attend. She was forbidden to leave the house by her doctor. The unveiling ceremony was attended by many dignitaries. Hugh Howell Dr M D Collins and R L Ramsey all spoke. They paid tribute to Stanton’s life and work. Thomas J Flanagan a protégé of Stanton’s also spoke. The bronze marker itself. The work of Dr Joseph Klein. It’s a remarkable piece of art. A fitting tribute to a remarkable man.
The Frank L Staton Monument. It’s more than just a grave marker. It’s a reminder of a beloved poet. A journalist. A man who used his words to touch lives. A man who saw the sweetness in the thorns of life. It’s a reminder to appreciate the beauty. Even amidst life’s challenges. So take a moment. Reflect on his words. Let them inspire you.