The poignant poem “Long Ago” reflects deeply on the comforting sanctuary of memory, reminding readers that “What happiness we know / Is treasured there, with miser’s care, / The blessed long ago.” This piece was penned by American poet Jane Elizabeth Conklin, who was born on July 7, 1831, in Utica, New York.
Beyond her life writing poetry, Conklin was a fierce political activist and organizer during the Civil War era. She served as a highly influential president of the Woman’s Relief Corps, an elite patriotic organization that raised crucial funds and medical aid for wounded Union soldiers and fought to establish national cemeteries for fallen troops.
