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Burt Franklin Jenness

I lived from 1895-1971. I was from the United States, and am in the Americas category.

Burt Franklin Jenness was born in New Hampshire in 1895. He prepared for his medical career at Dartmouth Medical College, the University of Southern California, Boston University, and the Naval Medical School, Washington, D.C. Dr. Jenness served as a medical officer in the U.S. Navy during World War 1, earning the retirement rank of Lieutenant Commander (Medical Corps) U. S. Navy. Creative writing was one of his major hobbies as is shown by his books of poetry – together with publications in magazines, newspapers and anthologies.

Dr. Jenness's major poetry books include:

SERVICE RHYMES (p. 1917)*
MAN-O'-WAR RHYMES (p. 1918)
SEA LANES (p. 1921)
OCEAN HAUNTS (p. 1934)
SPINDRIFT AND SAGEBRUSH (p. 1960)

* Most of these poems are reprinted in MAN-O'-WAR RHYMES but there are 14 unique ones.

After retiring from the U. S. Navy, Jenness worked summers in the 1920's as a country doctor in the hills of Ruidoso, New Mexico. During the rest of the year he worked as a faculty member of Biological Sciences at Texas Western College, as an Official Instructor of First Aid for the American Red Cross, and later became Director Emeritus of Health Service for Texas Western College. He retired to El Paso, Texas, where he died in 1971.

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  • Bumboats
    I've had a whirl at games of chance
        From Bombay 'round to Cork,
    61 lines, 2 comments
  • Mid-Watches
    Will you ever forget the mid-watches at sea?
    How you tumbled out sleepy and dazed,
    23 lines, 1 comment
  • Sea Dreams
    If you've ever stood a midwatch in the cavern of the night,
    With the sea wolves racing past you in a pack;
    46 lines
  • The Sea Dog
    I wandered up and down the quay to-day,
    And yesterday, and many days before,
    44 lines
  • The Roaring Forties
    Let me sail to the southward and follow once more
    Down the great circle course where the latitudes roar;
    33 lines
  • Sea Traders
    Droppin' down to Rio on a buckin' wooden tramp;
    Takin' water for'r'd till her rotten planks were damp;
    17 lines
  • The Flare-Back
    So they won't ship me over today, eh?
    Too old, did you say, an' too lame?
    115 lines
  • The Fire-Room Crew
    They are fighters, but they're not the hero kind;
    They are just a gang of grimy sailormen.
    34 lines, 1 comment
  • The Old Scuttle-Butt
    How dear to my heart are the scenes of my cruises,
    When fond recollection presents them to view.
    24 lines
  • A Ballad Of The Old Navy
    The sea's a place for sailormen in fair or stormy weather;
    'Round the world and back again they're all good mates together.
    22 lines
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