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A Poet's Impressions from 1937
In his book, "Miami Beach" author Herman Eager records his impressions of a Miami Beach of long ago. You will be surprised at how little it has changed...
Herman Eager (1897 - 1971) came to the US at age twelve. He wrote humorous pieces, children's stories and poetry. His articles appeared in many Jewish newspapers of the time.
His collection of poems "Miami Beach" appeared in 1937, and gives us a unique snapshot of the times. He pokes fun at the tourists who flocked to the warm climes during the cold northern winters, and he describes some of the oddball types who inhabited the beach.
While lauding the beauty of the spot, he does not neglect the social aspects of the tourist economy with his sensitive word-portraits of Negroes and the Seminoles.
To my knowledge this is the first time these poems have ever been translated into English. Note that my translations are literal. I did not attempt to capture the meter and rhymes of the poems.
December 2018
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