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200 Years of Palmetto Poets

William Crafts (1787-1826)

William Crafts’ father emigrated from Boston to Charleston in 1783. William was born there on January 24, 1787. Even as a boy, William showed signs of great intellectual ability, and in 1802 he attended Harvard College. While there he excelled in all areas, but especially in languages, particularly Latin and Hebrew. While Crafts was at Harvard, his brother sent him Drayton’s View of South Carolina so that he would not forgot his home state. Crafts returned to South Carolina, was elected to the State Legislature, and was soon recognized as a great orator. He was married in 1823, but only enjoyed a few years with his new wife, passing away at three years later at age 39 in Lebanon Springs, New York after a long illness.

The Infidel Girl

The Infidel Girl
I love a little infidel,
Of snow-white cheek, and coal-black eye,
Within whose angel form doth dwell
A soul of stainless purity.

She cannot boast a Christian name,
Nor sparkling crucifix doth wear
But oft a title covers shame,
And signs are insincere.

Let monkish priests, with bigot frown,
Condemn her to the shades of woe;
Her lot I'll dare to make mine own,
Whate'er their pride presumes to know.

It cannot be that God on high,
Should give so fair a form to earth,
And close the portals of the sky,
Against such loveliness and worth.

The streams of heavenly kindness flow
In channels deep and wide,
Mortals in vain their shores would know,
In vain their waters guide.

The maid by prejudice opprest,
May fairest blush and sweetest smile
As pearl, that grows for beauty's breast,
'Neath mountain torrents lives the while.

The sweetest flower is lowliest,
And latest sees the sun,
And evening hour is holiest,
For gaudy day is done.

Like star of eve, serenely bright,
Like ocean coral fair;
Like flower concealed from mortal sight,
Whose fragrance chides the air.

Secluded thus-thus formed to bless,
The little infidel retires,
To bloom in lonely loveliness,
And veil her glowing fires.

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