Orrick Johns

Orrick Glenday Johns was an influential American poet and playwright, recognized as one of the pioneering modernist free-verse poets in early 20th-century America. He emerged in the vibrant artistic community of Greenwich Village between 1913 and 1915, where he became a key figure in the 'Others' group, a collective of innovative writers and artists that included notable names such as William Carlos Williams, Wallace Stevens, and Ezra Pound. Johns's work was characterized by its experimental approach to form and language, exemplified in his poem series 'Olives', which was published in the inaugural issue of Others: A Magazine of the New Verse in July 1915. This magazine played a significant role in the modernist movement, providing a platform for new voices in poetry and challenging conventional literary norms. Throughout his career, Johns contributed to the evolving landscape of American poetry and drama, forging connections with contemporaries like Vachel Lindsay and Sara Teasdale. His involvement with the artist's colony at Grantwood, New Jersey, further solidified his place within the modernist movement, as he collaborated with other avant-garde figures. Although not as widely recognized today, Johns's contributions to free verse and his role in fostering a community of innovative writers underscore his significance in the early modernist literary scene, leaving a legacy that influenced subsequent generations of poets and playwrights.