The Grave of William Miller

Posted on 2024-06-16 by Bartholomew Barker

Looking for poets’ graves to visit on my vacation and I discovered that there’s a monument to William Miller in the Glasgow Necropolis.

I’d never heard of Mr. Miller but I knew his famous nursery rhyme, Wee Willie Winkie. As you can see on his stone, they claimed he was Laureate of the Nursery.

He probably based the poem on a folktale or expanded upon a preexisting rhyme but after he published his chapbook, he became famous. If he became wealthy off his poetry, he squandered it because he died a pauper, buried in an unmarked grave in what is now an eastern suburb of Glasgow.

This cenotaph was erected later.

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About Bartholomew Barker

Bartholomew Barker is an organizer of Living Poetry, a collection of poets in the Triangle region of North Carolina where he has hosted a monthly feedback workshop for more than decade. His first poetry collection, Wednesday Night Regular, written in and about strip clubs, was published in 2013. His second, Milkshakes and Chilidogs, a chapbook of food inspired poetry was served in 2017. He was nominated for a Pushcart Prize in 2021. Born and raised in Ohio, studied in Chicago, he worked in Connecticut for nearly twenty years before moving to Hillsborough where he lives and writes poetry.
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14 Responses to The Grave of William Miller

  1. Kim Whysall-Hammond's avatar The Cheesesellers Wife says:
    2024-06-16 at 18:55

    I’m in Glasgow this August -I’ll make a pilgrimage!

    Liked by 1 person

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  2. Michele Lee's avatar Michele Lee says:
    2024-06-17 at 00:55

    Thanks for sharing part of your journey with us, Bart. An interesting discovery. Best to you and safe travels.

    Liked by 1 person

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  3. berniebell1955's avatar berniebell1955 says:
    2024-06-17 at 05:01

    I thought the Necropolis might appeal to you.

    A possibility for Edinburgh?… https://www.getyourguide.com/edinburgh-l44/underground-catacombs-cemeteries-tc1113/

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    • Bartholomew Barker's avatar Bartholomew Barker says:
      2024-06-17 at 12:56

      A possibility. I generally dislike guided tours but it does look interesting.

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      • berniebell1955's avatar berniebell1955 says:
        2024-06-17 at 13:08

        I/we don’t go for guided tours either, but sometimes it’s the only way the public can access a place – for example – we had to accept the whole ‘taken-there-in-a-bus-stay-with-your-group’ thing at Newgrange. Maes Howe is just as bad now.

        Some of the Edinburgh tours are for small groups. See how you feel when the time comes – I could see you being tempted by the whisky tasting one – a combination of pleasures!

        Liked by 1 person

      • Bartholomew Barker's avatar Bartholomew Barker says:
        2024-06-17 at 15:32

        A group whisky tasting would just be pain. ugh!

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  4. Nicole Smith's avatar Nicole Smith says:
    2024-06-17 at 21:54

    my uncle Bill passed in May, William Miller. I was like what the heck.

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  5. Nicole Smith's avatar Nicole Smith says:
    2024-06-18 at 20:29

    No, I am okay, I just thought it was odd.

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